Tagesspiegel Print Redesign
Tagesspiegel Print Redesign
2017 – 2022 | 👉 Editorial design
Client:
Tagesspiegel/DvH Medien
Brief:
Develop a refreshed concept and redesign in a more compact, reader-friendly format.
Case:
The Tagesspiegel print edition underwent a complete overhaul, resulting in a more compact, accessible layout that resonates with modern readers. The redesign introduced a refined aesthetic, making the publication visually engaging and easier to handle, without compromising on content quality. Recognized as the European Newspaper of the Year and awarded by INMA in New York for "best product iteration" and "best use of print," this project highlighted how innovative design can invigorate traditional print media, preserving its relevance in a digital age.
The relaunch was a process that spanned nearly seven years within the organization. Several prototypes were created, discussed, and ultimately discarded by the former art direction team. My role was to consolidate and refine these prototypes, develop a cohesive typographic concept, collaborate with the editorial team to create an editorial concept, manage stakeholder communication, and oversee the implementation of all templates and layouts into a new CMS (CUE Print).
Editorially and in terms of production, the biggest changes are: a completely new format that is much more practical to read and bound at the side, making it feel like a magazine. Additionally, the relaunch introduces "two newspapers in one": 40 pages of national and international coverage, with a second "section" inserted inside, featuring its own front page and 40 pages focused on reporting from Berlin.
Additionally, since the relaunch, all content is managed centrally via a browser-based editor (CUE). This requires the information architecture of the article templates to be consistent across all channels (digital and print).
The transition from 28 pages in a Nordic format to 80 pages in a smaller, more practical format required a complete redesign of the editorial structure, text lengths, image formats, layout, and advertising placement options.
A library of article shapes, article organisms, and page templates was developed. The number of variants was significantly reduced, and a simple, streamlined template system tailored to the editorial production workflows was created. Below are examples from the comprehensive manual:
Sample pages from the first months of production showcase numerous new special pages, such as new frontpages and the daily interview featured in the center of the first section. Various templates are available for front pages: for portrait and landscape-oriented images, for weekends, and for breaking news:
Was kommt: Three rotating experts analyze daily political, societal, or economic questions.
Verstehen Sie Berlin: What's new in the city?
Was war: An author or expert looks back—how has a story developed, and what has happened since?
Many content pieces are designed as digital-first, such as the daily Checkpoint double page, created alongside the daily newsletter. Similarly, the daily tips are developed digitally first and then adapted for print.
The layout is designed for simplicity, offering great flexibility for compact, fast-paced pages as well as extensive reports spanning multiple double-page spreads.
