‘Magalogues’ seek designers

Design companies must free-pitch against direct marketing agencies for the design of eight Virgin publications.

The titles are being published by Virgin Entertainment Direct, the home-shopping service from Virgin Retail. The catalogues are dubbed “magalogues” for their magazine-style content. Two are already up and running.

The publications target groups such as young gay men, over 35s and – most recently – women, with the launch of V4ME, designed by publishing group The Chronos Group.

“We’ll be looking at different companies and holding unpaid pitches. The decision for the design of the next magalogue is due in a month,” says a VED spokeswoman.

The Virgin Group will look for transport design specialists after Christmas if it gets the go-ahead to run a 50m rail link between Heathrow Airport and the City of London. Virgin is awaiting a decision from BAA regarding the line.