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-Kfz is Germany's first government application to achieve 100% BITV certification — now with over one million active users across iOS and Android. As the senior UX and accessibility designer on the project, I drove accessibility strategy and certification from the ground up, working within a team that scaled from 6 to 64 over two years. The brief was clear: build a digital vehicle document that would work for everyone, including the users who typically say they hate using apps.
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
Methods used: user research with elderly and disabled citizens, inclusive usability testing, BITV 2.0 criteria mapping, EU and German stakeholder workshops, journey mapping, iterative design system development across iOS and Android.
Scoping & Stakeholder Alignment
- Facilitated strategic workshops with the German Ministry of Transport to define success criteria and user scope. Established accessibility requirements as a project-level constraint from day one, not a retrofit.
Research with Underserved Users
- Conducted usability studies with elderly citizens, people with visual and motor impairments, and users with low digital literacy — the groups most likely to be excluded by standard design approaches. Findings directly shaped the information architecture and onboarding flow.
Design System & Accessibility Implementation
- Built a dual-platform (iOS/Android) design system from scratch with BITV compliance embedded at component level. Established feedback loops with the development team to catch and resolve accessibility issues in real time.
Certification & Launch
- Worked through all 98 BITV 2.0 criteria. Achieved 100% certification — the first government application in Germany to do so at this scale. Post-launch user feedback confirmed the inclusive design approach benefited all users, not only those with accessibility needs.
Solution
Timeline
Conception & Client Win
Conceptualised the digital vehicle document format and presented the design case to the German Ministry of Transport. Secured the project through strategic demonstrations and design workshops.
Research & Design Foundation
Conducted user research with diverse groups including elderly and disabled citizens. Began building the design system. Facilitated journey mapping workshops with EU and German stakeholders.
Build & Scale
Led a design team of four within the broader project structure as the team grew. Maintained design consistency across iOS and Android throughout the scaling phase.
Launch & Certification
Achieved 100% BITV 2.0 certification on all 98 criteria at launch. Post-launch reviews consistently highlighted intuitive design and ease of use — including from users who described themselves as struggling with technology.
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.