In EMERALD’s Work Package 4, we adopted a co-creation and co-design approach – a way of developing technology with users rather than for them. This method brings together those who will use the system (pilot partners), those who build it (technology component owners), and external auditors to collaboratively shape the EMERALD Compliance-as-a-service. The goal is simple: create tools that truly meet users’ needs while ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience.

Our process combines interviews, workshops, and prototypes to support dialogue between different stakeholders. Early in 2024, we conducted interviews with pilot partners to understand their day-to-day work and challenges. Based on these insights, we created personas, scenarios, and user journeys, thus, methods that help everyone involved imagine how different types of users might interact with the EMERALD CaaS framework in real situations. Personas represent typical users (e.g., compliance managers, auditors), scenarios describe their work contexts, and user journeys map how the users would interact with the new solutions to achieve their goals.

These methods helped us design and refine the first paper-based mock-ups, simple sketches of what the interface might look like. Users could visualize ideas and share feedback before any coding began. As the process evolved, these mock-ups were turned into clickable prototypes using Figma. Unlike static sketches, the interactive versions allowed users to “click through” the interface and experience how the EMERALD CaaS might function in practice. Each round of feedback refined the design further – an ongoing cycle of testing, discussion, and improvement.

This participatory approach shifts users from being “subjects” of research to active partners in design. By involving them throughout the process, we create a shared space where developers and users learn from one another. The result is not just a better product, but also a stronger sense of ownership and understanding among everyone involved.

Through co-design, EMERALD is developing a user interface and experience (UI/UX) concept that reflects real-world needs and is tested for both usefulness and acceptance by its target groups.