Leading Brands has recently started working on “interactive” digital magazines, particularly for the Apple iPad. Using this latest software has enabled us to create dynamic layouts, which come alive as the reader moves from one page to the next, allowing the reader to become more involved in the content and enjoy different experiences on each page.

As many e-magazine readers and apps don’t offer all the interactive features Leading Brands wanted, we decided that as digital publishing is the future, we should launch our magazine reader app, (MAGapp). Seeing the results of what can now be done on magazines pages is ground-breaking, and these exciting new interactive magazines include many features like video, audio, animation and direct links to websites. This kind of technology has endless potential, and things are moving fast. Many of the big names already have an interactive magazine including Mercedes, Ferrari, Waldorf Astoria, Brietling and Chanel.

Initially our graphic design department hit a big learning curve, but we were all really motivated to see how this new way of publishing would evolve and to be one of the first publishing houses in the UAE to launch such a world-class magazine app. The main difference compared to designing a static print layout is that the software allows you to work across separate layers and you must design with that in mind. It has been an exhilarating and challenging time and to be pioneers of this type of publishing is extremely rewarding.

Embrace digital media and don’t get left behind! This is the new publishing 2.0.