When I joined VMSD a year and a half ago, I was warmly welcomed into a tight-knit community of talented creatives, passionate design advocates and sharp retail and branding experts. I dove into the deep end my very first day on the job, tackling attendee tasks at GlobalShop with my editorial team and meeting dozens of industry players. From retailers and design firm partners to visual merchandisers and product suppliers, I was touched by the loyalty, affection and even ownership these accomplished professionals felt for our magazine, whose legacy dates back to the late 1800s.
However, I would soon discover (the next day, at my first editorial advisory board meeting) that these folks are not timid when it comes to expressing strong viewpoints on everything from design trends and new projects to the compelling issues that drive this industry. They were quick to call out mediocrity and irrelevance and equally quick to praise creativity and innovation.
I came away from that meeting, and many others since then, determined to move our brand forward with ongoing advancements and adjustments to our print, online and event platforms. One of the “adjustments” under my watch is this month’s debut of a resized, refreshed and refocused VMSD magazine. Like the industry we cover, we recognize the need to continually evolve and present an audience experience that inspires, educates and motivates. We’ve made changes, both bold and subtle, that we hope will deliver that experience.
The most obvious change is our larger format, the better to showcase design projects, trend reports and new products and services. VMSD art director Don Heyl was responsible for developing our new look in alignment with our editorial objectives. His keen eye and skilled hand are evident in refreshed features and departments with updated fonts and expansive layouts.
But these cosmetic changes are just the beginning. Stay tuned over the coming months as we introduce new content and contributors that address the rapid-fire evolution of this industry – from the latest concepts in every retail segment to the products and people that support them. I expect to hear from you about what you like and perhaps don’t like. We’ll use those comments to drive ongoing change and evolution. I look forward to the conversation.