The updated Forbes 400 web package marks the second step in a rolling redesign of Forbes.com, which began with the re-architecture of Forbes blogs in August 2010, and will continue over the next several months.
The Forbes brand redesign aims to enhance the aesthetics of both Forbes magazine and Forbes.com, while fostering participation and interactivity between readers, content creators and marketers in order to meet the demands of a new and evolving media world. The new design aims to deliver a user experience that is cleaner, simpler, more interactive and easier to navigate.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Forbes to both meet the ever-changing demands of our audience and the marketplace while continuing to deliver the award-winning journalism that has made Forbes so essential and helpful to our visitors and readers,” said Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor in Chief at Forbes. “Moreover, this redesign offers fantastic opportunities to deepen existing relationships by further engaging our audience.”
Lewis D’Vorkin, Chief Product Officer at Forbes, added: “The redesign allows Forbes to put journalism at the centre of social media by creating new opportunities for content creators, the audience and marketers to participate in the conversation in real time, as it unfolds on our digital and print platforms.”
Highlights of the Forbes magazine and Forbes.com redesign include:
• Greater compatibility and interactivity between the print and online platforms
• More white space, contemporary photography and clean design aesthetics
• An even greater focus on reporting – investigative, immersive, with Forbes journalists at the center of the conversation
• New opportunities for advertisers, thought leaders and other content creators to participate in the pages of the magazine and online
• More coverage surrounding Forbes lists and list members on an ongoing basis throughout the year
Updates specific to Forbes magazine include:
• Brief, easily scanned synopses of feature articles
• Reader Comments and Fast Facts interspersed throughout the articles
Updates specific to Forbes.com include:
• Online content surrounded and augmented by a robust blog platform
• Enhanced syndication throughout Forbes.com’s channels, and to social networking platforms
• More choices on how to best view information from streamlined channels and sections
• Ability to follow reporters, conversations, topics and people (Billionaires, Forbes 400 members)
"As we take our initial steps in the rearchitecture of Forbes.com, we’re using our new Social Stream to extend the dialogue between Forbes journalists and our audience,” said Andrea Spiegel, Vice President, New Product Development at Forbes. “We’re embracing the social conversation not just on Forbes, but also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn through a partnership with Social Amp, a startup focused on social, community-based applications."
According to Social Amp Founder Matt Sunbulli, "The annual release of the Forbes 400 presented a unique opportunity to amplify the conversation around this year's rankings. We're excited to help Forbes build community and create online groundswell surrounding the 400."
