User need
- Find requirements relevant to a specific role.
- Locate procedures for the current stage of doctoral study.
- Reach the right information without reading the whole website.
Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)
Professional project
UPV Doctoral School: Website redesign
Information architecture and a WordPress redesign for a content-heavy institutional website.
My contribution
I worked with the Doctoral School directors on content organisation and navigation, designed page layouts, and implemented the website in WordPress with Elementor.
Context
Redesigning the Doctoral School website
In 2023, UPV renewed its main website and the websites of its associated institutions. From January to June, I worked on the Doctoral School website, redesigning its information architecture and implementing the interface in WordPress with Elementor.
The Doctoral School manages postgraduate doctoral studies across engineering, architecture, sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences. Its website brings together programmes, admission requirements, funding, deadlines and the procedures that students and academic staff need throughout a doctorate.
Working with the Doctoral School directors
I worked with the directors to understand the audiences and their information needs, then organised the content and built the pages within the shared UPV template.
Problem
Making essential information easier to find
The site contained information for more than 31 doctoral programmes, with requirements, dates, documents and updates for each. These details were essential. The challenge was to make them easier to locate and understand while keeping the full institutional content available.
Institutional needs
- Keep academic and administrative information complete.
- Maintain current requirements, deadlines and documents.
- Provide access for students, supervisors, committees and external participants.
Platform, content and language requirements
Shared UPV template
The interface and structure had to remain consistent with other UPV websites. The available template components limited the range of page layouts.
WordPress and Elementor
The content structure had to fit the publishing tools and their layout constraints, while supporting new pages, news and routine updates.
Content and languages
Programme requirements and procedural information could not be removed to shorten the site. The published website provides Spanish, Valencian and English versions.
Review
Selecting a doctoral programme: before and after
Both recordings follow the same task: select a doctoral programme and open its information. Compare the route, the available choices and how the programme details are presented.
Before: archived website
The same task on the archived website: find a doctoral programme and open its information.
After: redesigned website
The same task on the redesigned website: choose a subject area, select a doctoral programme and review its information.
The earlier website is shown through archived pages, including a 2019 snapshot. The redesigned website was recorded in October 2026; its content has continued to change since the 2023 project.
Earlier structure
A persistent sidebar, dense lists and long pages placed many destinations at the same level. Visitors had to identify the links relevant to their situation within that structure.
Redesigned structure
Audience-based menus give visitors an initial route. Within those routes, doctoral stages organise tasks. Shared topics remain separate so they can be reached by more than one audience.
Decisions
Grouping content by audience, stage and topic
A single list could not make every programme and procedure equally easy to find. I organised entry points by audience, then grouped procedures by doctoral stage. Shared topics remain available to every audience.
Navigation by audience
Audience menus separate the responsibilities of applicants and students, thesis supervisors and programme committees, and graduates or external participants. Each group can start with the information relevant to its role.
Procedures by doctoral stage
Within each audience, procedures follow the order in which they are needed. For students, this means applying, completing the doctorate, and submitting or defending a thesis.
Shared institutional topics
Doctoral School information.
International opportunities.
Relationships with industry.
Shared topics remain in the main navigation so every audience can reach them.
Solution
Solution
Navigation starts with users’ needs, then provides access to shared institutional information.
Outcome
Published website and ongoing updates
Delivered website
A redesigned and implemented institutional website, with navigation organised around audiences, doctoral stages and shared topics. Essential programme and procedural information remains available.
Ongoing updates
WordPress pages and posts allow the school to keep adding and maintaining content within the university’s visual system. The current website continues to reflect later updates.