FROM THE
CROSS-PLATFORM APP
TO THE ACCESSIBLE
NATIVE APP
Accessibility is an integral part of a good user experience. That’s why the health insurance provider BIG direkt gesund has completely rebuilt its meineBIG app and migrated it to native technologies. UID supported the project as a UX and design partner: from analyzing the existing solution to building native design libraries in Figma to designing new functional areas.
Back to Square One
Back to Square One
BIG direkt gesund is a health insurance provider operating nationwide that has received multiple awards for its customer service and service quality. The technical redesign of the app also presented an opportunity to implement the statutory accessibility requirements for health insurance providers much more easily and consistently from the very beginning.
At the start of the project, the only design foundation available was an outdated Adobe XD library. There was no native design system or structured Figma files.
In early 2023, we joined our sister company BAYOOMED’s project, which has been underway since 2019, as a design service provider.
The process
It all started with this question: How do you port an established cross-platform app to native iOS and Android environments without losing its familiar look and feel, while also truly incorporating accessibility?
We began with a comparative review of both platforms, analyzed differences in gesture control and navigation, and identified weaknesses in the existing app. This provided a clear foundation for all subsequent decisions. We completely rebuilt the outdated Adobe XD library in Figma, using platform-specific control libraries for iOS and Android. Thanks to Figma variables and Auto Layout, we were able to generate Dark Mode, 200% text size, and landscape orientation practically at the push of a button, which significantly simplified collaboration with the development team.
At the same time, new features were developed: the revamped rewards program and a dedicated section for sick leave certificates. We consistently adapted each feature to the native app environment and tested it across all accessibility options before moving it into development.
The team
What set this project apart was not only the result, but also the process of getting there. Through close collaboration with the BIG team and BAYOOMED, a partnership emerged in which concepts were openly discussed, scrutinized, and further developed together. The short lines of communication between design and development made coordination particularly efficient and helped ensure that decisions were made quickly and with sound judgment.
Native Design System
Accessibility as the Standard
Figma’s Power for Quick Variations
Thanks to Figma variables and Auto Layout, all design variations could be generated at the click of a button instead of being painstakingly created by hand. What would have previously required a significant amount of extra work was suddenly done in seconds. This not only sped up the iteration process but also noticeably improved the quality of the handoff to development.
User Feedback That Matters
The most direct indicator of a UX project’s quality is the user experience at the end. Throughout the project, BIG regularly conducted user tests, and we incorporated their feedback into the ongoing design process. After the launch, BIG policyholders expressly praised the improved accessibility. For us, this was the most rewarding outcome of a project in which accessibility was a central focus from the very beginning.
