In 2019, I was asked to consult on the development of a new app. The Dutch brain foundation (Hersenstichting) knew daily hikes are beneficial to your brain's health, and were working on an application that would nudge people to start daily 'little walks' ('ommetje' in Dutch). Thus the Ommetje app was born, but not without a design phase that saw several iterations before it launched in the app stores.
When I was asked to consult on the project, there was a need to refine the concept. In the course of time, the app designers had wanted to incorporate a great many functionalities, and saw 'everyone' as their target audience. Together with others, I adviced on a more focussed approach, that would specifically target office workers, who would be enticed to take daily walks with their team, for digital perks.
The app launched december 2019, indeed aimed at office workers --- mere months before covid hit. Overnight, the Dutch became aware of the need to take walks, and Ommetje soared in the app charts, surpassing 1,7 million downloads. Needless to say, 'everyone' suddenly was the target audience, and the app was ready for it. In 2024, the app boasted an impressive tally of 150 million registered walks.
While I don't take credit for this immense success (hats off to the Hersenstichting, and to the devs involved!), I am very proud of my small contribution to this popular health app.
