Making the YC Blog part of the Y Combinator brand

The Y Combinator Blog grew separately from the rest of the YC website. It used a generic WordPress template with little connection to the YC brand. Design 86 redesigned the blog in 2016 to bring it into the YC ecosystem and create a strong editorial experience.

The challenge went beyond the visual design. The blog had multiple authors, post types, tags and categories. We reorganized the information architecture and kept it as flat as possible. We brought the YC color palette into the interface and used orange as the main color for links and interactive elements.

We illustrated portraits for founding partners and contributors. The portraits gave the blog an editorial feel and created a stronger connection between authors and their articles. The inspiration came from portraits in financial magazines and the engraved line patterns used in traditional banknote printing.

Design 86 designed the interface and provided detailed specifications for implementation. We oversaw the development and reviewed the blog through multiple rounds after handoff.

The YC Blog became easier to navigate and more coherent with the YC brand. The design remained in use for several years, supporting a growing archive of YC knowledge, news and startup stories.