Product and Brand Design for a Digital Op-ed Publication

A political think tank tested a sample product designed in-house. After a design audit, we were brought in to support rebuilding the product from the ground up based on the same premise but a completely new version.

Client
The Pulse
Services
UX Strategy • Zero-to-☝🏼• Brand Design • Design Management • Creative Direction
Duration
May 2018 – Nov 2019
Industry
Political News

Project OKRs.

Defining a New Product. After a basic test with in-house design, we revamped the product with the same value proposition — refined to meet the objectives.

Product UX and Design Development. We developed the product with business stages in mind for consistency and plan for growth.

Brand Design and Visual System for Editorial Content. Visual language and brand personality guides.

Editorial Guide for Writing and Content Guide. Induction kit to onboard writers.

Hands-on Samples and Creative Direction. Content design support during the initial stages of the product launch.

From Knotty Indian to The Pulse.

The team had built a platform called "Knotty Indian" earlier to test their idea. However, the execution didn't translate as desired. We worked on the information architecture to bring out the value proposition of the product.

Product Concept and Design

With high timelines at hand, we developed the product in three weeks to test the idea and seek funds. The MVP worked, and the team had the required funds to activate editorial operations.

Brand Design: Visual System for Categories and Editorial Guideline

Systems support in bringing operations to life. For a new product, still shaping its daily ops — the brand guides formed a base to align the team to set the initial ops rolling. There is a style guide for visuals across each category type to help bring coherence and a visceral personality for stories. The editorial guide shared examples of voice and tone along with approach of writing for the brand.

Content Direction and Samples

We had a lot of fun with content to see how political content can be given a popular-culture voice and tone. Here are some samples we worked on.

Project Impact

The MVP turned out as a green signal to raise initial funds. The current community as in 2022 on social channels is over 81K. It was a fast paced project, but fulfilling to see how so many initial concepts proposed for the product — from content to marketing — saw the light of day gradually.

Creative, her Commitment and professionalism rubs off on others. — Ritesh P, CEO (Political Think Tank)
Concept sketch for the logo, shared with the in-house designer.

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