How do we make the new website easier to use?

A clear information architecture, simple content hierarchy and inclusive design make a new website easier to use. Put the most important information where people expect to find it, use direct signposting, and test every journey across devices, connection speeds, keyboard navigation and screen-reader use.

Clear structure does the hard work

Clear information architecture and content hierarchy make a new website simpler to navigate before any visual flourish is added. Group content around the jobs visitors need to do, then give each area a clear purpose and route through the site. A homepage can introduce the organisation, while dedicated sections can explain services, people, news, financial information or specialist areas without turning every page into a catch-all.

Findability improves when navigation labels are plain, signposting is direct and pages use enough white space to let key messages breathe. Short, punchy copy and useful imagery can help people understand the story quickly, but they should support the route through the site, not distract from it. The aim is not to remove useful detail. It is to make complexity easier to explore in a logical order.

Sources: The Ardonagh Group: A website with a human side

Inclusion must shape every interaction

Accessible usability means a website works for people using different devices, connection speeds and ways of navigating. Keyboard navigation, screen-reader compatibility, readable contrast and enough time to absorb content are practical parts of the experience, not finishing touches. A custom interaction may look fresh, but it can create barriers if it cannot be reached by keyboard or recognised by assistive technology.

Design for real conditions, including slow connections, bright screens, mobile use and reduced concentration. Avoid automatically rotating carousels that move content before someone has had time to read it. Native browser elements can offer a simpler, more dependable route for common controls such as dropdowns because they already support keyboard use. Test the finished website, not only the design file, across browsers and devices so problems are found before visitors do.

Sources: Designing and developing web experiences for everyone

The best websites make complexity feel manageable

We believe a usable website should give people clarity without flattening the nuance they came for. That means combining strong content structure with an accessible, responsive experience, rather than treating usability as a layer added at the end. Our work for The Ardonagh Group created clear sections for news, leadership, investor information and its portfolio, using straightforward navigation, white space and punchy signposting to help a broad audience find its way. For The Estorick Collection, we refreshed and redeveloped a website to be more accessible and responsive as technology changed. We bring design and development together early, because a polished interaction is only useful when people can actually use it.

Sources: The Ardonagh Group: A website with a human side, The Estorick Collection at 25, Designing and developing web experiences for everyone

FAQs

What should we fix first on a new website?

Fix the routes people use to find essential information first, including navigation labels, page structure and signposting. A clear structure helps visitors reach content about the organisation, services, people, news or specialist topics without having to guess where it lives. Keep the content focused enough that each section has a distinct job.

How can we make a website easier to use for keyboard and screen-reader users?

Use interactions that work with a keyboard and can be recognised by screen readers, then test them in the built website. Native browser elements can provide a reliable starting point for common controls such as dropdowns. Custom controls need extra care because visual styling can make accessibility harder to achieve.

Should we use interactive features to explain complex information?

Use an interactive feature when it gives people a clearer way to explore information or complete a task, not simply because it adds movement. An interaction that creates extra cognitive load, excludes keyboard users or hides the main message can make a website harder to use. Clear content, predictable navigation and accessible controls remain the foundation.

Why should we avoid auto-rotating carousels?

Auto-rotating carousels can move information away before someone has had enough time to read and understand it. They can be particularly difficult for people who read more slowly, are distracted by their surroundings or need more time to process content. Static, clearly signposted content gives visitors more control.