A Redesign Story - of print proportions
In early November, my local paper, the LA Times, was delivered with a shiny new look -- from overall layout, colors, callouts, large graphic focus, to completely new type faces. The subscriber note in the paper read:"Now our home gets a makeover. Today's world is complex. But with the better, bolder, brighter LA Times, navigating your world is simple. We've rethought how we deliver the news right down to our typefaces. We sweated the details, because great journalism is about getting every detail right."
This was a bold move for a long-standing historic paper. I was impressed and inspired. Even the LA Times was simplifying and re-architecting. They even went so far as to declare usability as the main goal with "making it easier to get what you need".
And we know that sweat.
Coming from the digital design world where just a small CSS edit can effect a major design change, and/or the seemingly unwritten rule mandating online brands to change up their look or risk looking outdated, means that I've lived that redesign sweat many times over. But more importantly, the need to change design in order to accomplish better usability is truly the best goal. So for our mainstay print newspaper to take the leap is honorable and inspiring.
More Information:
VIDEO:
> Watch the back story on the specific redesign goals and details
DOWNLOAD PDF:
> The editor, Russ Stanton, asked the readers for their feedback
BLOG:
> Initial Subscribers' feedback
