Globe and Mail

Kolor has designed the official “The Globe and Mail” iPhone application in collaboration with Spreed Inc. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language newspaper that is nationally distributed. It is based in Toronto and printed in six cities across Canada. With a weekly readership of 935,000 it is Canada’s largest-circulation national newspaper.

Working closely with Spreed Inc. a design was created for a fully branded mobile experience for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Within the first week the application has risen to the top list on Apple iTunes store, and currently holds a place in the top free news application caterogy.

  • SERVICES UTILIZED
  • Visual Design
  • Interface Design
  • Information Architecture
  • User Experience Design
  • APPLICATION ICON

  • With the iPhone screen displaying 20 icons per screen at once a design was needed to bring the application to the forefront. A simple yet elegant icon was designed to speak towards the Canadian audience as well as connect with the original Globe and Mail branding.

  • IPHONE APPLICATION

  • The iPhone application design connects to The Globe and Mail branding, communicating the editorial feel of the newspaper. The “Trebuchet” typeface was chosen to connect with the current Globe and Mail website brand, however a strong emphasis was placed on keeping the original logo mark from the newspaper. The user experience design placed importance on locating and reading the news articles in the easiest, fastest and most comfortable manner.

  • SPREED ELEMENT

  • Within the application the reader can access their daily news using the Spreed:Reader technology without hindering or influencing the traditional reading experience. A simple, uncluttered interface was designed to foster an efficient read for the Spreed:Reader. A cinema-like experience of reading your news is presented to the user eliminating all possible distractions.

  • SPREED TUTORIAL

  • Within the Spreed:Reader a tutorial was required to introduce the user to the Spreed reading experience. A two page tutorial was designed and copywritten to introduce and guide the user through the Spreed Reading technology. Spreed‘s minimal yet efficent visual brand was maintained.

  • RESULTS

  • Within the first week after the release of the application, it had risen to the number eight position on the Apple iTunes overall top free downloads list, competing against the current total of 15,000 applications. A success that no one could have predicted, the simplicity and functionality of the application connected with a vast number users.

  • TOP NEWS APPLICATION

  • Due to its vast number of downloads and positive feedback. The application currently resides in the top spot under the “News” category on the iPhone iTunes Applicaiton store.

    Screenshot taken: March 15th, 2009