Meh, as a longtime reader of the Star here in Kansas, I've always been disappointed with what could've been. And so it is with this. Perhaps when I see the rest of the paper in hand, with the smaller page size, I'll do my customary redesign giggle, but I'm rather underwhelmed right now. Though I do applaud the bylines flush right; I hope that's not just a features thing.

I like it! good job!
I like classified section, yellow color, is smart and look like yellow pages, is different.

J. Tony, I'm not sure I would see looking like the yellow pages as a good thing. Kinda ugly and dense to me.

stuart: Could be, but still is different, maybe ugly!, and different is good!!
but, anyways you right

Yeah, nah! you right they want to compete with the yellow pages, and look weird and ugly you right men! good eye!

I'm with Ryan. I'm pretty underwhelmed.

I don't think the KC Star redesign was done solely to overwhelm. It appears, according to their website, that the new look was largely the byproduct of some new technical abilities, (ie. new presses, different ink, finer line screens). Obviously, these enhancements would require that you take advantage of them--more color, livlier color, more prominent use of photos, etc. So it's not a bad redesign. It's just born of the same format as a thousand other US papers. Apparently, judging from this blog, many people in the industry are loathe to emulate Euro-style design (in which I include all Garcia product). So don't look to be overwhelmed by shifting or tweaking standard elements of US style newspaper design.

Personally, I like the progressive designs that Garcia and others create. I also think Alan Jacobson's team does and excellent job of using some of those "progressive" elements in a US style format.

Isn't the Star's sister city SEVILLA SPAIN? Looks like they should've looked there for inspiration.

Stuart, I will give them a few things on the redesign: if they weren't out to overwhelm, they succeeded in an overwhelming fashion. It just doesn't excite...in fact, I would say it's a little distracting. Just one reader's (and a subscriber's) opinion.

It was also kind of fun to read how they spun the new narrow size and the dramatically resized special sections. Smaller is better because it's easier to handle was the gist. If KC had a mass transit system, that would probably matter a little more.

The copies that I saw today did, however, feature some truly stunning color. The Star publishes special "neighborhood news" sections and while it had the look and feel of a supermarket circular (no lie, I completely shuffled past it during a search of the issue), the photographs were nearly magazine quality. A few were out of register, however, and I imagine they'll fix that in subsequent editions. Very impressive, though.

And for $200 million, every newspaper can get a press just like it.

MV, as a reader and subscriber, I'm sure you have a much greater vantage point on this redesign than I. One can look at pdf's and assess the design aspects easily enough, but the true test is holding it in your hands. With that, I defer to your, not doubt, excellent opinion!
I'm in Washington DC and I wish there were a great outlet for picking up some of these papers. I'm not sure if there is such a place here, but I may be wrong. I think the World Bank has a bunch of international papers in its lobby. It sure would be fun (and educational) to be able to see these papers first hand. I must plead a good deal of ignorance, as I am not a newspaper designer (though I would love to try my hand at it!), but I think that US papers are on the cusp of some major changes. I see lots of great designers trying to push many the conventions of a sometimes-moribund industry, and, of course, there are many who are desperately trying to maintain the status quo.
I think this is, some would say ironically, a very interesting time for America's dailies!!

Oh, by the way, I ride the Metro to work everyday and I thought the reduced size was a good thing. It's interesting to have the perspective of someone else in a city where there is no mass transit. Sometimes you take such things for granted! :)

I for one am a HUGE fan of a the improvements here. Finally, a U.S. paper that looks like it's produced in the year 2006! I would look forward to this paper every single day.

Unlike some of the color-gaga,gaudy other redesigns to debut in the U.S. in the past year or so, KC has managed to marry energy with elegance. Easily the most user-friendly classified section in the U.S. - and I'd venture to say some of the best visual pacing on inside pages as well.

What a thoughtful, dramatic approach to enhancing the reader experience. Applause, applause to everyone involved!

As someone who is in newspaper advertising sales, the new presses and redesign are a fantastic selling point. The reproduction of color-and black and white-ads are remarkable on the new presses. In addition, the curiousity of the new design will draw more readers, especially the younger, hard-to-reach, 18-24-year-old demographic (something that many advertisers are struggling to do). The radio and TV stations in KC are probably shaking in their boots right now (more than they were before). Plus, the new press building looks great in downtown hanging over I-70.
Before, the Star had the oldest presses in the US. Now, they have the most advanced in the world, and I look forward to it every morning.