Editorial web design · Archive UX · Full-text search
KIRTON quarterly
from letterbox to archive
The KIRTON quarterly is delivered free across Crediton, but its stories should remain useful long after each edition leaves the letterbox. I designed and developed a digital archive that preserves the magazine's editorial identity, presents every issue as a publication in its own right and lets readers search for people, places and phrases across the complete collection.
Visit the KIRTON quarterly↗
Project details
The useful
particulars.
- Client
- The KIRTON quarterly
- Role
- Designer & developer
- Status
- Live
- Year
- 2026
- Place
- Crediton, Devon
- Disciplines
- Editorial and interface design · Archive and information architecture · Full-text search and reader UX · PHP and JavaScript development
The problem
A magazine archive can easily become little more than a grid of covers linked to cumbersome PDF files. The site needed to retain the personality of the printed publication, make older editions feel worth revisiting and help readers find a specific person, place or subject without knowing which issue contained it. At the same time, the newest edition needed to remain firmly print-first.
The approach
The interface combines bold editorial typography, cover-led issue browsing and a restrained reading experience designed around the publication itself. Every archived page is indexed for search, with results opening directly at the relevant page rather than merely identifying an issue. Clear chronology, responsive layouts and simple navigation make the archive equally usable on desktop, tablet and mobile, while dedicated print-first messaging keeps the physical magazine central to the experience.
The result
A distinctive, responsive and fully searchable home for the KIRTON quarterly. Readers can browse complete editions, search across every indexed page and move directly from a result into the relevant story. The site extends the useful life of each printed issue while also providing local businesses with a clear route to enquire about advertising in future editions.