Modern Intranet Design: Key Elements for Today’s Digital Workplace

Done right, a modern intranet design creates an interactive, employee-centric hub that informs, engages, and empowers teams—wherever and however they work. But achieving that kind of impact takes more than good technology; it requires thoughtful intranet design principles that align with proven best practices. 

Today, intranet design best practices are more important than ever. With hybrid and remote work the new normal, employees expect intuitive, mobile-friendly, and personalized digital experiences that mirror the best consumer apps. A well-designed intranet strengthens communication, boosts engagement, and drives measurable business results—but only if it’s built to meet today’s expectations and tomorrow’s needs.

In this post, we’ll explore what defines modern intranet design, share seven best practices, highlight intranet design examples from real organizations, and spotlight emerging trends like AI-driven personalization and smart automation. Whether you’re creating a new intranet or refreshing an existing one, these insights will help you design a solution that connects your workforce and supports long-term success.

If you want to learn more and see 20+ real world intranet design examples, please download this free guide: 15 Intranet Best Practices.

A modern intranet should always be designed around employees’ real needs. It must be intuitive, efficient, and support both daily tasks and organizational goals. Today’s users expect the same speed, simplicity, and personalization they experience with leading apps—and anything less can quickly lead to low adoption.

Key intranet design principles include: 

✔ User-centric and intuitive interfaces: Employees should be able to easily find information, complete tasks, and collaborate without unnecessary friction.

✔ Mobile-first and responsive design: Your intranet must work seamlessly across smartphones, tablets, and desktops—anytime, anywhere.

✔ Integration with workplace tools: Connecting platforms like Microsoft 365, Teams, and Slack streamlines work and reduces context switching.

✔ Personalization and customization options: Offering personal dashboards, role-specific content, and flexible layouts ensures every user sees what matters most.

✔ Accessibility and inclusivity: Designing with accessibility standards in mind creates an intranet that’s usable for everyone and fosters a more equitable digital workplace.

By focusing on these intranet design principles, organizations can build platforms that drive adoption today and evolve with future needs.

Learn more: Discover proven strategies and creative approaches in Intranet Content Ideas: Optimizing Strategies and Ideas for Better Engagement.

Designing a modern intranet isn’t just about features—it’s about creating an experience that feels useful, easy, and inspiring. Below are seven intranet design best practices that define successful projects.

Make the intranet personal. Configurable dashboards, tailored news feeds, and role-based content ensure employees see what matters most. This personalization is a hallmark of good intranet design examples that drive adoption.

Image 1: Intranet start page with personalized content and features as My documents, My news, My profile, and more.

Clear navigation is one of the most important intranet design best practices. Use well-structured mega menus, predictive search, and personalized navigation to help employees find answers quickly—reducing frustration and improving productivity.

Image 2: Visual mega menu with navigation in card view.

Strong intranet design principles include the use of visuals. Photos, videos, and infographics make communication more engaging, helping employees connect with the brand and understand complex topics.

Image 3: Storytelling news article with media gallery containing images and video.

Modern intranet design demands mobile-first thinking. Ensure your intranet delivers a full-featured experience on every device so employees can stay connected—wherever they work.

Image 4: Examples from an intranet mobile app with news feed, tasks for sign-off, and poll.

Great intranet design examples show that the intranet should serve as a launchpad for teamwork. Embedding tools like Teams or SharePoint makes collaboration fast, natural, and seamless.

Image 5: The full intranet experience surfaced in Microsoft Teams.

Search and findability are must-have intranet design principles. AI-powered search, filters, and metadata help employees locate content, documents, and people efficiently.

Image 6: AI-powered semantic search implemented on intranet start page.

Future-proof your intranet by following flexible intranet design best practices. Modular designs allow you to expand content, add features, and support new teams as the organization grows.

Image 7: Location page with information, people, documents, news, contact, map, and weather.

Modern intranet design continues to evolve. Current trends shaping the most effective intranet design examples include:

Learn more: Check out the blog Best Practices for Intranet Design: Principles for Improving the User Experience to get inspiration for improving your company intranet UX.

Artificial intelligence is making intranets smarter—automatically surfacing relevant content, news, and tools based on individual behaviour and preferences. Personalized experiences boost engagement and efficiency.

Image 8: Intranet start page with content "suggested for you" driving personalization.

Automation is streamlining common workflows like onboarding, task reminders, forms, and compliance tracking. Saving employees time on routine tasks frees them to focus on meaningful work. 

Image 9: Employee handbook page supporting leave requests and routine HR processes.

Adding game-like elements—such as progress badges, leaderboards, or interactive challenges—can drive participation in training, wellness programs, and social initiatives, making the intranet more lively and engaging.

Image 10: Knowledge sharing community with gamification features like "Top Contributor" recognition.

Modern intranets offer deeper insights into what’s working. Real-time analytics help teams fine-tune content, improve engagement, and ensure the intranet continues to deliver measurable value. 

Image 11: Intranet metrics in Governance hub to help understand user behaviour and patterns.

Real-world intranet design examples bring principles to life. Across industries, organizations are building platforms that empower employees, strengthen communication, and support growth:

Here’s how MAN Energy Solutions, Steer, and Rödl & Partner are leading the way:

MAN Energy Solutions implemented a modern, Omnia-based intranet integrated with Microsoft 365. Focusing on user experience, internal champions, and strong governance, their platform became a central hub for communication and digital work—earning recognition at the Intranet and Digital Workplace Awards in 2022 and 2024.

Read more about the intranet of MAN Energy Solutions.

Steer, a consultancy specializing in infrastructure and transportation, launched a global intranet connecting 600 specialists across 26 offices. Built on Omnia, the platform makes essential resources easily accessible and integrates tightly with Microsoft 365, creating a more collaborative and efficient work environment.

Read more about the intranet of Steer.

Rödl & Partner modernized their intranet to improve findability, multilingual support, and process management. Using Omnia’s modular design and decentralized content governance, they empowered local teams while maintaining a unified global experience—strengthening communication and collaboration across offices.

Read more about the intranet of Rödl & Partner.

Thinking about how to apply these ideas? Let’s explore the right starting point for your organization.

Building a modern intranet starts with understanding employees’ needs. Begin with a thorough needs assessment and user research to uncover what’s working—and where gaps exist. Involve employees early and often to ensure the solution truly meets their expectations.

Also, implement employee feedback loops into every phase—from initial design to post-launch enhancements. A modern intranet that evolves with employee needs stays valuable, relevant, and impactful over time.

Choosing the right platform for your intranet is just as important. Look for solutions that offer flexibility, scalability, and seamless integration with the tools your organization already relies on.

A well-designed intranet is more than a noticeboard—it’s a strategic tool for engagement and productivity. By focusing on modern intranet design best practices like personalization, mobile usability, integration, and scalability, you can build a platform employees trust and rely on daily. Learn from proven SharePoint intranet examples in the blog SharePoint Intranet Examples: 16 Top Ideas to Inspire Your Next Site.

Want to improve your intranet? Start with our blog post Intranet Homepage Examples – Must-Have Features for High Performance. Or discover must-have features with real intranet examples in Intranet Examples: Top 10 Features That Make Good Intranets Great.

Ready to get started? Whether you're starting fresh, planning a redesign, or refreshing your existing platform, a great first step can be to discuss requirements and expectations with one of our experts. Book a free 30-minute session with an Omnia Coach today.

If you’re not ready for that step yet, learn more by downloading the free guide: 15 Intranet Best Practices for 2025 for expert insights, practical examples, and proven strategies to design an intranet that delivers real results.