Quartz Design Principles
Six principles guiding Quartz's digital journalism design, balancing mobile-first thinking with editorial instinct.
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Stay out of the users' way
Don’t interrupt the reading experience. The interface should be invisible, letting readers focus on content.
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Let the stories shine
Design should serve journalism, not compete with it. The content is the product.
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Make sure it works on mobile
Mobile isn’t an afterthought—it’s where most readers are. Design for small screens first.
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Remove before adding
Question every element. If something can be removed without harm, remove it.
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Pick one thing before another
Prioritise ruthlessly. Not everything can be equally important on the page.
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Make small decisions made on data and big decisions with your gut
Use analytics for incremental improvements, but trust editorial judgement for strategic choices.