New to the 360innovate blog is the Design Crush series where we intend to talk about our latest likes and loves of design on the web.

Our design crush this week pays homage to British broadcasting as we admire the design of the Guardian site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/). Used by 12 million each month, the Guardian online is not only paving the way forward in terms of broadcasting and journalism through the web, but the websites design is unmatched and a pioneer in its industry. The first to embrace and combine quality design with online broadcasting, the Guardian.co.uk is a true example of how the line between online and offline design and marketing is becoming ever more faint.

Behind the Guardian’s online success is the editor-in-Chief Emily Bell, who has lead the way from the very beginning. Not only publishing the world’s number one podcast, Emily says there is a lot more to come with the next version of the site admitting that they have just “scratched the surface” of the possibilities.

But it is the design that we are really interested in. The site cleverly uses layout, typography and white space to create an ordered, modern and cutting edge feel. Although the site is primarily text based with heavy content, applying different colours to each section of the site enables ease of use and navigation as well as adding a quirky design element that we love. Strongly reliant on structure, the site is organised in a coherent manner, and with the addition of skilfully used typefaces, a contemporary look and feel has been created. The Guardian.co.uk is a perfect example of how traditional and online design can be combined to create a successful and contemporary website.

What do you think?