Flow Communications was delighted to be commissioned to produce the latest VITA magazine for St John’s College. The glossy publication – available in both print and a digital version – is distributed twice a year to students, parents, old boys, the teaching body and others interested in this famous Johannesburg private school.
The project involved editing, proofing, some writing and rewriting, layout and design, with the 68-page magazine covering general, sports, academic, culture and community news, from pre-prep to matric and alumni. The end result was a well-executed, professional-looking publication that fully met the client’s expectations.
Flow design studio manager Thuso Khoeli said it was inspiring to design a magazine for such a prestigious school. “The sense of pride and culture, mentorship and guidance, and nurturing talent and future leaders really made an impression on me.”
In tackling a job of this nature, it is important to understand the client’s objectives. The brief was not to stray too far from the magazine’s established style and to closely follow the client’s instructions. Thuso also worked closely with the printers, Mortimer. “A lot of thought went into how we could make it fresh, while keeping the feel of the publication,” Thuso said.
As senior writer and subeditor in Flow’s writing studio, I was tasked with the magazine content, including editing, proofreading and some writing. I’ve previously spent many years working as an editor on various print publications, so helping to produce VITA was an amazing opportunity and a great fit for me.
I wanted the content to shine and the final product to be a great read and of the highest professional standards. Although the deadline was tight, I believe we achieved this.
Teamwork was key. “We both understood the time frame and objectives and were in constant communication, whether face to face, via email or Skype, and we kept our cool when it was crunch time. We enjoyed working together under a tight deadline,” added Thuso.
Cailin Wandrag, St John’s College head of marketing, said she was very happy with the end product. “Thank you to your wonderful team on producing a lovely magazine – I have only had positive feedback from everyone.”
Flow provides content, editing and website services for a variety of educational clients and is proud of its enduring relationships with these institutions.
