SmartNews has seen incredible success, particularly in the Japanese market, becoming the number one source for trusted news. As their success was growing in the US too, an opportunity arose to reflect on the brand and re-evaluate what it could be for new users in new locations. SmartNews worked with Wunderdogs to reposition the brand, creating a strong foundation for future growth and the introduction of new capabilities helping people feel good about being informed.
SmartNews is looking to empower people with diverse perspectives so they can create a more empathetic world. Our work started with redefining the brand’s foundations and crystallizing the key messages to resonate with its diverse user base. We worked on the messaging but also the brand voice to give SmartNews a platform to deliver a distinctive and compelling message.
We set out to create alignment with people’s expectations of SmartNews as a news provider. A brand on the pulse of culture and world affairs, SmartNews offers new perspectives people can’t get anywhere else. To highlight that, brand messaging is focused on a balance of honesty and openness while promoting curation that encourages positive well-being. We also wanted to surface a unique blend of machine learning and human editorial oversight to provide trusted, relevant content to users.
With SmartNews’ existing visual identity as a baseline, we enhanced and expanded the visual ecosystem to support their digital team in creating a more sophisticated in-app user experience. The different aspects of the identity and how they are applied meet the needs of different audiences while helping them navigate their new experience in a way that works for them.