We provide content, processes and support to policymakers to tackle complex problems in a collaborative way. We run qualitative research, ask fundamental questions, challenge assumptions and test ideas that can lead to innovative solutions.
We synthesize and make sense of information, visualise systems and interactions, give form to policy concepts and make them tangible and relatable.
We identify user and system needs, engage stakeholders and facilitate cross-teams, sciences and policy collaboration and experiments to bring new practical and radical perspectives to current and future challenges.
Design for policy tools
Design tools make policies more tangible and collaborative, turning abstract ideas into experiences that can be explored and improved with users:
- Co‑creation workshops bringing policymakers, scientists and stakeholders together to frame problems and imagine alternatives.
- Prototyping of policy options, services or interfaces to test feasibility and usability early.
- Visual and participatory methods (journey maps, system maps, mock‑ups) to align diverse actors around shared solutions.
These approaches are used in initiatives like Futures Garden, the EU Harmonised Waste Sorting Labelling System, Intergenerational Fairness or the Water Resilience Experiment to bridge science, creativity and governance.
News (41)
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Here is a sneak peek into some of the results of the scoping phase which has yielded valuable insights and lessons that could shape the future of policymaking in Europe.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Foresight
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights
A series of reflections on EU Design for Policy
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Design for policy
Chasing unpaid taxes weighs on administrations as it is time- and resource-intensive.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Behavioural insights
- Design for policy
An EU Policy Lab exploration of transformative actions for adaptive water governance
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights
- #OURFUTURES
A new tool for policymakers helps to explore the effects of polycrisis on their policy area
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Foresight
- Design for policy
We've just launched the process to design the next EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness. Found out more about how we did it.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Foresight
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights
How can the EU safeguard fairness and fundamental rights when AI is used for decision making?
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights
Some exciting news from our project to harmonise waste sorting labels across the EU!
Over the last few months the EU Policy Lab, together with consortium leader Open Evidence and the behavioural design agency Krukow, have developed a prototype for harmonised waste sorting labels.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights
Futures Garden is an experimental project of the Joint Research Centre’s EU Policy Lab to generate new policy ideas with citizens and policymakers to help shape a better future for Europe. We are now proud to announce the public launch of two innovative ‘artefacts from the future’.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Foresight
- Behavioural insights
- Design for policy
Our regular readers may remember the launch of our ambitious design and behavioural insights projects aiming to Harmonising waste sorting labels across the EU (europa.eu). And we’ have been busy.
- EU Policy Lab tags
- Design for policy
- Behavioural insights