Project for: European Commission - Corporate Communications TeamHow might the EU promote services for professional women?
Elysia is a digital platform connecting women to EU opportunities.
Strategic Design | Branding | UX/UI Design
Team
1x Graphic Designer
1x Architect/UX Designer
1x Interior Designer
Project Duration
9 months
My Role
Project planning | Research | Strategy & concept | Marketing & branding | Editorial Layout & design | Visual mock-ups | Event planning
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop, Figma, Canva, ChatGPT, Miro, TypeForm, Lovable, ElevenLabs, Keynote
Challenge
How can we translate the abstract values of the European Union into lived, everyday experiences?
This project addresses the gap between institutional ideals and citizen reality, questioning how accessible democratic participation truly is for diverse target groups—specifically women—and how digital tools can bridge this divide to strengthen democracy in the long term.
Process
We analyzed the friction points between EU programs and its citizens, focusing on how information is disseminated and where accessibility breaks down. Our research centered on identifying the specific barriers women face when attempting to navigate European support systems and civic resources.
Research Methods:
In-depth desk research
Survey of 82 respondents
Interviews with 16+ EU residents
Cultural probes
Cultural immersion visiting EU Parliament & Commission in Brussels, Belgium
Strategic Approach
By employing human-centered design and target-group segmentation, we distilled complex EU frameworks into actionable insights. We mapped out the journey of active citizenship, identifying that community-led support and direct mentorship are the most effective drivers for turning institutional "values" into personal "agency."
Testing
To ensure the solution met the needs of its intended audience, we conducted testing with women from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. These sessions focused on direct user feedback allowing us to adapt the user interface and branding in our prototype. Feedback from these real-world interactions was instrumental in shifting the website from a purely informational tool to a community-focused platform.
User testing at re:publica 2025
Hosting an event to launch & test concept at SRH University
The Outcome
We developed Elysia, a digital platform designed to empower women by simplifying the connection to EU services and professional mentors. The website transforms abstract rights into concrete opportunities, offering a centralized hub for networking, financial resources, and mentorship. The final output provides a scalable model for how technology can foster a more inclusive and resilient European society.
Business Overview
To further shape the implementation of Elysia, we created a Business Model Canvas to map out key components required to deliver, create, and capture value through our service.
Marketing Strategy
We built a purposeful marketing funnel designed to resonate with our core audience: women aged 23–35 who are bold enough to dream and ready to build.
