Journal Remixeroo

Re-architecting a research content system

The Situation
A flagship long-form research product delivered high-value insights but had become increasingly difficult to scale and consume.

  1. Text-heavy formats reduced clarity, engagement, and accessibility
  2. Print-like linear scroll-heavy layouts were not optimised for C-suite consumption
  3. Visual structures varied across teams and verticals
  4. Stakeholders wanted innovation without compromising brand consistency or efficiency
  5. Designers and editors repeatedly rebuilt layouts from scratch

High-value insights were often buried in dense formats, lacking clear prioritisation and narrative framing. The product was trusted, but its experience limited its effectiveness as a decision-support tool.

Research & Discovery

Research included stakeholder interviews, performance analysis, and competitive benchmarking, validated against organisational principles and accessibility standards.

A collaborative workshop with writers, designers, and editors surfaced workflow friction, content challenges, and opportunities for structural improvement. Insights were synthesised to prioritise problems and identify systemic patterns.

Key Insights

  1. Cognitive overload was the primary barrier, not lack of interest
  2. The product needed to support multiple audiences and modes of consumption
  3. Teams needed fewer decisions, not more templates
  4. Production workflows were siloed, limiting collaboration
  5. Visual inconsistency weakened trust and brand cohesion
Casa
Le'More
Seipa
Alzone

My Role

I joined the project as a design consultant responsible for visual direction, brand governance, and design quality. As discovery progressed, it became clear that the core issues were structural rather than visual.

I proposed shifting from a report-by-report redesign to a system-level approach, focusing on content architecture, workflow, and scalable design patterns. 

From that point forward, I led the exploration of information structure, modular design, and production frameworks, guiding the team toward a repeatable, flexible systems that balanced usability, brand consistency, and creative freedom.

Make complex research easier to consume, faster to produce, and consistent at scale — without losing depth, flexibility, or brand integrity.

Strategy & Principles

Structure before style

Information hierarchy over decoration

Modular by default

Enable assets reuse, remixing, and scale

Guided flexibility

Clear guardrails with room for judgment

Accessibility

As a baseline not an afterthought

System Design

1.1 Clear content zones: context, insight, evidence, implication
1.2 Standardised hierarchy for headings, summaries, data, and callouts
1.3 Designed for progressive disclosure: skim → scan → deep read
2.1 Reusable components for insights, quotes, data, and summaries
2.2 Flexible layout structures and column systems to enable consistency and adaptability
3.1 Principle-led approach instead of rigid templates
3.2 Built-in style guide and plug-and-play elements
3.3 Clear decision logic for when to standardise vs flex
4.1 Readability, contrast, and navigation integrated by default
4.2 Reduced reliance on individual design interpretation

Business & Product Impact

  • Improved readability and navigation across long-form research
  • Faster production through clearer patterns and fewer revisions
  • Greater consistency across teams without limiting creativity
  • Scalable foundation for future formats and product evolution

    • Organisational Impact

    1. Shifted perception of design from production support to strategic partner
    2. Enabled designers to focus on higher-value problem solving
    3. Created shared language across research, editorial, and design