Verdict Media

Rebuilding Verdict Media, a modular approach to 20+ news sites

The problem
Verdict Media was haemorrhaging budget on an inefficient digital ecosystem. Each site operated in isolation with inconsistent design treatments, leading to unnecessary custom development. User metrics revealed alarming drop-off rates, with poor navigation creating confusion across their portfolio. The lack of a clear hierarchy and visual signposting meant users couldn't efficiently find what they needed.
The solution
We took a modular approach, deconstructing the entire system into core components that could be deployed across all sites. Working in Agile sprints, we built a flexible component library that maintained brand consistency while allowing for vertical-specific customisation. This dramatically reduced development overhead while creating a more intuitive user experience with clear pathways and visual hierarchy.
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Requirements
Design System
User Experience
User Interface Design
User Research
Media Design
Visit website
Requirements
Design System
User Experience
User Interface Design
User Research
Media Design

Design driven by customer insight

We discovered users spent just 31 seconds on the site before 88% left, viewing only 1.31 pages on average. These insights became our North Star for reimagining the entire user experience. Our research exposed major flaws in Verdict's ecosystem: inconsistent navigation across sites, overly complex menus that buried content, absent signposting between sections, and disorganized channels that missed commercial opportunities. Users were getting lost, and revenue potential was being wasted.