Not long ago, MTN surprised the public with a bold, minimalist rebrand—stripping its iconic yellow and italics in favor of a clean and straightforward look. The decision was met with mixed reactions, but it aligned with the company’s goal of reflecting a refreshed strategy. Similarly, Zikoko, a popular youth-focused digital media platform, has embarked on a transformation of its own, unveiling a newly revamped website.The redesigned site delivers a seamless user experience, featuring a simplified navigation menu for categories, a side menu showcasing flagship content, and sections for trending articles and video-based shows. Users can now easily access Zikoko’s newsletters via a dedicated widget, making content discovery far more intuitive. This overhaul symbolizes not just a visual upgrade but a deeper reinvention, particularly with the addition of Zikoko Citizen, a new platform dedicated to politically conscious African youth.
The Redesign Journey
The ambitious project was executed by an in-house design team led by product designers who worked closely with stakeholders across Zikoko’s business, editorial, and tech teams. Speaking about their approach, the designers explained how critical it was to balance business objectives with user needs. One major focus was improving content discoverability, as users had often struggled to find both new and older content due to the overwhelming variety of material on the platform.The process involved extensive audience research. Surveys garnered hundreds of responses, helping the team identify key pain points and establish priorities. Despite tight timelines, they used a thematic analysis of feedback to pinpoint the most pressing issues and design solutions that addressed them effectively.
A Collaborative Effort
The design team cited communication challenges as one of the trickiest aspects of the project. Feedback from the editorial team often lacked actionable clarity, making it difficult to translate into practical design changes. To address this, they stressed the importance of aligning all stakeholders during regular meetings to ensure consistent progress.On the editorial side, the managing editor acknowledged the communication hurdles but praised the design team’s ability to bring Zikoko’s vision to life. The collaboration resulted in a website that not only meets business goals but also captures the vibrant, youthful energy synonymous with Zikoko.
Why the Redesign Matters
The need for a redesign was rooted in functionality. While Zikoko had long been celebrated for its compelling content, the old site’s layout made it challenging for users to navigate efficiently. The new design resolves this, making it easier to discover both popular and niche content through improved navigation bars and side menus.
Looking Ahead
With the new website in place, Zikoko aims to further solidify its identity as a unique voice in African media. The platform has evolved beyond being a mere aggregator of quizzes and humorous articles; it’s now a space for thoughtful political discourse, cultural exploration, and diverse storytelling.The team has ambitious goals for the future. They aspire for Zikoko to stand as a unique brand that captures African stories authentically—without comparisons to global platforms like Buzzfeed or Rolling Stone. This redesign is just one step in their journey to becoming a distinct, enduring voice in the digital media landscape.By weaving together creativity, innovation, and audience-centric design, Zikoko’s revamped website marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the platform.
