DerWesten.de Homepage Redesign
Redesigning the homepage of a German news portal with a large audience, introducing a clearer visual hierarchy, readable headlines and a modular layout.
Role: UI/UX Designer
Scope: Homepage Redesign, Content Hierarchy, Responsive Layout, UI Components
Team: Design, Editorial, Development
Company: FUNKE Digital GmbH
2026
Website: DerWesten.de
The Challenge
DerWesten.de serves a large audience with a constant flow of news across regional and national topics. Its homepage needed a clearer structure to distinguish lead stories, current headlines and breaking news. The goal was to create a modular, responsive layout that separates text from images, strengthens the visual hierarchy and gives each news format a defined place.
Before the Redesign
Key challenges
• Headlines overlaid large portions of images, obscuring visuals and breaking text into separate strips
• The news ticker sat below the lead story, giving current updates less prominence
• Limited visual separation between topics and news priorities
A Modular Layout System
I developed a responsive grid with 12 columns on desktop and 4 on mobile to provide a consistent foundation for different news formats and advertising placements.
Grid & Responsive Layout
Flexible teaser formats establish a clearer hierarchy between lead stories and supporting articles, with images and headlines kept separate for improved readability.
Teaser Formats
A repositioned news ticker gives current headlines greater prominence, while a dedicated breaking news bar appears when urgent updates need attention.
Modules & Components
The redesigned homepage brings a clearer structure to DerWesten’s news coverage, with readable headlines, distinct topic sections and greater prominence for current and breaking news. A responsive, modular layout supports different editorial formats and optimizes advertising space within the content grid, balancing news presentation with commercial requirements.
Outcome
Created as part of my role at FUNKE Digital. All brand and content rights remain with FUNKE Digital and the respective rights holders.