A look at how thoughtful UX design shapes trust, engagement, and curiosity in digital media.
When most think of journalism, we think of: Headlines. Breaking News. Facts. But more often than not, it’s design. Quiet and often invisible, it determines whether those facts are seen, understood, or remembered.
I work as a Product Designer at Forbes, and through my experience working on a multitude of projects every day I see how design subtly shapes the way people engage with the news. From typography choices that guide the user’s eyes, to the flow of reading through a story, design decisions are everywhere. They don’t scream for attention, but they hold power, and in the age of information overload, this soft power is becoming more important than ever.Design Is Editorial Now.
In traditional media, editorial and design were separate lanes. Editorial brings the story, and design brings the layout. But in today’s digital experience, those lines are blurring rapidly. Product Design doesn’t just present the story but becomes a part of the storytelling.
Take a simple paywall you run across as an example. The language, the tone, the emotion it evokes; it’s all a part of how we as designers communicate value, trust, and urgency. A well-designed flow feels more like a conversation. A bad one feels like a barrier.
When we redesigned the Forbes subscription checkout experience, one of our biggest priorities wasn’t only the performance but also the tone. How do we convey trust in not only the flow but also the brand? How do we showcase value without sounding like a sales pitch? Every visual, be it the whitespace, or the typography, was designed to reflect the brand’s voice even in a transactional moment.
At Forbes, we treat every interaction as a chance to build trust, through thoughtful UX, informed decisions, and craft that feels intentional.
