Digital Publication Reinventing Newsworthy

This digital publication is a daily web magazine and podcast network, offering incisive analysis and commentary on politics, news, business, technology, and culture.

Renowned for their distinct editorial voice, they sought to mobile application that could truly represent their diverse array of articles and podcasts. We worked closely with this client to revamp their app, ensuring alignment with this digital publication’s official branding and enhancing the overall user experience. Our collaboration focused on introducing UI/UX enhancements to refresh the app’s appearance and functionality, creating a platform that would not only resonate with their existing audience but also appeal to new readers and listeners.

Finding the right perspective

To enhance their mobile application effectively, we first needed to understand the challenges with the existing app. Collaborating closely with their team, we identified key pain points from both their insights and our analysis. This dual perspective allowed us to craft tailored recommendations to improve the app’s functionality and user experience.

This digital publication offers both free content and a subscription-based membership. A significant part of our challenge involved refining the reading experience for all users while optimising the app’s features to better convert casual readers into subscribers.

A Groundbreaking Experience

We hit the ground running with two primary objectives for this. First, we dove into analysing the app’s user experience. Considering their diverse storytelling, a key goal was to enhance the reading experience, ensuring users stay informed and engaged with the latest stories.

Our second task tackled the user flow differentiation between casual readers and subscribers. As our design team reimagined the app’s interface, our developers simultaneously crafted a proof-of-concept prototype. This prototype aimed to seamlessly integrate a paywall functionality for non-subscribers, balancing accessibility with the incentive for subscription.

Making Stories More Comprehensive

Enhancing accessibility was a critical focus, especially for a reading-centric app like theirs. To elevate the user reading experience, we introduced features allowing users to adjust text size and toggle dark mode, catering to individual comfort and reducing eye strain in low-light conditions.

In parallel, we refined the podcast experience, showcasing their curated illustrations and facilitating easy access to preferred listening platforms. For subscribers, we revamped the pitch page and callouts, ensuring they were engaging and harmonious with the app’s design. Our overarching aim was to ensure a seamless and enjoyable journey for all users, up to and including the paywall encounter.

Re-establishing And Revitalising Their Platform

By understanding and addressing the specific needs of their diverse user base, we successfully transformed their mobile app into a more accessible, engaging, and user-friendly platform. Our work not only refreshed the app’s visual and functional aspects but also strengthened the bridge between this digital publication’s free and subscription-based content.