The Modern Intranet Vision
Modern intranets have evolved from static portals to dynamic employee experience platforms. In 2025, successful intranets connect people, information, and processes seamlessly.
Key Design Principles
1. Employee-Centric Design
Put employees at the center:
- Personalization: Content relevant to each user
- Task Orientation: Help people get work done
- Mobile-First: Accessible anywhere
- Intuitive Navigation: Find anything in 3 clicks
2. Communication Hub
Enable organizational communication:
- News Publishing: Company announcements
- Events: Organizational calendar
- Video Content: Executive messages
- Social Features: Comments, reactions
3. Productivity Integration
Connect to work tools:
- Quick Links: Frequently used applications
- Search: Find anything across Microsoft 365
- Workflows: Common tasks at your fingertips
- Dashboards: Key metrics and KPIs
Architecture Components
Hub Sites
Organize content by function:
- Corporate Hub: Company-wide information
- Department Hubs: Team-specific content
- Location Hubs: Regional information
- Project Hubs: Initiative-focused collaboration
Communication Sites
Beautiful, responsive pages:
- News Posts: Rich media articles
- Events: Calendar integration
- People: Organization directory
- Resources: Document libraries
Team Sites
Collaboration workspaces:
- Document Libraries: Team files
- Lists: Structured data
- Conversations: Team discussions
- Planner Integration: Task management
Design Best Practices
Visual Design
Create visually appealing experiences:
- Brand Alignment: Company colors and fonts
- Consistent Layouts: Predictable page structures
- White Space: Clean, uncluttered designs
- Imagery: High-quality photos and graphics
Navigation
Help users find content:
- Global Navigation: Persistent top nav
- Hub Navigation: Consistent across hub
- Quick Links: Popular destinations
- Search: Prominent search box
Content Strategy
Plan your content:
- Content Owners: Clear accountability
- Publishing Schedule: Regular updates
- Review Cycles: Keep content fresh
- Archive Policies: Remove outdated content
Web Parts to Use
Hero Web Part
Showcase key content with impact:
- Multiple layout options
- Call-to-action buttons
- Video support
- Custom imagery
News Web Part
Display organizational news:
- Carousel layouts
- Filtering options
- Audience targeting
- Cross-site rollups
Quick Links
Provide easy access:
- Icon options
- Description text
- Grouping
- Compact views
People Web Part
Highlight team members:
- Profile cards
- Organization integration
- Custom properties
- Multiple layouts
Events Web Part
Show organizational calendar:
- Multiple views
- Filtering
- Cross-site aggregation
- Teams integration
Viva Connections
Enhance your intranet with Viva:
Dashboard
Personalized cards:
- Quick tasks
- System notifications
- Custom integrations
- Third-party apps
Feed
Aggregated content:
- SharePoint news
- Yammer posts
- Stream videos
- Boosted content
Resources
Quick access:
- Important links
- Applications
- Policies
- Tools
Measurement and Analytics
Track intranet success:
- Page Views: Content popularity
- Unique Users: Reach and adoption
- Search Analytics: What people look for
- Engagement: Comments, reactions, shares
Implementation Tips
1. Start Simple: Begin with core features
Conclusion
Modern SharePoint intranets transform how organizations communicate and collaborate. By following these design principles and best practices, you can create an engaging employee experience.
Ready to build your modern intranet? Our design experts can help you create an engaging employee experience.
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