CollegeHumor Site Redesign

Company: CollegeHumor

Role: Design Director

As Design Director, I spearheaded the overhaul of CollegeHumor’s website to improve user engagement and streamline ad experiences. I designed a custom video player and reading experience, revamped the homepage to prioritize talent and franchises, and created more opportunities for sponsored content through better topic categorization. The redesign optimized content discovery and delivered a more cohesive, modern aesthetic while increasing time spent on the site.

Improved Video Watching Experience

CollegeHumor’s YouTube success highlighted the need for a custom video experience on the website. I designed a fresh, engaging video player and interface for users who preferred watching on-site. This provided a more flexible experience for sponsors and allowed for branded content integration without relying on embedded YouTube videos.

Enhanced Reading Experience

Given CollegeHumor’s strong following for comics and illustrated lists, I worked on improving the reading interface. By optimizing the content column and introducing a continuous reading experience, I made it easier for users to engage with articles and comics. I also strategically placed ads to improve user satisfaction and ad viewability. This change led to increased time spent on the site.

Updated Homepage Experience

The homepage no longer prioritized recent content as social media platforms had become the primary traffic drivers. I redesigned the homepage to emphasize CollegeHumor’s talent, franchises, and top-performing content, which better matched user behavior and expectations. The new layout ensured a more engaging experience for visitors while meeting the ad placement needs of sponsors.

Improved Layout & Wayfinding

I restructured the site’s layout to better highlight key verticals, such as franchises, talent, and trending topics. This made navigation smoother for users and allowed sponsors to create more targeted advertising experiences around specific content clusters.

Sponsor Integration & Topic Standardization

The redesign allowed for better integration of sponsored content and created distinct, well-defined content hubs. By grouping related topics together, sponsors could more effectively own content collections, resulting in better visibility for their brands.

Updated Design & Illustration Style

A fresh illustration style aligned with the new design direction, providing a cohesive and modern look. This updated aesthetic made the website feel more current and appealing to a broader audience while maintaining CollegeHumor’s signature playful tone.

This redesign successfully modernized CollegeHumor’s website, creating a more user-centric experience while also providing better value for advertisers, ultimately increasing engagement and user satisfaction.

Key Contributions:

  • Led the redesign of CollegeHumor’s website with a focus on user experience and ad optimization.
  • Innovated video and reading interfaces, enhancing both content accessibility and sponsorship opportunities.
  • Redesigned homepage and site layout to prioritize talent, franchises, and user engagement.
  • Developed a standardized approach to content topics, improving sponsorship integration.
  • Updated illustration style and design elements for a more modern and cohesive site appearance.