Schlaubeere

The task was to design a playful and accessible mobile application that helps people with cognitive disabilities build confidence in using everyday digital technologies, from operating mobile devices to recognizing phishing attempts. The goal was to make these skills easier to understand, practice, and apply in real-life situations.

The challenge was to identify barriers that may not be obvious to us and understand what users need to navigate digital technologies more independently — without oversimplifying the experience or making it feel limiting.

The research included conversations and practical smartphone tasks across two Caritas facilities, as well as interviews with supporting professionals and older adults as a secondary research group. We combined observation, open conversations, and hands-on tasks to understand how participants navigated familiar and unfamiliar digital interactions. Desk research into accessibility, digital literacy, and gamification complemented our findings and helped translate research insights into design principles. Usability testing and A/B testing throughout the process helped us identify usability issues, compare design alternatives, and validate key decisions.

Our research led to four key principles: clarity, learning by doing, motivation, and accessibility. We translated these into simple language, clear visual hierarchy, accessible colors, and illustrations that support understanding beyond text. Interactive exercises encourage learning through practice, while the playful puzzle progress system and Schlaubeere mascot provide motivation, guidance, and feedback. Accessibility was considered throughout the interface and development to support different needs and abilities.