Creating an Opus is a long journey, taking around two years from concept to publication. Each Opus begins with numerous planning meetings to decide on the editorial and design direction that the Opus will take. From there, the team that is assembled works night and day to make the Opus a reality. Editorial, design and imagery is worked and re-worked to ensure that every page delivers maximum impact.
Creative consultant Edward Booth-Clibborn, Editor-in-chief Justyn Barnes, and Head designer Gary Maddison collaborate on the United Opus.
Each Opus team is overseen by an experienced editor with a specialist knowledge of the subject. The editor is charged with the responsibility for every aspect of the Opus, working closely with the writers, photographers, illustrators, designers and picture researchers to combine all the elements.
Our team of expert photo editors and researchers search exhaustively for the images that make each Opus an unprecedented visual experience. Alongside this, it is their job to work with the editor to select and commission suitable photographers for the myriad of new photo shoots that make each Opus so unique. The challenge includes not only finding images and commissioning photography, but also delivering imagery that complements the narrative on every page. Once appropriate images have been chosen the final, vital step is to ensure that every picture is of the necessary technical quality to merit inclusion. This is a particularly difficult task when images are displayed at up to 100 x 50cm.
As with any luxury item, quality design is of paramount importance. Again, every team of designers are selected for their expertise on, and enthusiasm for, the subject matter. Before a team is commissioned they are required to pitch against up to four other teams for the privilege of working on a project. Once recruited, the designers work in collaboration with the editor, picture editor and creative consultant to produce the pages that appear in the Opus. It is the designers’ task to mould together the inspiring words and spectacular imagery and ensure that the aesthetic appearance of the Opus is of the highest possible quality.
The last step in production of the pages of an Opus is carried out by our highly-skilled reproduction team. Their task is to ensure that the quality of every printed page meets our exacting standards. The process includes cleaning, colour correcting, and optimising every image included in the Opus using special digital technology and an experienced eye, creating page proofs for approval, and liaising with the printers to ensure that when pages are supplied all special printing techniques have been executed perfectly.
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