A bold digital step for Modus

We have reached a uniquely exciting moment in the life of Modus magazine. Migrating to a digital-only platform offers me and the editorial team a real opportunity to deliver something special – something that’s more engaging, responsive and timely than we could ever do in print.

Unrestrained by print schedules and free of the physical limitations of the magazine page, we now have almost endless creative possibilities. The Modus high-quality commentary and thought leadership will still be there – the difference is that now we will have so many more ways to do this. Modus has always been lauded for its design, most recently at last year’s BSME Talent Awards, where we picked up two awards, for Best Art Team and Best Designer. This new platform allows us to apply those award-winning design principles across a wider range of formats. Video, podcasts, data-driven infographics, long and short articles, listicles, photo galleries – all will now be at our disposal.

We have, in fact, been talking about transforming Modus into an entirely digital entity for some time. The COVID-19 crisis, with the financial and logistical implications it presented in delivering a physical product, has simply accelerated the process.

Take, for example, this article from the final print edition of Modus, last month (June 2020). In the digital world, instead of a static infographic formatted for a magazine page, we could illustrate the piece with a data visualisation like this, which doesn’t limit us to the type or amount of data we can use, and which allows us to tell a much more complete story.

Last November, we showcased the winners of the RICS Awards 2019 Grand Final. In a digital version we will be unrestrained in our use of photography, allowing us to fully celebrate the best of the industry’s talent.

And, back in March this year, we brought together four thought-leaders for a lively debate on how the industry and academia can best work together to attract and retain the best young talent. The discussion that followed was too long for one magazine article, and much of it went unseen and unheard outside the room. In our new, digital world we will be able to bring you future debates as a video or podcast. Without the constraints of a page limit, we’ll be able to bring so many more insights to our readers.

The other benefit of digital, aside from the creative freedom it offers, is the reach it gives us. As RICS increases its membership in new territories, Modus will now be available in a format that compliments this growth and can be enjoyed by a wider audience – including RICS professionals, key influencers and thinkers across the built and natural environments and, crucially, an international and diverse new generation of talent. Over time, you will be able to tailor the content that you see to your interests. And the fact that it’s searchable means you have access to exactly the content you need, just when you want it, including an entire archive of Modus articles. Digital-first content allows for agile, responsive thinking, and I’m thrilled to be part of this next, dynamic chapter in the Modus story.