Move on or go down

Wow, the Fespa Global Summit certainly had some punch. Talk about giving it to us straight – the message from the speakers was clear – move on or go down! Wide-format print has fab future prospects they all agreed, but for those prospects to be anywhere near fulfilled print producers need to step it up in terms of experimentation and getting novel options in front of potential buyers. We’ve been saying that for ages, I know – and day-to-day pressures and economies of running a print business are the oft quoted reasons why it doesn’t happen as much we all recognise it should. But the perception of print’s capabilities is falling way behind its technical and creative capabilities. So how do we right that as an industry? Could the various industry bodies and associations do more to help?