To note that the world has changed in that period is patently obvious; particularly in South Africa. Surely, the future is not what is used to be in many respects; those halcyon years of 2005 to 2007 will not likely return. But the future remains what our children and grandchildren will have to live with, albeit changing so very rapidly.

Habitat text used to be set in hot metal, next came computer typesetting and litho positives that were stripped onto plates. DTP followed and now our Power Macs do it all on multiple screens that provide a computer-to-plate transition from PDFs. Unimaginable in the ‘70s, this production progress means that we have more time to spend on the design of Habitat, i.e. its content and layout.

What 2012 will bring is equally unimaginable. Global events and geo-politics – driven by IT and social networks – move so rapidly that time is ever more of the essence. With all the time-saving devices that we now use we undoubtedly achieve more, yet still seem to have less time to complete every task.

New Look
I’ve said previously that progress must be reflected with re-design, and that this is especially true in the sector of specialised magazines. We’ve introduced what we see as an upgrade to our content and layout in this, the first issue of the New Year. In line with Habitat’s contemporary design philosophy, we feel this new look is positive and more cutting-edge. I would like to have your opinion and ask you to email me at the address below.

To all our faithful Habitat readers – and those valued clients who in supporting us with advertising make this magazine possible – I say thank you for 2011. May 2012 be a safe, secure and satisfying year.

Colin Ainsworth Sharp – colin@habitat-mag.com
December 2011