Config 2024: Redesigning BBC.com: crafting a connected, contextual, and global experience | Figma

Config 2024: Redesigning BBC.com: crafting a connected, contextual, and global experience
BBC Studios and UIC Digital recently embarked on an ambitious task; rebranding, redesigning and replatforming BBC.com for users outside of the UK. The primary goal was to create a more connected, contextual, and frictionless experience for a global audience numbering in the hundreds of millions.
This talk will delve into the design journey undertaken in the transformation of the BBC.com website and app. Laura and Sam will share some of the real-world challenges that come with the redesign of a world-renowned platform
Featuring: Laura Llewellyn, Creative Director, BBC Studios & Sam Drury, UX Director, UIC Digital

[@hoopercraig]

More pragmatic and reality-based talks like this.

[@lowercase01]

Craigslist 2024.

[@adityasshukla]

Even after so much thought, the website still looks like a dated "news website" - boring and dead. And sorry to say but Reith Serif looks awful to me. The layout looks wonky the more I see it. NY Times, though similar, looks much more organised, easy on eyes and well-designed.

[@manskracht]

Literally looks like my first draft after a mornings work

[@maxharrison3754]

Its not just news though. That was probably a big reason to keep it so simplistic and 'boring'. They have at least 6-7 very different offerings on multiple sub-domains that need to look consistent.

[@adityasshukla]

@@maxharrison3754 Yeah that's one excuse to not design. Look at The Guardian, Bloomberg and DW - 'simplistic' yet distinct. For a more experimental unique approach, look at The Verge and The Ken. Or just design it to feel like a print newspaper like WSJ, NYT, El Pais, Global Times and AP. This redesign is indeed terrible. My opinion.

[@maxharrison3754]

​@@adityasshukla A fair opinion, but the examples you gave still don't have distinct sub brands. The BCC's sub brands will have had a say how they want each of their content to be presented. I think they said in the video that there were hundreds of stakeholders. They will have had to comprimise a lot and simplify to achieve sign off.
I do agree it could be more creative but on something this scale it must be really difficult to make everyone happy with a creative approach.