Economic Policy
Reframing Economic Thinking for a Digital World
We repositioned Economic Policy with a confident digital brand, editorial-first web experience and scalable design system to support its transition from print to online.
Economic Policy is a long-established, internationally respected academic journal that publishes peer-reviewed research designed to inform economic policymaking across Europe. Supported by CEPR, the Bank of Italy and Sciences Po, it is known for its accessible writing, evidence-based insight and relevance to policymakers, academics and journalists. As the journal shifted to an online-only model, it required a complete rethink of how its content, brand and platform functioned in the digital space.
The Challenge: From Print Legacy to Digital Presence
The journal’s existing website was originally created for event registration and lacked the structure, flexibility and editorial clarity required to support a modern publishing platform. Economic Policy was moving away from static PDF publishing and towards a fully digital format. This transition demanded more than a technical update. It involved repositioning the journal’s identity, improving content navigation, strengthening user journeys, and future-proofing editorial workflows, and all while maintaining the credibility and authority the journal had built over decades.
Our Strategy: Lean, Collaborative and Editorial-First
We began with a focused discovery phase, including stakeholder workshops and a technical audit of the existing WordPress site. To maximise impact within a lean budget, we proposed enhancing the current build rather than starting from scratch. Our design strategy focused on editorial clarity and usability, drawing inspiration from the structure of leading policy journals. We restructured core templates, simplified navigation, and integrated event, article and podcast content more effectively. A minimal but precise visual refresh ensured consistency across digital, social and academic platforms.
The Outcome: A Confident, Cohesive Digital Brand
Our Figma-based design system underpinned every part of the project. Developed in a real-time, collaborative environment, it enabled quick iteration and seamless handoff to development. The resulting guidelines are deliberately restrained but highly structured, supporting consistency across components, content types and channels. The new platform is mobile responsive, accessible, SEO-optimised and future-ready, enabling Economic Policy to manage content with confidence while growing its influence. The project proved that even small-scale design engagements can deliver lasting transformation, which results in a modern, purposeful brand built on clarity, credibility and impact.
