edenspiekermann_
ZDF

The ‘heute’ news programme is ZDF’s flagship and something of an institution on German television. The internet more than anything else has changed young target group attitudes towards the media. ZDF has reacted to these changes by restructuring the news, from a new studio construction through to a thorough redesign of the news itself. Technical benchmarks have been set by updating the old studio technology, enabling a completely virtual studio design.

Approach

Over the course of three years an interdisciplinary team worked on the new design for the ‘heute’ news programme. Edenspiekermann took part in the process as marketing strategy and information design consultants, particularly dealing with the future relationship of the ‘heute’ brand with the ZDF umbrella brand. A new typeface family for the news helps emphasise the independent nature of the revamped programme. The ‘heute’ typeface includes an extensive pictogram set with over 300 symbols, some of which are animated, for use in designing weather maps and other explanatory graphics.

Result

Programmes have been broadcast from the new news studio since July 17th. Public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive and ZDF has demonstrated how to intelligently deal with the media challenges of the future.

Concept for on-air design by Velvet Mediendesign GmbH.