Garrett redesigns property site

Malcolm Garrett, of Applied Information Group, has unveiled an overhaul of Property Week’s website today, as the magazine embarks on its latest publishing push.

Garrett was appointed to the project last August, following a recommendation from the title’s group art director Richard Krzyzak, who was impressed by the designer’s previous work for editorial clients. The overhaul of www.propertyweek.com follows a redesign of the print version last year by design consultancy This is Real Art.

Garrett explains that he was briefed to create an on-line platform that would work in tandem with the printed magazine, while providing scope for future developments within mobile publishing, an area which PW and its publisher CMP Information is currently considering how to develop.

‘This is a big perceptual change for PW. It’s about finding which platform works best with a particular type of information. Some information works best on-screen, some works best in print,’ he says.

Garrett explains that part of the brief was to understand that the tech-savvy PW audience responds well to advances in technology, and try to capitalise on this.

‘CMP’s desire is to keep moving this project forward. The beauty of on-line publishing is that it’s so fluid. Part of the challenge was putting in place a dynamic digital structure so that it allows for further development,’ he says. ‘Each platform has its part to play in the publishing mix.’

Garrett points out that PW’s emphasis on a ‘social network’ means that the site can provide resources and information that supplement and enhance the print magazine, instead of competing directly with it.

Ben Acornley, senior designer at Applied Information Group, is working with Garrett on the project.