BYTE
Impactful Content Design: From Newsletter to Crowdfunding Success
BYTE is a new media platform that delivers easy and insightful business and economic news content tailored for Korea’s MZ generation (Millennials and Generation Z).
TIMELINE
JAN 2021 - JUN 2022
ROLE
Content Design,
Visual & Branding Design
FOR
WITH
1 Visual designer,
Editorial team,
Marketing team
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Impactful Content Design: From Newsletter to Crowdfunding Success
As a content designer, I was responsible for creating the daily newsletter content that aligned with BYTE's brand identity while incorporating eye-catching visuals. This design approach significantly boosted subscriber engagement, leading to 10,000 subscribers within just three months.
Additionally, I led the production of the "Trend Encyclopedia" book project, managing the entire process from concept to design. The book was successfully launched through a crowdfunding campaign, achieving 2800% of the funding goal. This result highlights the effectiveness of the marketing content and the impactful design strategy that I developed.
01
Branding Strategy for BYTE's Readers
TARGET USER
Who's the Reader of BYTE?
BYTE's core audience is Korea’s MZ generation (Millennials and Generation Z) — young professionals who are ambitious, self-driven, and eager to stay informed about business and economic trends.
Easily Digestible Information
They want complex topics simplified into easy-to-understand language. Traditional news outlets often assume prior knowledge, making it difficult for young readers to follow.
Time-Efficient, Actionable Content
This generation values productivity. They prefer short, well-organized content that they can read in a few minutes and apply to their daily lives.
Visually Engaging and Modern Design
In a digital world filled with content, design matters. The MZ generation is drawn to eye-catching visuals and modern layouts that make reading enjoyable.
USER NEEDS
What Kind of Newsletter Do They Want?
Korea’s younger generation, particularly the MZ generation, prefers newsletters that are concise, practical, and visually engaging. Given their fast-paced lifestyles, they seek content that helps them stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.
BRAND NAME
The Story Behind BYTE's Brand Name
Based on user needs, BYTE was created to offer “easy, bite-sized knowledge” that readers can quickly consume and apply in their daily lives.
The brand name "BYTE" is a clever play on words that combines the digital term "byte" (a unit of digital information) with the idea of "taking a bite" out of knowledge, making it feel light, easy, and approachable.
KEY VISUAL
Why a Donut?
The half-bitten donut logo symbolizes this concept visually. Just as taking a bite of a donut is quick and satisfying.
BYTE's content is designed to deliver essential information in small, digestible pieces. This approach resonates with a generation that values time-efficient learning.
02
Design Challenges & Solutions for Newsletter Content
Creating Eye-Catching Content
The design must stand out in crowded inboxes and drive reader engagement through higher click-through and open rates.
Managing a High Volume of Content
Publishing the newsletter 5 times a week requires handling ever-changing topics while maintaining consistent quality and on-brand visuals.
Balancing Consistency and Variety
The design needs to reinforce Byte’s brand identity while also delivering fresh, engaging visuals that keep readers interested and coming back.
SOLUTION
The Donut Frame
I developed the half-bitten donut frame as a signature visual element for BYTE's newsletter.
While the frame remains consistent to reinforce BYTE’s brand identity, the inner graphics change daily, reflecting the core message of each issue.
SOLUTION
Minimalistic Yet Playful Design
I adopted a minimalist design style with bold typography and vibrant colors to capture the attention of MZ readers.
Recognizing that traditional economic news feels heavy and intimidating, I introduced illustrations and custom icons to make the content feel light and approachable.
03
Outcome
Content Production at Scale
Over the course of 1.5 years, I designed and produced more than 360 unique images for BYTE's newsletter.
As of June 2022, BYTE's newsletter reached approximately 30,000 subscribers, a significant milestone that reflects the success of my design efforts in increasing reader engagement and brand loyalty.
04
Design Strategy for 'Trend Encyclopedia' Crowdfunding Project
BACKGROUND & MY ROLE
What is the Trend Encyclopedia?
To meet the demand from readers who wanted a physical book and a collection of trend knowledge, our team led the production of the 'Trend Encyclopedia' — a curated paper book compiling key topics from Byte’s newsletter.
My role as a content designer involved creating the book's layout, cover design, and campaign visuals, ensuring that the project maintained Byte’s brand identity while appealing to its target readers.
BACKGROUND & MY ROLE
What is the Trend Encyclopedia?
To meet the demand from readers who wanted a physical book and a collection of trend knowledge, our team led the production of the 'Trend Encyclopedia' — a curated paper book compiling key topics from Byte’s newsletter.
My role as a content designer involved creating the book's layout, cover design, and campaign visuals, ensuring that the project maintained Byte’s brand identity while appealing to its target readers.
IMPACT
2800% Funding Achieved
The project was launched through a crowdfunding campaign, which achieved 2800% of its funding goal, resulting in the sale of over 2,000 copies.
08
Final Takeaways
Building Brand Loyalty through Visuals
As BYTE's content designer, I created over 360 unique visuals over 1.5 years, crafting engaging content that resonated with Korea’s MZ generation.
I learned that deeply understanding user characteristics — their desire for self-improvement, preference for concise, digestible content, and attraction to modern visuals — is essential to building effective communication through design. By translating these insights into thoughtful visual storytelling, I helped BYTE maintain brand consistency, increase reader engagement, and foster brand loyalty.
