Introduction
In a rare but inspiring move, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) opened up the redesign of their website to the public eye. Instead of keeping the process behind closed doors, they chose to share their design decisions, sketches, prototypes, and thinking with the world.
This approach, often referred to as an open redesign, is a refreshing example of transparency, collaboration, and trust in the design community. And in RFE/RL’s case, it aligns perfectly with their mission of promoting openness and press freedom.
What Is an Open Redesign?
An open redesign is when an organization shares the process of redesigning their digital product—often in real-time—with the public. It can include:
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Early sketches and mockups
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Figma files or wireframes
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Design system changes
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Developer notes
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User feedback loops
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Blog posts or videos explaining choices
This process invites users, designers, and the broader community to watch, engage with, and sometimes even contribute to the evolution of a product.
Why Did RFE/RL Choose an Open Redesign?
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty operates in some of the world’s most challenging media environments, often reporting from regions with censorship and restricted press. By opening up their redesign process, they made a strong statement:
“If we ask governments to be transparent and open with the public, we must do the same.”
Their open redesign reflected:
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Accountability to the public
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Openness about the product’s evolution
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Inclusion of user feedback early in the process
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A desire to build trust—not just with their readers, but also with their design and tech peers
Key Highlights from the RFE/RL Redesign
🎯 Focus on Accessibility and Performance
The redesign prioritized:
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Fast load times (critical for users in low-bandwidth regions)
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Accessible typography and color contrast
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A clean, distraction-free layout for serious journalism
📱 Mobile-First Experience
Most RFE/RL users access content via smartphones, often in data-restricted regions. The new design emphasized a mobile-first layout, optimized for performance and readability.
🧭 Simplified Navigation
The updated site featured:
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A streamlined navigation menu
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Region-specific content tabs
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Improved language toggling for multi-lingual access
🗂 Modular Design System
They introduced a flexible design system with reusable components that made it easy to adapt the layout for different regional newsrooms while keeping a consistent global look.
💬 Public Feedback Loop
RFE/RL encouraged:
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Comments and feedback from users
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Observations from fellow designers and developers
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Iterative testing with real audiences
This made the redesign not just transparent—but responsive and user-centered.
Tools and Platforms Used
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Figma for design collaboration and prototyping
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GitHub or internal CMS tools for development and code updates
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Notion, Trello, or blogs to share updates and track progress
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Public Slack channels or Twitter/X for feedback
The openness extended beyond just visuals—they shared insights about workflow, accessibility audits, and team challenges.
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