Nieman Foundation for Journalism

UX/UI reboot for a Harvard institution.

The Nieman Foundation manages multiple publishing initiatives: Storyboard, Reports, and Lab. We conducted a comprehensive rebuild of the Nieman Foundation’s outdated WordPress multisite.

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Services

Analytics
CMS training
Information architecture
Data migration
Content strategy
Technical consulting
UI/UX design

Processes

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How to lay the foundation for a more efficient, flexible CMS experience?

We began with a discovery process aimed at aligning Nieman’s editorial vision with technical feasibility. Through workshops and a content audit, we unpacked the needs of multiple publishing verticals and identified opportunities to streamline content creation and reduce redundancy. This led to a component-based design approach that prioritized reusability across the site — laying the groundwork for a system that’s easier to manage and scale.

How can editorial complexity be turned into a unified, user-centered design system?

Each Nieman property had its own voice, structure, and publishing cadence. Our challenge was to support that diversity without overcomplicating the CMS. Through collaborative working sessions, we clarified where customization was essential and where consistency could create efficiencies. The resulting wireframes demonstrated how a shared set of components could flex to meet the needs of each editorial vertical while maintaining a cohesive user experience.

How to move from discovery to actionable design strategy?

At the end of discovery, we delivered a detailed project brief that captured editorial goals, content needs, technical requirements, and a roadmap for visual design and development. This document aligned stakeholders around a shared vision and gave the implementation team a clear, prioritized path forward — transforming abstract goals into concrete, actionable plans.

Kind words

Working with Common Media is like having an extension of our own team. They go beyond the role of a typical vendor; their proactive approach to maintaining our core website technology and enhancing functionality through custom modules has brought incredible stability and growth to our digital presence.
Dianne Regnier

CAIA Association Marketing Director

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