i-Kfz: Digital Vehicle Document for Germany
First App in Germany to Achieve 100% BITV Certification at German Federal Standard — Over 1 Million Downloads
I conceived and pitched the i-Kfz digital vehicle document design concept to the German Ministry of Transport, winning the client through design strategy workshops. Over 2 years, I led the design and development cooperation and transformation from a 6-person team to 64 members, built the design system from scratch, and achieved full BITV certification — making i-Kfz the first app in Germany to be certified 100% accessible at the German federal standard. The result: 1M+ active users, 1,000+ five-star reviews specifically praising the intuitive design from users who typically struggle with technology, and a new benchmark for accessible government digital services.
The Challenge
Creating a digital identity solution that would serve millions of German citizens — from tech-savvy millennials to elderly users who find apps challenging. When I conceived and pitched this to the Ministry of Transport, the goal was clear: reach 1 million+ users within 2 years while achieving full BITV 2.0 accessibility certification. The real challenge? Making it so intuitive that users who openly admit they 'are bad at using apps' would praise the design.
Research Methods
From concept to delivery at scale. I conceived and pitched the design vision to the Ministry of Transport, built the team from 6 to 64 professionals over 2 years, created a dual-platform design system from scratch, and maintained strategic oversight through launch — ultimately reaching 1M+ active users with 1,000+ reviews praising the intuitive experience.
Winning the Client
- Pitched to Ministry of Transport
- Strategic demonstrations and think tanks secured project
Building the Team
- Started with 6-person core team
- Scaled to 64 professionals over 2 years
- Managed design team within system architecture
Creating the System
- Dual-platform design system from scratch
- Data-driven feedback loops tied to developers
- Facilitated EU and German workshops for journey mapping
Strategic Oversight
- Maintained strategic oversight throughout
- 1M+ users successfully onboarded
- 1,000+ positive reviews praising intuitive experience
Solution
- 1M+ downloads achieved within target timeframe
- 1,000+ positive reviews specifically about design usability and ease of use
- Grew team from 6 to 64 people over 2 years while maintaining design excellence
- Conceived, pitched, and won the Ministry as client through strategic workshops
- First fully BITV-certified app at this scale in Germany
- Successfully served users who typically 'hate using apps'
- Built comprehensive design system from scratch for unified iOS and Android experience
- Led and mentored a design team of 4 working within the system architecture
Timeline
Conception & Client Win
Conceived and pitched i-Kfz concept to Ministry of Transport. Won client through strategic demonstrations and workshops. Established project vision and team of 6. Set goal: 1M+ users within 2 years.
Research & Design System
Conducted extensive user testing with diverse groups including elderly and disabled citizens. Built comprehensive design system from scratch. Facilitated EU and German workshops for journey mapping. Team grew from 6 to 64 people.
Team Leadership & Growth
Led design team of 4 designers. Established data-driven feedback loops with development. Scaled operations while maintaining design excellence across iOS and Android. Focused on inclusive onboarding for users who struggle with apps.
1M+ Users & Full BITV Certification
Achieved 1M+ active users. Received 1,000+ five-star reviews praising intuitive design. Secured full BITV 2.0 certification. Recognized as Germany's first fully accessible government app at this scale.
User Voice
Over 1,000 reviews specifically mention the user-friendly design and intuitive interface
"Finally, a government app that works!"
— iOS User
"My 75-year-old mother could use it without help"
— Verified Review
"The design is so intuitive, even I managed!"
— Self-described 'tech-hater'
"Best onboarding I've ever experienced"
— Google Play Review
Gallery
Clear Data Dashboard
Comprehensive overview of vehicle data with visual hierarchy and smart categorization for effortless information management.
Cross-Platform Design
System design optimized for diverse platforms including Android and iOS, ensuring consistent user experience across all devices.
Accessibility First
Fully compliant with BITV 2.0 accessibility standards, achieving 100% certification for inclusive digital access.
Smart Assistant Integration
Innovative voice-guided assistance with intuitive data visualization, making vehicle information instantly accessible and easy to understand.
Outcome
Experience the Design Yourself
Experience the user-friendly design of the i-Kfz app for yourself.
Reflection
i-Kfz showed that accessibility is not just a compliance checkbox — it's the foundation for design that serves everyone. By centering users who typically struggle with apps, we created an experience that delighted all 1M+ users, proving that inclusive design is simply great design.
Interested in working together?
Let's discuss how I can help your organisation design trustworthy, accessible AI experiences across sectors.