Thüringer Family App:
Find what matters – advice, education, and leisure at a click

Thuringia offers numerous family-friendly services – from advice centers and educational programs to leisure and tourism destinations. However, the information on these services was previously spread across many different locations and platforms. What was missing was a central, low-threshold contact point that provides orientation and makes the diverse offerings digitally accessible. This is precisely where the Thüringer Family App comes in.

Together with the Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Labor, and Family (Thüringer Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Arbeit und Familie - TMSGAF) and project partner Gebit Münster, Ergosign developed a mobile application that bundles existing information sources and makes them easy to find for families.

The particular challenge lay not only in the technical implementation of the app. Rather, it was necessary to consolidate various existing data sources, align business and technical requirements, design a common data model, and actively involve a wide range of relevant stakeholders in the development process. In addition, there were stringent requirements regarding data protection, accessibility, and user-friendliness – with the clear goal of creating a modern, easily accessible, and sustainable solution for a broad target group.

Ergosign supported the project from conception to implementation. After the project start in summer 2023, we dove into a research phase. Based on the insights gathered from this, we developed initial design components and key screens. These serve as a design foundation and simultaneously enable future stakeholder participation: In addition to the project team from the Ministry, the Münster District, and Ergosign, a core advisory group — comprising around 20 representatives from various fields such as youth, health, migration, and sports — was involved. Depending on the topic, we worked with specialized working groups and coordinated their input.

A central element of the project was the development of a comprehensive data model that covers both technical interfaces and functional requirements – for example, the structure of detail pages, mandatory fields, or filter logic. Existing data sources such as the ThüCAT database and the Family Compass were connected, while we also created new digital access options for providers whose offerings had not previously been recorded using a web form and a promoter API.

All content is processed centrally in an AWS-based infrastructure, automatically checked (e.g., for duplicates or problematic items), and then displayed in a structured manner in the app. The ministry maintains additional content such as editorial articles or service contributions independently using the headless CMS Storyblok.

The native app development for iOS and Android was carried out using the Flutter framework. In parallel with the technical implementation, Ergosign was also responsible for visual design, UX, DevOps, and testing. The app is based on the Free State of Thuringia's corporate design and a specially developed campaign design, complemented by a clear information architecture, including design and intelligent filter and navigation logic. A particular focus was placed on digital accessibility: The app was designed based on the WCAG 2 guidelines to provide equal access for users with different needs. A dedicated working group continuously addressed accessibility issues throughout the development process.

The multi-stage beta testing phase began in summer 2024 – initially with representatives of the ministry, then with the advisory group, and finally with selected providers. The feedback collected was directly incorporated into the optimization and finalization of the app.