Why we have changed the design
The design of the legislation.gov.uk website has remained largely the same for the last decade, since its release. Over that period, desktop screens have got larger, technology has changed to allow us to present things in a clearer way, and design aesthetics have changed.
For some time you have been asking for a more up-to-date website, one that has a larger text size, to make it easier to read. We always listen to what you tell us and we have been working to make some changes to the website to accommodate your requests.
What has stayed the same
All of the legislation content and all of the functionality you are used to has stayed the same. The new design is purely that - a change to its appearance; everything works in the same way that you are familiar with.
Our website - whilst viewable on mobile devices - is not yet optimised for mobile. We are working on this though, so watch this space!
What improvements the new design brings
We have focussed on making changes to the design which will help everyone see and understand the content more clearly and easily, and to improve visual accessibility. The improvements we have made include:
- Larger font size. All of the content and the controls, links and buttons are at the very least the default browser size, as recommended by the W3C You should find it much easier to read text on the site now.
- Wider page width. Along with a larger text size, we have increased the page width so that the site makes better use of the screen width on the majority of monitors.
- Simpler design. Gone are the gradient, silver backgrounds and bevelled buttons, instead the design is simpler and unobtrusive, making the content a lot clearer.
- Clearer controls. Buttons and links are easier to spot, consistent in their appearance, and it is easier to understand their active and inactive states. This will help especially when you are looking at different versions of a piece of legislation.
- A more contemporary look and feel. Using legislation.gov.uk should be a pleasant experience. We think our new design is far more up-to-date and more aesthetically pleasing.
