Logical groups and umbrella categories

One of the main issues with the original page was the excessive number of categories (27 in total) which made scanning and navigation unnecessarily complex.

To streamline this, I introduced a system of umbrella categories that grouped related themes together. 

For example, Health and safety, Major Incidents, and Safeguarding were originally separate sections, each containing only a few documents. These have now been combined under a single, clearer heading: “Safety, wellbeing and security.”

Shaping the Information Architecture

I then worked to reorganise existing content into logical, human-centred categories such as Core policies, For students, Conducting research, and For staff/faculty. 

Each of these areas then had the relevant umbrella categories below them.

This simple reframing allowed users to skip to what area was most relevant to them, instead of scanning long, generic lists.

Policy cards

Once the structure made sense, I translated it into a visual system. Each document became a 'policy card' with a clear title, format, and file size, accompanied by an icon that indicated its function, whether it could be downloaded or viewed online.

Policies and documents catalogue

As the redesign took shape, I wanted to create a single place where every policy could be found without confusion or guesswork. The original site scattered documents across multiple sections, forcing users to click through page after page in search of the right file.

To solve this, I designed a central catalogue: a clean, alphabetical list of all policies and documents in one location. Users no longer had to know where something “lived” on the site; they could simply scroll to it directly.

To make the experience even more efficient, I added filter options that allowed users to sort by category, document format, or user group. Whether a student looking for housing guidance or a staff member checking a compliance policy, users could now reach the right document in seconds.