Behind the scenes of Silicon Valley Business Journal redesign

Richard Horgan of FishbowlLA examines the redesign of the Silicon Valley Business Journal under new editor Greg Baumann.

Horgan writes, “The first of several planned new website iterations went live at the beginning of the year, alongside a January 4 weekly print edition boasting a whole new look. The latter is the handiwork of Mario Garcia, previously instrumental in the redesign of the Wall Street Journal and Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper editions.

“‘He’s here now in our newsroom,’ Baumann tells FishbowlLA via telephone from San Jose, ‘advising on pages for the next issue. Our print version has a digitally inspired look that operates on the principles of simplicity and cleanliness.’

“‘Cover stories are designed to make readers forget every front page of every metropolitan business paper they’ve ever seen,’ he continues. ‘They feature a dominant image and a hammer-head that tells readers what they should be thinking about next week. We’re also pushing reporters as subject-matter experts and have recognized that lists are the most valuable editorial content we produce.’

“‘Historically, we’ve done a great job of burying our lists, but that is no longer the case. For the January 11 issue, for example, we’re profiling 50 dominant law firms.’

“The ambitious twin relaunch of the Silicon Valley Business Journal has also been positioned as a prototype for the dozens of other papers in the American City Business Journals chain.”

Read more here.