Our Role

Netgen is responsible for the development of the new visual identity, from the logo to the design of the future print edition as an automatically generated PDF, and to the new digital magazine. Both UX design and technical development were done in-house.

As the new platform presents an attractive medium for advertisers, Netgen was additionally tasked with creating an ad placement concept, integrating Google Ad Manager for ad placements, and providing documentation for advertisers in the form of media data.

Readers will now regularly receive a newsletter from Swiss Knife, keeping them informed about current topics, exciting articles, and industry news and events. The design and set-up of the newsletter were also implemented by the Netgen team.

Challenge

The original website was seriously outdated, not mobile-responsive, and served more as an informational page with an archive than a comprehensive digital medium.

Desire for a Digital Magazine

A refresh of the website according to common User Experience guidelines was long overdue, especially since professional reading materials are increasingly shifting to the online space. Additionally, a survey conducted by the Swiss College of Surgeons among surgeons confirmed that the younger readership, in particular, prefers a digital version of the magazine.

The first challenge involved defining a suitable information architecture. Additional technical expertise was also required, especially in implementing a PDF generator. All online articles can be downloaded as a well-formatted PDF when needed and appear in a specifically defined editorial design. Editors should also be able to compile entire magazine issues in PDF form using a customized solution.

Our Solution 

New Look as the First Step

The momentum of the digital redesign was used in a first step to unify and modernize the visual appearance. This resulted in a recognizable logo and a comprehensive visual identity as a basis for the further development of the new website.

Intuitive Navigation and Article Search

All editorial articles, which previously only appeared in the print edition, are now exclusively prepared as online articles. They can be enriched by the editorial team with additional information, images, graphics, and videos.

In addition to curated articles on a specific topic, which regularly take center stage, there are also numerous other articles from the familiar sections. Readers can find posts not only through intuitive navigation but also by using a search function with simple keyword input. This ensures good user guidance.

Playful Mini-Effects

Users are offered a contemporary experience without overloading the site with effects and design elements. In addition to the characterful font, generous white space, and accent colors, attention was also paid to small details. Elegant flowing page transitions, hover effects, and dynamic scrolling behavior add vibrancy and playfully enhance the user experience.