Verso
Verso is a powerful front-end platform for dynamic publishing, offering scalable tools that align user needs, business impact, and editorial excellence — all without custom CSS.
Lead Designer · 2019 · Condé Nast
The Problem.
125 million users, using 23 different apps, in different content management systems, different platforms and with multiple teams solving similar issues without sharing features, code, data or learnings.
Updating and/or making any tests to the each product was costly, redundant and time-consuming.
Verso made it possible to create and improve products that reflect each brand’s style and identity. Its architecture allows features to be systematically added to all brands without individual implementation effort. 23 distinctive brands, 200 million users, all on one platform – not a single line of custom CSS needed.
The power of design tokens.
Design tokens are the building blocks of a design system. They are named objects that hold visual design characteristics. Instead of using fixed values (like color codes or pixel measurements) directly in the code, we use design tokens to ensure a flexible and consistent visual system for creating user interfaces.
The values for each of these tokens is defined per tenant – always following the specific definitions of the use-case that each token was created to solve for. This allows for full customization, without the risk of ever styles ever looking out of place.
Real Customization x Full Integration.
Typography Support
_60 different tokens
_Support for up to 5 typefaces
_Multiple weights
_16 sizes per typeface
_5 breakpoints per size
Visual Customization
_221 color tokens
_70 button styles
_33 input fields, radio buttons and selector fields
_2 Sets of 180 Customizable Icons
_Ornamental rules, with weight and color options
_10 Link behaviors settings
_3 Global Spacing Multiplier
Incredible Results.
+27% in Session Duration
+22% Average increase in reader engagement across brands using Verso articles
53% Faster than competitors in the media space overall
+5% Increase in Affiliate Click Through Rate
1.5 Seconds to First Print
113 Patterns, 45 Pattern Configurations, 1,000 Design Tokens – Millions of Possible Variations.
It took a village.
Verso is the result of a combined effort of an entire organization composed out of some the most talented and inspiring people I ever had the pleasure of working with.
Some honorable mentions: Jomi Cubol, Juli Sombat, Jeremy Browning, Ben Smit, Mason Wenddel, Noah Robischon and Claire Lin.