How to redesign a digital product: Lessons from the New York Times App

How to redesign a digital product

A digital product is only as good as its users. If users can't find what they are looking for or if the product is difficult to use, they will likely abandon it. That is why it is essential to design digital products that are user-friendly.

If you're thinking about redesigning your product, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Understand your users. What are their needs and pain points? What are their goals when they use your product? The more you understand your users, the better equipped you will be to design a product that meets their needs.

2. Make it easy to use. Your product should be easy to navigate, and users should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

3. Use a consistent design. Your product should have a consistent look and feel throughout. This will help users learn how to use the product quickly and easily. This also applies to visual elements such as colours, fonts, and icons throughout the product.

4. Test your product with users. Before you launch your redesigned product, be sure to test it with users to get their feedback. This will help you identify any usability issues and make the necessary changes.

Lessons from the New York Times App

Here is a case study that illustrates the importance of user-centered designs:

Case Study: The Redesign of the New York Times App by John Vino (A UX case study) published on UX Collection on Medium

The New York Times app is one of the most popular news apps in the world. But it wasn’t always that way, as the app was struggling to keep up with the changing needs of its users. To address this problem, Johny Vino, an interaction/visual designer, and together with his team, Keh and Addi, who were both UX thinking experts, came up with the idea and concept to redesign the New York Times App with the help of Professor Renda Morton. The goal of the redesign was to build incentives amongst the sea of free news apps, to lead to a lasting habit for readers of the New York Times App, and to help them retain their long-term loyalty.

The team started by conducting user research to understand how people were using the app and what they liked and disliked about it. They found out that users wanted a more personalized experience and also wanted to be able to find the news they were looking for more quickly and easily in their leisure time, as time was a major factor for the majority of the users using the app.

Based on this research, the team made several changes to the app, including;

1. Adding a new personalized feature called "Timely" that surfaces articles or news based on the user's interest and reading history

2. The introduction of news or article notifications makes it easier for users to access news or articles at opportune moments throughout a busy day.

The team also made several visual changes to the app, such as colours and typography. The goal of these changes was to make the app more modern and engaging.

Conclusion

This case study shows that it is important to involve users in the design process to ensure that the final product is user-friendly and meets their needs. By following the steps above, you can redesign your digital product to make it more user-friendly and improve the overall user experience.