Max Pfennighaus
About & contact

NPR

Designing public radio for a multi-platform world

At a pivotal moment as NPR moved beyond broadcast, I led interaction design across three Agile teams, helping unify npr.org, NPR News, NPR Music, mobile and tablet apps, in-car experiences, and a digital platform serving more than 250 member stations.

I also created the product concept and experience framework for NPR One and designed its logo and identity—bringing personalized, on-demand listening into a coherent public-media ecosystem.

NPR One circular identity mark in the NPR color palette
I designed the NPR One mark, extending NPR’s core color system into a distinct identity for personalized, on-demand listening.
NPR One product screens across mobile and web with the Public radio made personal launch campaign
NPR One transformed the continuous radio stream into a personalized, segment-by-segment experience built around listening, discovery, and feedback.
NPR story page on desktopNPR story page on tabletNPR story page on mobile
The npr.org rebuild reorganized complex editorial pages around a responsive system that preserved hierarchy, audio, related coverage, and member support across screen sizes.
NPR News, NPR Music, NPR One, tablet, web, and automotive applications
A shared interaction language connected NPR’s expanding product suite while adapting to different listening contexts, devices, and audience needs.
NPR headquarters lobby with live media, archival stories, and an interactive member-station map
Later, the headquarters lobby extended NPR’s storytelling into a public-facing experience built from live feeds, archival material, and participation from member stations.