Designing a flexible and accessible resource to teach inclusive language principles to English Heritage staff
I led the design and build of an online Inclusive Language Guide for English Heritage, collaborating closely with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team. The guide needed to be accessible, easy to update, and responsive across devices, all while presenting sensitive and evolving content with clarity and care.
I began by transforming a long-form document into wireframes, breaking the content into clearly structured pages to support comprehension and ease of navigation. Working iteratively with stakeholders, I adapted the layout to meet accessibility needs and made thoughtful decisions around interaction design to ensure simplicity for all users.
Designing with empathy and adaptability from concept to build
I worked with another designer to explore several visual directions for the guide before refining the chosen style: a friendly, scrapbook-style illustrative approach that balances photography, iconography, and subtle textural elements. When user feedback uncovered that certain textures could be overwhelming for a neurodivergent users, I adjusted the visuals based on research to ensure a more comfortable and inclusive experience.
I built the final site in Vev, a no-code HTML platform that I discovered and introduced to the team, which allowed me to prototype, test and implement responsive layouts efficiently without the need for development support. The result is a flexible and engaging microsite that continues to support the organisation’s commitment to inclusive communication. Alongside the digital experience, I created a printed version of the guide to be distributed across English Heritage sites, ensuring the resource was accessible to staff in remote locations without reliable internet access.
