Arolla–NewsWell

The Arolla–NewsWell project was a three- to six-week R&D sprint led by Next Lab in collaboration with NewsWell, focused on exploring digital-to-print publishing workflows using WordPress and Adobe InDesign. The goal was to assess whether NewsWell’s original AWS-based prototype—featuring AI-assisted copy trimming, image handling, and single-page InDesign exports—could be replicated using existing WordPress tools, ideally within Newspack, a platform built for publishers.

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NewsWell previously developed an AWS-based prototype that enabled simple, AI-assisted print layouts. In this second phase, the Next Lab team explored how to replicate that workflow using WordPress—specifically the Newspack platform—while minimizing plugin development and custom coding.

The team evaluated plugins and integrations capable of transforming digital stories into print-ready layouts. This involved exploring how editorial content could be curated, structured, and exported with minimal technical setup. The process included setting up development environments, testing layout features, and prototyping workflows aligned with real publishing needs.

Rather than pursuing a one-size-fits-all solution, the team focused on modular, low-code strategies to support rapid iteration and future extensibility. Insights from this phase now provide a foundation for NewsWell to move forward with plugin adoption, customization, or forking—aligned with their editorial goals and preferences for open-source licensing.

Component 1: The team set up a development structure using a WordPress Sandbox and a Newspack instance. Studio Associates tested over a dozen plugins, documenting the functionality, layout flexibility, and potential integration limitations. A plugin evaluation rubric was created and applied consistently across all tools.

Component 2: Multiple prototype workflows were tested, with emphasis on modularity, ease of use, and editorial fit. Rather than pushing a single solution, the team explored how different tools might be combined or extended to fit NewsWell’s goals. Hands-on testing included content grouping, layout generation, and export to PDF/IDML.

Component 3: The project doubled as a hands-on learning experience for the studio team. Working from a draft report, students reverse-engineered, validated, and refined findings in real time. This approach reinforced core skills in plugin research, workflow evaluation, and collaborative problem solving—all while producing a client-facing recommendation.

Project showcase:

• Pending

Launch date:

• June 2025

Contributors & Credits

• Czyra Argonza
• Meredith Woodward
• Zoshan Sharifi
• Jesus Franco Yescas
• Michael Blackledge

Partners:

• ASU NEWSWELL