Redesign of the Financial Times

The Brief
The FT, more so than any other newspaper, is used as an everday business tool by its readers. The goal of this redesign was to make it quicker, more intuitive and more satisfying to use. Andy Davis, the Development Editor at the FT had a nice phrase for it--"breathable design". As you flip through the paper, you inhale information almost effortlessly. In an aesthetic sense, the FT wanted to reflect its modern international persona in the way it chose to present itself.

Our role
Ryan began working with Andy in late Decemeber of 2006 and collaborated with designers and editors throughout the FT during the 4 months leading up to the launch. We produced a full dummy in mid-Feburary, just a month and a half after starting design work. Ryan was intimately involved in the internal logistical implementation.



The Design
In order to achieve a more modern feel two FontBureau fonts, MillerDisplay (a beautiful serif headline face cut by Matthew Carter) and BentonSans (a heavy serious version of News Gothic) were adopted. There was a conscious decision to use both fonts in their full width to underscore the new concentration on space and clarity. A great deal of time was spent on making the navigation, story labelling and page hierarchy of the paper as clear as possible. Individual story labels were removed in favor of more informative "package labels" that called attention to the amazing scope of the FT by highlighting those subjects on which it writes more than one story. This introduced much needed space into the overall design and lended to the sense of in-page hierarchy. Varying Bold and Roman headline weights and the addition of tinted "background" boxes also allowed helped guide the reader through the paper while adding texture and life to the pink pages. In the name of readily accessible information, a two deck system was devised for allowing the most pertinent information to be available at a glance. In the interest of pace and diferentiation, the Business Life/Arts spread was moved to the back of the paper and given an airey look with strategic use of white space and larger photographs. The comment and letters pages meanwhile have again become the heart of the paper with a new woodcut and the reintroduction of the motto "Without fear or favour". Click here for Lionel's Editor's Letter.

Reaction
What the focus groups said:
'Very clear, things jumped out at me'
'Simpler, more friendly on the eye, more tempted to sit down and read...somehow they've made it look shorter'
'Designed so it's easier for people to find what they're looking for'
'I did find it more attractive, more aesthetic...seems like it's got a bit more space...less claustrophobic...slightly warmer, more human'

Press
The Guardian
Evening Standard
Society of Newspaper Design
Interview in IFRA Magazine
Press Gazette
Design Week
POLIS - LSE Media Thinktank
Brand Republic (free reg required)
The Editors Weblog
FT Press Release

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