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SmartNews＋
SmartNews+ is new subscription service for SmartNews app. Users can read many paid media's high quality articles and use premium coupon with the subscription. I was in charge of the art direction and lead product designer for the project.
ROLE
Lead Designer
PERIOD
2022.Sep - Current
TOOL
Figma
After Effects
TEAM
Me - Art Director, Lead Designer
1 Graphic Designer
2 Product Managers
1 iOS Engineer
1 Android Engineer
3 Backend Engineers
Top
SmartNews＋
SmartNews+ is new subscription service for SmartNews app. Users can read many paid media's high quality articles and use premium coupon with the subscription. I was in charge of the art direction and lead product designer for the project.
ROLE
Lead Designer
PERIOD
2022.Sep - Current
TOOL
Figma
After Effects
TEAM
Me - Art Director, Lead Designer
1 Graphic Designer
2 Product Managers
1 iOS Engineer
1 Android Engineer
3 Backend Engineers
Top
SmartNews＋
SmartNews+ is new subscription service for SmartNews app. Users can read many paid media's high quality articles and use premium coupon with the subscription. I was in charge of the art direction and lead product designer for the project.
ROLE
Lead Designer
PERIOD
2022.Sep - Current
TOOL
Figma
After Effects
TEAM
Me - Art Director, Lead Designer
1 Graphic Designer
2 Product Managers
1 iOS Engineer
1 Android Engineer
3 Backend Engineers
Problem and Concept
In order to solve the above problems and the current state of the news media, SmartNews has partnered with leading business news publishers in Japan and the U.S. to develop a subscription-based paid business news service. This will create a world in which high-quality content created by publishers is delivered to users through the reach of SmartNews, and the production budget goes to publishers who create high-quality content, creating a sustainable ecosystem to deliver even deeper and more meaningful news to users. We aim to create a sustainable ecosystem to deliver deeper and more meaningful news to our users.
Problem and Concept
In order to solve the above problems and the current state of the news media, SmartNews has partnered with leading business news publishers in Japan and the U.S. to develop a subscription-based paid business news service. This will create a world in which high-quality content created by publishers is delivered to users through the reach of SmartNews, and the production budget goes to publishers who create high-quality content, creating a sustainable ecosystem to deliver even deeper and more meaningful news to users. We aim to create a sustainable ecosystem to deliver deeper and more meaningful news to our users.
Problem and Concept
In order to solve the above problems and the current state of the news media, SmartNews has partnered with leading business news publishers in Japan and the U.S. to develop a subscription-based paid business news service. This will create a world in which high-quality content created by publishers is delivered to users through the reach of SmartNews, and the production budget goes to publishers who create high-quality content, creating a sustainable ecosystem to deliver even deeper and more meaningful news to users. We aim to create a sustainable ecosystem to deliver deeper and more meaningful news to our users.
SmartNews+
Signing up for a subscription gives you access to the dedicated Smart News+ channel, where you can read many articles from paid media outlets.
SmartNews+
Signing up for a subscription gives you access to the dedicated Smart News+ channel, where you can read many articles from paid media outlets.
SmartNews+
Signing up for a subscription gives you access to the dedicated Smart News+ channel, where you can read many articles from paid media outlets.
Expanded Design System
Building on the existing design, we created a dedicated design system and components for SmartNews+. One of the greatest challenges was how to establish a sense of “paid exclusivity” within a service that is fundamentally free. To achieve this, we focused on delivering a premium feel through simplicity—carefully refining details such as margins, typographic scaling, and subtle adjustments that elevate the overall experience.
Expanded Design System
Building on the existing design, we created a dedicated design system and components for SmartNews+. One of the greatest challenges was how to establish a sense of “paid exclusivity” within a service that is fundamentally free. To achieve this, we focused on delivering a premium feel through simplicity—carefully refining details such as margins, typographic scaling, and subtle adjustments that elevate the overall experience.
Expanded Design System
Building on the existing design, we created a dedicated design system and components for SmartNews+. One of the greatest challenges was how to establish a sense of “paid exclusivity” within a service that is fundamentally free. To achieve this, we focused on delivering a premium feel through simplicity—carefully refining details such as margins, typographic scaling, and subtle adjustments that elevate the overall experience.
A Feature Area That Visually Highlights Articles
I designed a special feature section to showcase articles around major events such as the World Cup or political developments. This allows for stronger grouping of related articles while delivering graphics tailored to the content. On the CMS side, cover images and color settings can be dynamically configured, enabling flexible and visually engaging presentations.
A Feature Area That Visually Highlights Articles
I designed a special feature section to showcase articles around major events such as the World Cup or political developments. This allows for stronger grouping of related articles while delivering graphics tailored to the content. On the CMS side, cover images and color settings can be dynamically configured, enabling flexible and visually engaging presentations.
A Feature Area That Visually Highlights Articles
I designed a special feature section to showcase articles around major events such as the World Cup or political developments. This allows for stronger grouping of related articles while delivering graphics tailored to the content. On the CMS side, cover images and color settings can be dynamically configured, enabling flexible and visually engaging presentations.
Summarized News by AI
Even difficult and lengthy articles can be read quickly and easily in a gap of time with the AI summary.
Summarized News by AI
Even difficult and lengthy articles can be read quickly and easily in a gap of time with the AI summary.
Summarized News by AI
Even difficult and lengthy articles can be read quickly and easily in a gap of time with the AI summary.
Simple and Clear Design
On key screens such as the article list, article pages, and coupon pages, we sought to evoke a sense of premium quality by carefully refining details such as typography, margin structure, and typographic scaling. These subtle considerations contribute to a clean yet elevated experience.
Simple and Clear Design
On key screens such as the article list, article pages, and coupon pages, we sought to evoke a sense of premium quality by carefully refining details such as typography, margin structure, and typographic scaling. These subtle considerations contribute to a clean yet elevated experience.
Simple and Clear Design
On key screens such as the article list, article pages, and coupon pages, we sought to evoke a sense of premium quality by carefully refining details such as typography, margin structure, and typographic scaling. These subtle considerations contribute to a clean yet elevated experience.
SmartNews+ Branding
As Art Director, I collaborated with external designer Saeka Shoda to lead the development of branding for SmartNews+. I drove discussions on creative direction, presented proposals to internal stakeholders, and worked together with Shoda through to the finalization stage. Following SmartNews’ mathematical and systematic approach to color selection, we introduced yellow as the new brand color. By extending this palette with gold-inspired tones, we aimed to express both the distinctiveness of the new color and a heightened sense of premium quality within the service.
SmartNews+ Branding
As Art Director, I collaborated with external designer Saeka Shoda to lead the development of branding for SmartNews+. I drove discussions on creative direction, presented proposals to internal stakeholders, and worked together with Shoda through to the finalization stage. Following SmartNews’ mathematical and systematic approach to color selection, we introduced yellow as the new brand color. By extending this palette with gold-inspired tones, we aimed to express both the distinctiveness of the new color and a heightened sense of premium quality within the service.
SmartNews+ Branding
As Art Director, I collaborated with external designer Saeka Shoda to lead the development of branding for SmartNews+. I drove discussions on creative direction, presented proposals to internal stakeholders, and worked together with Shoda through to the finalization stage. Following SmartNews’ mathematical and systematic approach to color selection, we introduced yellow as the new brand color. By extending this palette with gold-inspired tones, we aimed to express both the distinctiveness of the new color and a heightened sense of premium quality within the service.
100,000 Paid Subscribers in the First Year
Within roughly one year of launch, the service reached 100,000 monthly paid subscribers. Anchored by this rapid growth, it has established a strong presence among domestic competing news subscription services.
100,000 Paid Subscribers in the First Year
Within roughly one year of launch, the service reached 100,000 monthly paid subscribers. Anchored by this rapid growth, it has established a strong presence among domestic competing news subscription services.
100,000 Paid Subscribers in the First Year
Within roughly one year of launch, the service reached 100,000 monthly paid subscribers. Anchored by this rapid growth, it has established a strong presence among domestic competing news subscription services.
