New Content-Focused Design for DailyCandy Site & App

Writer Dany Levy quickly became a known name when in 2000, she launched DailyCandy, a handy email newsletter full of tips on where to shop, eat and play in New York City. Screen shot 2013-06-19 at 5.08.51 PM

Fast forward to today, and Levy’s site is now a part of NBCUniversal’s digital portfolio, and has evolved into a major online destination, showing more than 6 million readers ages 18 to 45 what’s hot in food, fashion and entertainment in cities across the country.

The site recently saw a multi-platform overhaul that went into effect on Monday.

“The idea is that all of the platforms will be completely refreshed with a whole new look and feel by the end of the week,” Alison Moore, former Head of Digital Products at HBO, now Executive Vice President and General Manager of DailyCandy, told Co.Design. She adds, “This is the perfect time for us to do this because digital is exploding, particularly around women’s content.”

The new website, created by the DailyCandy team with help from Roundarch Isobar, features a rotating marquee across the top that can be used to promote a variety of content and a three-column layout below, with content branded “The Latest” presented on the left-hand side of the page, general interest “Everywhere” stories in the center column and an assortment of social media offerings on the right.

Consumers can further personalize their experience on this new incarnation of DailyCandy, honing in on the locations and subjects they care about, while being exposed to general content that might pique their interest, Moore told Co.Design.

The site will also deliver more than twice as much content; video will figure more prominently in the DailyCandy experience. The new site incorporates a more advanced video player, fueled by content from SuChin Pak, DailyCandy’s Chief Correspondent. She will produce more episodes of her series Currently Coveting and 5 Questions with SuChin. She will also host a new series called Nightly Candy, talking to celebrities and other trendsetters about the cool things readers should know about.

The new DailyCandy Scout App, which is scheduled to roll out June 20, is much more customizable; providing feeds on fashion, beauty, restaurants and more based on user preferences in terms of location and types of content.

A new list function of the app enables users to bookmark items from DailyScout (or the DailyCandy website) for future reference. DailyCandy Scout will also allow users to be a part of the curation process by uploading photos of their own finds.

The popular DailyCandy newsletter, with 3.3 million subscribers, will remain, though they will get a refresh with larger photos and less text.