You know that I love our guests on Martini Hour. But few things can beat an episode where one of my favorite people (Adobe Product Manager Michael Ninness) talks about one of my favorite products (InDesign). Join us in the dekeLounge as we not only discuss InDesign, but really, how InDesign is helping publishers, designers, and editors challenge the notion of The Document, and ultimately plan against our future obsolescence. And we do all this over “portonics,” an unfamiliar but tasty concoction of white port and tonic that was apparently the drink of choice during the unseasonably hot weather in Seattle this summer, inspired by our Michael making the trip down to the lounge to visit us in person.

This is not your standard graphics discussion, but an actual excavation of where the future lies. Check it out…

Is print dead? We hope not. But perhaps Michael is right when he says that print alone is dying. He argues that InDesign offers interesting tools that enable designers and layout artists to create Web documents that move their companies forward. We consider the nature of the spread, the potential of interactive advertisements, how documents break from convention when they’ve been designed to never exist in print, and pretty much the whole freaking future. It’s heady.

And you gotta love Michael’s Toast of the Week: “To Photoshop, the best plug-in for InDesign there is.”

Where else do great technolectual minds discuss the future of no less than the written word? Nowhere, so pour yourself a drink and have a listen.  Here’s the regular-quality (128kbps) audio file. (Note we’ve decreased the size of the “regular quality.” You can stream, or for best results, right-click and choose Download or Save.  Don’t want to miss a single episode of this half hour full of an hour’s worth of relaxation and information? Subscribe via iTunes. And don’t forget, this is a separate subscription from your regular dekePod podcast.

Got a resolution example that has you vexed that you’d like Deke to throw his considerable brain at? Call 1-888-dekepod. (That’s 1-888-335-3763.) Practice, be charming, and ask us something really intriguing. Or just ask a damn fine question with great earnestness.

And don’t forget: Martini Hour Live in Las Vegas announced yesterday! Reserve your space ASAP. (A mere 24 hours into things, 5 out of 2 seats are already spoken for!)