ProPublica refreshes digital platform with updated branding and enhanced accessibility
The redesign introduces a bolder logo and improved homepage structure, prioritising supporting materials and secure tip lines for contributors.
ProPublica has launched a comprehensive update to its digital presence, introducing a new visual identity and structural improvements to its website. The organisation states that the redesign addresses limitations in its previous design, which was established before the ubiquity of mobile phones and social media platforms.
The new visual identity features a bolder logo and refreshed typefaces that the team describes as cleaner while maintaining a connection to the classicism of the organisation's name. These changes are intended to ensure the brand travels effectively across the various screens where readers encounter ProPublica's work, including Apple News and Instagram.
Structural changes to the homepage now allow for the better integration of supporting materials with primary investigations. The new layout makes it easier for readers to access visual explainers, details on methodology, and archived reporting, ensuring the full picture of an investigation is readily available.
Accessibility features have also been highlighted within the new design. Options for audio narration and multi-language versions of articles are now more prominent, aiming to broaden access to the organisation's reporting for a wider range of users.
The redesign also improves the presentation of journalist and partner details, including photos and secure methods for contributors to send tips. While specific technical details regarding the implementation of these secure contact methods have not been fully elaborated, the update aims to facilitate safer communication for sources.
The design team, led by Allen Tan with Sophie Greenspan and Jeff Frankl, collaborated with partners at Gretel to conceive the update. The organisation emphasises that while the visual presentation has evolved to meet contemporary user expectations, its core commitment to independent, rigorous journalism in the public interest remains unchanged.
Further design changes are scheduled to roll out over the coming months as the organisation continues to refine the platform. ProPublica invites feedback from readers regarding the new look and functionality, noting that the current state of the site may evolve further in the near future.
