As online reading habits shift, University of Richmond Magazine is shifting with them. In March, the magazine launched a redesign of its website that emphasizes beautiful presentation, more versatile, in-depth storytelling, and an opportunity for more frequent publishing of stories, including some that will appear only online.

“The new site makes it easier for us to elevate bigger, longer, more involved forms of storytelling and to do it more frequently than we are able to do in print,” said Katie McBride, the magazine’s design director.

These changes lean into the strengths of the print publication, which regularly receives national recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The magazine was a finalist for CASE’s magazine of the year award in 2015 and 2021. The print publication currently publishes three times a year, in March, July, and November.

The current edition’s cover story — “101 Things We Love About the University of Richmond” — showcases many of the upgrades. It includes large photos and video to enhance stories. New typography offers a magazine-like feel for digital readers. A new search function makes archival content more easily accessible.

“We focused a lot on how to replicate the quality of the print experience for the digital environment,” said Matthew Dewald, the magazine’s editor.

Much of the website’s traffic comes from mobile users. Terrance Henderson, director of user experience, headed up the web team that worked with the magazine staff. One priority was offering the same rich visual experience to all users.

“We worked to ensure there was no loss of experience from desktop to tablet to mobile,” he said. “If you’re pulling it up on your phone, you’re getting the same experience as on a desktop.”

The launch of the redesigned site is just one step in the evolution of the magazine’s online presence, Dewald said. “We look forward to exploring its full potential as we share the stories of this remarkable university and community.”