Publishing your designed for print projects with us online

The University of Birmingham is legally required* to make all published content on our websites meet WCAG** 2.2 Level AA accessibility standards, and every document we share must meet this minimum. Wherever we can, we aim to go beyond this. 

Different formats offer different benefits, but our preferred option is always fully compliant HTML on the UoB website. When HTML is not practical, a well-structured, accessible Word document is the next best option. If preserving a fixed visual layout is absolutely essential, this can then be published as an accessible PDF. 

However, PDFs created through a print design workflow*** require significant additional effort to meet accessibility standards and, even then, generally remain less accessible than HTML or well-structured Word documents. Given the additional resource required to make them compliant and the accessibility limitations that remain, the University does not regard this workflow as its preferred approach for publishing digital content.

It is also important to remember that PDFs are inherently inflexible and limit how users—particularly those relying on assistive technologies—can customise their experience. Open formats like HTML work far better with magnification tools, high contrast modes, and custom CSS**** settings, helping everyone engage with our content. 

As the University’s in-house agency, Creative Media follows this strategy and our legal responsibilities. Our default position is to prioritise accessible HTML and Word documents over PDFs created through a print design workflow.

For more detailed guidance, please see the UoB Digital Accessibility Strategy. If you have any further questions or wish to discuss the approach to your project with us, please reach out to your Account Manager and we will be happy to help.