New media design is the concept of creating information and data for the emerging technologies of computerized, digital and networked data and the communication techniques involved with their implementation. Anything capable of being manipulated, networked or compressed is considered new media. The general concept is to design a platform that enables interactive participation with the information. New media design works with the Internet, computer technology, video games, websites, CDs and DVDs. It is different than old media design, such as film, television, magazines, literature or any other printed format.
Since the advent of computer technology, new forms of information exchange have become prevalent in order to facilitate the sharing of data. This was especially true during the 1980s and 1990s, as personal computers entered the home from the workplace. Artists and entrepreneurs used the digital realm to explore new facets of media. Throughout the implementation of the world wide web, the general populace became exposed to instantaneous and interactive information. This caused designers to explore new ways for users to adapt the Internet to their personal needs.
New media design helped the transition from a simple broadcast model to the model of user interaction. The new media arena opened up the doors for person-to-person advertising as well as a way for users to control to which information they become exposed. Image manipulation software was integral to this development, allowing smaller and smaller firms to engage in the concept of desktop publishing.
According to analysts of new media technologies, certain aspects of the form must exist to be considered part of the platform. Geographic distance must be transcended, allowing for a large increase to the volume of communication. The speed of information exchange is much faster than previous models. All new media design techniques also involve interactive aspects of communication, empowering users. In addition, these technologies are able to interconnect and overlap. A good example of this would be the release of a video game, which advertises on the Internet, features a website with downloadable desktop themes and a mobile application for cell phones.
One of the major results of the implementation of new media design is the shared cultural aspects available to people all around the world. Designers of this technology are able to share information across borders to markets traditionally untapped by old media techniques. The same website can be viewed in English in the United States and also in French in France. Both receive the same information in the same format, regardless of language and culture.