VISI goes English

New Media has now announced that a direct translation English edition of VISI will join the original Afrikaans edition in Autumn (April) 2004.

The importance attached to the magazine by the décor and design world is clearly evident in the eager anticipation of the launch event, which is the official opening party of this year's Decorex Cape, between April 21 and 25.

VISI readers are profiled as well travelled, aspirational, informed, sophisticated and passionate about interior design, with a keen interest in allied disciplines such as architecture and fashion design. Catering for readers' lifestyle preferences, VISI's 196-page Autumn 2004 issue will increase the focus on food and travel. Now incorporating the annual VISI Kos en Kuier into the seasonal titles, the new-look VISI is privileged to have well known food editor, Abigail Donnelly oversee a 12-page spread of food and entertainment, all linked to décor.

The cover feature of the autumn issue includes an interesting fashion-décor combination. While the focus remains décor driven, respected fashion editor Jackie Burger and VISI's décor editor Tina-Marie Malherbe, have pooled their extensive skills to create an innovative fusion.

In VISI's five and a half years of existence, the magazine has received several premier awards, including four Sappi Picas, two of which were won in 2002 when the magazine was named best décor and design publication in South Africa and also took the accolade for excellence in magazine design. The Mondi judges recognised art director Jaco Janse van Rensburg for Design and Illustration in 2002 and 2003. VISI's deputy editor, Annemarie Meintjes won the At Home category Mondi award in 2002 and her colleague Tina-Marie Malherbe further entrenched VISI as a décor leader when she too won the same award in 2003.

The magazine's support for local designers and manufacturers is indicated by its 100% home-grown content. VISI opens a window to the spaces that South Africans design, decorate and live in - an overseas interior is featured only if it has links to a South African resident abroad. However, the design strength and trend-setting qualities that have garnered the magazine award after award have attracted local and global lifestyle and service brands. Hence a range of local and international companies advertise their brands in the magazine - from Plascon and Twiice International to Veuve Cliquot, from Santam to Mercedes Benz. These companies have recognised VISI as the ideal medium for marketing household appliances and furnishings, luxury items, food, liquor, non-alcoholic drinks, financial services, cars, fashion wear, beauty goods and travel and tourism products.

Together, the magazines will qualify for one ABC figure; they offer a means of reaching a largely A+ market, mainly female but with a healthy proportion of males.

Now a quarterly, with seasonal issues in April, June, September and December, VISI is edited by Sumien Brink. Her maiden edition, in Winter of 2001, introduced English summaries of feature articles and boasted a new design. The English-language launch will be supported above the line, in both print and on television – with a DSTV campaign, and by point-of-sale activity and exhibition stands at Design Indaba and Decorex.

VISI was launched in 1998 and originally published by Naspers. Cape-based New Media (NMP) took over from the third issue, in 2000. Established six years ago, NMP is now 50% owned by Media24. More than a publishing house, it offers a communications bouquet: strategic and digital solutions, promotions, ad sales, production and design.