Bernie 2016 · Android App
Connect with Bernie · Social organizing
TL;DR
I volunteered to bring Bernie’s iOS app to Android, adapting core features—Events, Register to Vote, Share, News—into a Material Design–compliant build. By reusing iOS specs and aligning with platform conventions, we delivered a consistent cross-platform experience that accelerated grassroots organizing.
Problem Statement
After the iOS launch, Android users lacked access to key organizing tools, risking fragmented supporter engagement. We needed to mirror iOS functionality while respecting Material Design, all under tight volunteer timelines and without slowing the campaign’s momentum.
Timeline
Q2 2016 — Post-iOS launch (2 weeks)
XFN Stakeholders
2 iOS Engineers
2 Product Designers 👋
3 Android Engineers
Process
01 Learn and synthesize
We reviewed iOS specs and user flows for Events and Register to Vote, then audited Material Design guidelines to map platform differences—fonts, icons, navigation patterns—ensuring parity without reinventing core interactions.
02 Ideation and alignment
Collaborative sessions with Android volunteers confirmed priorities: mirror iOS features, leverage Material components, and choose a drawer navigation over bottom tabs for faster implementation while maintaining familiarity.
03 Design and prototype
We adapted iOS mocks into Android prototypes, reformatting components to Material specs—standardizing cards, buttons, and serif Roboto typography for heavy text articles to convey an authentic, editorial tone. Quick iterations in sketches and Zeplin clarified handoff needs.
04 Ship
Clear specs enabled engineers to build rapidly; we supported reviews to align visual details, shipping a fully functional Android app that matched iOS capabilities with native polish.
05 Quality assurance
Volunteer testing validated flows across devices, catching platform-specific quirks. Final tweaks ensured smooth event discovery, voter registration, and sharing—keeping the experience intuitive and on-brand.
06 Outcomes
The Android app expanded reach, enabling more supporters to organize locally, register to vote, and stay informed—strengthening grassroots momentum with consistent, accessible tools across both platforms.
Reflection
Team
This sprint showed how user-centered adaptation and cross-team clarity turn platform constraints into efficient, scalable wins. Volunteering reminded us that impact grows when we prioritize shared goals, communicate simply, and execute with care and consistency.
Personal
I learned to navigate key OS differences—translating iOS’s San Francisco typography and SF Symbols into Android’s Roboto and Material Icons, shifting tab bar navigation to drawers or bottom nav, and adapting swipe gestures to back-button flows with ripple feedback and elevation. These subtle, system-respecting adjustments preserved intent while delivering native fluency across platforms with precision.
