The new OSCE website reflects how the organisation operates: decentralised, multilingual and collaborative. Instead of one centrally managed website, the platform now consists of 20 interconnected sub-sites. Headquarters units, institutions and field operations can communicate directly with their audiences while remaining part of one shared system and visual identity.
Explaining this complex structure clearly in more than 50 languages and in politically sensitive contexts was the main challenge of the redesign.
The former Drupal 6 website was rebuilt as a modern Drupal 11 platform, keeping a single shared codebase while enabling distributed ownership. More than 150,000 pages and 50,000 digital assets were migrated without interrupting editorial work. Today, over 80 editors publish content through clearly defined roles and approval workflows directly integrated into the CMS.
The information architecture was redesigned from a user perspective: clearer language, better navigation and a significantly faster search powered by Typesense. A modular design system allows editors to build flexible, visually engaging pages while ensuring consistency and accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA). AI-supported translations are integrated directly into the CMS, enabling efficient multilingual publishing with full editorial control.
The result is a governance-aligned digital foundation that mirrors how the OSCE works in practice.
Get the full user experience on https://www.osce.org
Clearly explaining the OSCE’s complex structure in politically sensitive contexts was the main challenge of the redesign.
OSCE institutions, headquarters and field operations can now communicate directly with their audiences without losing the common identity.
Editorial rights are supported through roles and publishing workflows.
Visual design was guided by OSCE branding, multilingual requirements and sensitivity in imagery and iconography.
The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organisation and comprises a Secretariat, field operations and specialised institutions across 57 participating States.
The Secretariat supports the annually rotating Chairpersonship and coordinates operations. Field operations help countries implement OSCE commitments, build local capacities and respond to crises. Its institutions each focus on specific areas: the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rightsworks on democratic elections and human rights; the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media monitors media freedom; and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities works to prevent ethnic tensions from turning into conflict.
Today, the website serves as a digital platform supporting 57 participating States and one of the world’s most complex security mandates.
Team
Client: OSCE
Direction: OSCE Communication and Media Relations Section
Project management: Renaud Cuny, Barbara Köhler, Oliver Köhler
Content editing: Alexander Nitzsche
Development: Oliver Köhler, Dimitar Rupov, Acolono GmbH, Martin Wittmann-Fondi
Stakeholder coordination: Barbara Köhler, Alexander Nitzsche
Information Architecture: Renaud Cuny, Barbara Köhler
Design, prototyping, page-building: Barbara Köhler, Tolgonai Akimova
Training and support: Barbara Köhler, Oliver Köhler, Tolgonai Akimova