Relaunch for a strong brand.
stern.de gets a new stage
Client: RTL Publishing; Revenue Stream Stern GEO Capital
Relevance requires space
Stern.de stands for attitude, relevance and zeitgeist. For generations, it has guided people through a complex world — with a clear view of the essentials, the courage to express an opinion and a unique visual power. As a journalistic authority, stern shapes the social debate — close to the people, unmistakable in tone, effective in appearance.
stern.de has been fundamentally redesigned in order to also powerfully develop this claim digitally. The new platform creates space for independence, for flexible formats and for a brand-oriented user experience — as a stage for modern journalism and as a foundation for the digital future of one of Germany’s strongest media brands.
Three strong brands, one new platform
As part of the restructuring of RTL Publishing, the brands of stern, GEO and Capital were merged organizationally. The existing platform was designed for a central multi-brand architecture — technologically efficient, but not tailored to the differentiated requirements of the individual brands. Design, tonality and user guidance had to be coordinated across the board, meaning that individual adjustments were only possible with great effort.
This became particularly relevant against the background of stern.de’s paid strategy. The aim is to gain 100,000 subscribers in the medium term with stern+ — via native apps, a new subscription service and a standalone website. This requires a digital environment that presents high-quality content effectively, offers a consistent user experience and supports rapid further development.
The new platform meets these requirements: It enables editorial independence, creates technical flexibility and strengthens the independent profile of each brand.
Away from the standard solution, towards individuality
stern.de was completely redesigned — with the aim of making the brand independent, future-proof and flexible. In close cooperation with the RTL team, a technical architecture was created that functions independently and creates editorial freedom.
A central element was the departure from the previous one-fits-all approach. Instead of using a platform that simultaneously displays several brands, stern.de was given its own set of design components. Content and layouts can be specifically adapted to the brand — without design restrictions due to common system logics. Changes, new features and formats can now be implemented much faster.
The technical focus is also on autonomy and maintainability. Functions such as routing, page logic and rendering were specifically developed in-house to minimize dependencies and ensure control. At the same time, the system has a modular structure — so that new content, components and use cases can be added at any time.
This modularity forms the basis for brand-specific publishing beyond stern.de. GEO and Capital will also benefit from the architecture in future — both on the web and in the paid area. Different brand profiles, business models and content strategies can be flexibly developed with a common technical foundation.
The result is a platform that gives stern.de the necessary scope for independent further development — and at the same time creates a resilient foundation for journalistic work across the entire portfolio: efficient, open to the future and ready for differentiated digital strategies.
“Agile team, clear processes, well-organized communication — that was a real success factor.”
More space. More impact. More stern.
More independence
Design, function and further development can now be controlled on a brand-specific basis — regardless of other platforms or clients.
Faster implementation of ideas
Whether new formats or visual adaptations: The platform makes it possible to realize innovations directly within your own team — without long coordination paths.
Clear brand presence
Design, tonality and user guidance are specifically tailored to the stern — for a consistent brand experience across all digital touchpoints.
Stable operation,
fewer dependencies
Own technical basis, self-developed core functions: The platform runs independently and reliably — even with high access numbers.
More efficient editorial
processes
The technical structure supports clear workflows — content can be published more quickly and updates can be imported more easily.
Ready for growth
and change
Modular, flexibly expandable and cleanly integrated: The platform is not just a relaunch — but a starting point for the digital future.
Digital freedom for strong content
stern.de now has a digital platform that enables brand-specific work — flexibly, efficiently and independently. The editorial team, product team and designers manage content and formats in a targeted manner — without technical hurdles or system-related limits.
The platform creates space for clear processes, fast action and media-appropriate content. Formats can be developed, designed and played out precisely — across channels and user-oriented.
At the same time, the relaunch lays the technological foundation for stern+’s paid strategy. Native apps, a new subscription service and the redesigned website form the three central pillars. The result is a high-quality, consistent user experience — and a digital environment that presents premium content in a compelling way.
The relaunch not only improves the user experience. It strengthens the brand — in its day-to-day work, in its digital presence and in its strategic objectives.
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