Specialised skills are needed to take publications from concept to finished product. These projects illustrate the editorial philosophy of ALHAUS.

the ask

As a content agency that delights in telling powerful brand stories, ALHAUS is often asked to bring brands to life through editorial projects (for digital and print). Three ALHAUS projects particularly illustrate our editorial philosophy and process, as well as the skills we use to take publications from initial concepts to a beautiful finished product.

ALHAUS magazine is a platform for our own stories, created by a team of international writers through words and visuals (via both print and digital). We’ve learned through our work on amazing projects that emotional connections elevate a story from good to great; we crystallise those connections within the pages of our in-house publication. Each story within ALHAUS magazine flexes our creative and literary muscles and keeps the curiosity and keenness that characterises our client work sharply honed.

The Homes for Smart Ageing legacy book arose out of a 2017 design challenge, which aimed to generate creative new ideas to solve accessibility issues within the Irish housing industry. To capture the story and achievements of the project, ALHAUS was tasked with managing the editorial, design and print management of a legacy coffee-table book that would be launched at a government event.

inCarlow Magazine is a print project launched to commemorate Carlow's hosting of the 2019 National Ploughing Championship. Its goal was to illuminate the intrinsic relationship between Carlow people and their place and to showcase the wealth of creativity and beauty that exists within its county borders. ALHAUS was responsible for the creation of all editorial content, overseeing the design and print management of the inaugural magazine and the production of launch materials.

the answer

While each project is unique and has its own distinct purpose, ALHAUS has a series of best practice exercises when it comes to answering an editorial brief.

Research on the relevant audience is carried out, so we can create a plan for tailored content that resonates and engages. The team familiarises itself with any relevant brand guidelines in order to produce content that is reflective of an organisation's tone of voice. Where these don't yet exist, ALHAUS creates tone of voice guidelines for clients to ensure that all copy stays on message. Once the tone is established, we get creative with storytelling. Via a workflow that includes comprehensive editing and forensic proofing, we ensure that every piece of content produced is of the highest quality and accessible to all.

With ALHAUS magazine, the aim is keep the curiosity that characterises our client work in clear focus. Published online at the start of the month, each issue is designed to lift the curtain on the people, trends and innovations that we find most captivating.

For the Homes for Smart Ageing legacy book, ALHAUS placed a large emphasis on accessibility during this complex and multi-stage data-driven project. This involved designing a publication that met Rebuilding Ireland brand guidelines and stringent accessibility requirements, as well as creating a digital version of the legacy book that was optimised for on-screen reading. Services included editing, collating and creating engaging content that captured the project’s story, as well as creating an identity, designing and producing the final book. Our user-first approach, research and rigorous testing resulted in a unique and beautiful publication that exudes a sense of quality and is easy to open and handle.

After an initial consultation on the concept, tone and article ideas, ALHAUS offered our full-service editorial services to Carlow County Council for the development of inCarlow Magazine. This involved a start-to-finish content creation package from initial briefs and carrying out interviews to multiple drafts and the final versions. The whole project also included design and production, ensuring smooth communication and on-time delivery.

The impact

From years of experience, the ALHAUS team has learned that brand deliverables, like magazines, crystallise an organisation’s messaging and channel the power of storytelling.

With each of the above examples, ALHAUS’s services transformed an initial concept into a polished finished product. The evocative editorial and compelling blend of articles ensured a high-quality result that surpassed expectation and elevated each brand.