User eXperience research & design for heritage science: from personas to user interface development in Codex4D project

This paper presents a methodological framework for applying User eXperience Research (UXR) and User eXperience Design (UXD) in the context of Heritage Science, focusing on the case study of the Codex4D. The project explores the digitisation, visualisation, and interactive exploration of complex documentary heritage –ancient codices– through a user-centred design approach. The UXR phase utilised qualitative research methods like stakeholder interviews, field observations and participatory workshops to create user personas, task models and interaction scenarios. These insights directly informed the UXD process, which followed an iterative cycle of prototyping, co-design, and usability testing. The resulting user interface seamlessly integrates 2D and 3D representations of the codices, multispectral imagery and contextual metadata, offering users multiple levels of interaction and interpretation. Grounded in international standards and principles of Universal Design, this research demonstrates how UX methodologies can enhance the accessibility, engagement, and scientific value of digital heritage tools.