SJ App

Swedish Railways (SJ)

How I led the redesign of Sweden's most used travel app.  Designing under pressure: when failure isn't an option and millions of Swedes trust your work to get them home.

The Challange

When I joined the SJ app project, it was a mess. The design lived in scattered Sketch files, had no proper design system, and was built on an outdated ticket system that was about to be completely replaced.

It wasn't just redesigning an app - it was rebuilding the entire digital backbone that millions of Swedes depend on daily, while keeping the old system running until the new one was ready.

My role

As lead designer, I didn't just push pixels. I became the bridge between three different teams:

 • The web design system team (Material 3 based)
 • The web designers creating the new website
 • Our app development team

My job was translating a web-focused design system into something that actually worked for app, while keeping both platforms feeling cohesive.

The Process

A) Building the Foundation

First, I migrated everything from chaotic Sketch files to a structured Figma system, creating app-specific components that honored both iOS/Android guidelines AND SJ's new brand direction.

B) Redesigning Core Flows

We rebuilt every single flow from scratch, testing with real users throughout. Some wins:

 • Redesigned search journey flow
 • Simplified night train booking
 • Accessibility woven into every design decision
 • Complete information architecture & copy overhaul
 • Streamlined rebooking process
 • Intuitive period ticket purchasing

New ticket design + real-time travel mode with live train tracking

C) Managing the Transition

The trickiest part? Launching while keeping the old system running. We had to prioritize ruthlessly - some features got cut, others got merged. Every decision was tested and validated with user data.

Key Solutions

The Period Card Revolution

Problem:
Period tickets were buried and confusing.

Solution:
Created a prominent card at the top of tickets view.

Impact:
70% easier to find and use.

Real-time Travel Mode

Problem:
Existing travel mode lacked visual journey tracking and lacked proper guidance up on train changes.

Solution:
Added live map with real-time position tracking, improved transitions, and restructured traffic info.

Impact:
Users can now visually follow their journey in real-time, reducing anxiety and customer service calls about delays and other traffic information questions.

Results & impact

Launched on time despite being Sweden's largest IT project that year. While some users missed certain features initially, the app has been widely praised for being cleaner, faster, and more intuitive.

 • App Store rating: 4.5 ★ to 4.6 ★ (437)
 • Still SJs top Chanel in satisfaction 80%
 • Significant Support ticket reduction

What I learned

Leading a project this complex taught me that good design isn't just about making things pretty - it's about managing constraints, building bridges between teams, and never losing sight of the millions of real people who depend on your work.

Personally? It taught me to stop second-guessing myself and start trusting that I'm the designer in the room for a reason.