Lenta.ru named world’s best designed website

Lenta.ru, a Moscow-based Russian language news website, has been named one of the world’s best designed news sites by The Society for News Design, an international organisation for media professionals. Judges said they were inspired by the “amazing creativity” of Lenta.ru. They praised the website for being “beautifully designed”, “with the right amount of clean and relaxing white space” and “superb photo editing”. They added that while the design was that of a traditional news website it still felt approachable. A statement on the SND website says: “Many sites and apps impressed us but Lenta.ru rose above the rest … It is simple, approachable and a pleasurable navigational experience.”

Lenta.ru is considered one of Russia’s most popular and trusted news outlets. In 2010, a study conducted by the Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University found that it was the most cited source on the blogosphere.

SB Nation, a network of sports writers, was also named has having the world’s best designed website while The Guardian and Observer won plaudits for having the best designed iPad News App. ProPublica StateFace received a Judge’s Special Recognition. Judges reviewed hundreds of websites from around the world. Nominations were made by members and nonmembers through the Best of Digital Design website.