Our mission statement at design et al fourteen years ago, when we launched the title, proclaimed “a magazine should lead and not follow, it should be bold enough to inspire and push boundaries previously unexplored.” We have always aimed to do this; it is not enough merely to report on trends or directions our aim has been to define and lead. However, somewhere in the midst of running a title which turns into a series of different titles, design books, awards a decade or so later, I have to admit this strong and bold mission statement becomes a little diluted in practice.
stand alongside the established fortnightly Superyacht & Aviation Edit providing up to date news, projects and the new collections that we endorse. This is not advertising driven, this is us as a title, as a collection of titles, putting our stamp of approval on new releases and design schemes we endorse. It is our objective opinion, we trust this counts for something in a world where PR companies push their client’s products and projects in the face of magazine editors and press each day... we don’t succumb to that. Quite simply, if we don’ t like it, it’s not in.
I think this is inevitable, but in recent weeks and months, as I have revisited this statement, I have decided to once again sharpen practices up and live and work by my earlier mission statement. Fourteen years ago, as a new title we were bold, brave and keen to carve out a new area of the market. Today we are older and wiser, but as keen to retain the edge design et al once created.
This month some of our endorsed lines and collections can be seen in design et al recommends the first news section within this issue and one that will become a regular feature each month. We have also featured a broad-based selection of projects shortlisted for this year’s International Design & Architecture Awards. Over the next few months, you will have the opportunity to see more of the shortlisted projects for this year ahead of voting opening in August and your chance to vote then.
With this in mind, we have put our thoughts into practice and this month launched two new fortnightly digital news edits: The Superyacht Interior Edit and The Design Edit, they will
Until next month, Joanne
