Role: Lead Designer & Frontend Engineer
Project Overview
Euromoney magazine, a cornerstone publication of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, had long been a respected source in the financial sector. However, its digital presence had become outdated, impacting user engagement and subscription rates. The challenge was to modernise the website within a constrained budget, without the luxury of a full content migration or platform overhaul.
Strategic Approach
The project presented several challenges:
- Legacy CMS Integration: The existing content management system was antiquated, limiting flexibility and requiring creative solutions for modern design implementation.
- Budget Constraints: The allocated budget was more suited to a proof of concept than a comprehensive redesign, necessitating a lean approach.
- Content Migration Limitations: Without the ability to migrate content, existing assets were often ill-suited for a modern layout.
To address these challenges, we:
- Simplified Information Architecture: Collaborated with senior business stakeholders to refine and simplify the site taxonomy, reducing user confusion and enhancing content discoverability.
- Streamlined Content Presentation: Consolidated various content types and presentation patterns into a more manageable and recognisable set, improving user experience and content circulation.
- Implemented Tactical Design Solutions: Developed creative 'hacks' to work within the constraints of the legacy CMS, delivering a modernised look and feel without extensive backend changes.
Implementation & Deliverables
Key deliverables included:
- A refreshed homepage design that aligned with modern web aesthetics.
- Improved content layouts that enhanced readability and user engagement.
- A richer format article page for higher-value sponsored and featured content, allowing for more flexible layouts and interactive elements.
- Documentation to facilitate future updates and iterations within the existing CMS framework.
Outcome
The project was a success, achieving a significant visual and functional upgrade within the constraints. The modernised site saw increased user engagement and set the stage for future enhancements.
However, the success also led to a shift in business priorities, with planned iterations being descoped and subsequent re-platforming efforts seeing minimal changes to the user interface.
This project exemplifies how targeted, strategic design interventions can yield substantial improvements, even within limited resources and constraints.
