Out of Print movie of headline-generating letterpress

Out of Print by Roma Levin, James Cuddy, Danilo Di Cuia and Goldsmiths students

Random snippets of news headlines are harvested from the internet, muddled up and printed using a traditional wooden letterpress in this movie by the Out of Print team.

Out of Print was organised by designer and illustrator Roma Levin, designer James Cuddy, digital maker Danilo Di Cuia and a team of students from Goldsmiths, University of London.

The installation first asked visitors to choose a selection of news sources. An algorithm then selected words from headlines in those publications and combined them with trending data from social networks to generate random headlines, which visitors scrolled through until they found one that resonated with them.

This was then sent to the @outofprintevent Twitter account to be queued for printing on a traditional wood-block letterpress using a font developed especially for the installation. Visitors could then buy the posters for £10 each or leave them on display for others to enjoy.

The app throws up intriguing combinations as "NATO need to rethink thinking", "Prada do like crisps" and "Kate has a nuclear war". "Some of them are quite obscure, some of them are quite funny, some of them are quite profound," Levin told Dezeen.

"Essentially what the app does is read ten news sources at the same time. What it emulates is the bombardment from so many sources of information we consume and that by trying to consume ever more we end up actually understanding less," he explained.

listen to ‘Roma Levin on 'Out of Print', an interactive installation that explores our relationship with digital media’ on Audioboo

Above: listen to Roma Levin explain the Out of Print installation

The Out of Print project was first shown at 4 Cromwell Place in the Brompton Design District during the London Design Festival. See all our coverage of the London Design Festival 2012.

Here's some more information from the Out of Print organisers:

The invention of the printing press is the finest example of how a shift in technology can change the way we communicate. In the 21st century, digital technology has become the defining force shaping society; changing the way we live, interact and consume information.

But with the growth of digital media we are now faced with unprecedented levels of data. We find ourselves at a saturation point. By attempting to consume ever more, we end up understanding less.

In this context, we find news and media redefined to fit our shortened attention spans. How do we make sense of all the information we consume and not get lost in the process? Through the use of traditional printing techniques we explore this question.

By using live online news feeds we are building a digital application that generates seemingly random headlines; these will then be printed using a custom-built letterpress. The prints will form a growing collection exhibited as part of the installation.

Both the print process and the software can produce unexpected results. The distortions and juxtapositions in language create headlines that are profound and confusing in equal measure. This notion is not unlike our evolving relationship with digital media today.

Roma Levin is a Russian born designer and illustrator with a cross- disciplinary approach. Since graduating from Goldsmiths University and London College of Communication, Roma has worked in Moscow and London for a wide range of clients ranging from Tate to Sir Bryan Ferry.

James Cuddy is a designer with an interest in the intersect between tangible and digital objects. A graduate of Goldsmiths College, James has since worked with agencies in London and Barcelona and for forward thinking clients such as the Whitechapel and the V&A.

Danilo Di Cuia is a digital maker from Matera, Italy. He started programming before knowing anything about computer science and has worked on the web since owning his first dial-up modem. After studying graphic design and new media in Milan and San Francisco, he now works for small and big international clients, mostly nice people.