05 — European Commission
Build Up — European Commission
Designing an accessible digital experience for Europe's building-efficiency portal.
BUILD UP — European Commission website — provided by Beatriz Paiva.
01 — Overview
Build Up is the European Commission's portal for building energy efficiency. The project covered a new brand and an accessible website and mobile app.
03 — The Challenge
The EU building energy-efficiency portal needed a new brand and an AA-accessible digital experience across web and mobile.
04 — My Role
Product Designer, owning the experience from wireframes and visual direction through responsive interface design.
05 — Discovery / Research
I translated the requirements of a public-sector platform into a clear information structure, considering accessibility, responsive behaviour and the needs of users navigating an information-heavy portal.
06 — Key Insights
Accessibility couldn't be treated as a final layer of compliance. It needed to influence the structure, hierarchy and interaction patterns from the beginning.
07 — Design Approach
Accessibility-first design, combining WCAG AA requirements with clear information hierarchy, responsive layouts and patterns suited to a public-sector product.
08 — Key Design Decisions
01 — Design for accessibility from the start Built the interface around WCAG AA requirements rather than treating accessibility as a final audit. 02 — Create a clear information hierarchy Structured content so users could navigate complex energy-efficiency information more easily. 03 — Design responsively Developed patterns that could translate consistently across the website and mobile experience. 04 — Establish a coherent visual language Created a new visual direction that balanced the European Commission's requirements with a more contemporary digital experience.
09 — Final Solution
A rebranded, responsive portal and mobile experience designed around accessibility, clear information hierarchy and consistent interaction patterns.
10 — Outcome
Delivered an AA-accessible digital experience aligned with European Commission design and accessibility requirements.
11 — Learnings
Accessibility is not a constraint added to a design. When considered early, it becomes a framework for making information, hierarchy and interactions clearer for everyone.
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