Kann

Designer / Developer

Year

2024

Industry

Product Design

Service

Design and Development

Scope

The objective was to create an intelligent Japanese vocabulary learning app designed to empower self-learners through interest-based, flexible content delivery. By combining native SwiftUI development, offline functionality, and rich, handcrafted dictionaries, Kann aims to redefine how learners acquire and retain Japanese vocabulary. Grounded in user autonomy, spaced repetition, and intuitive UX, the goal was to build an ecosystem that adapts to individual learning paths rather than forcing a fixed curriculum.

Outcome

Kann has evolved into a unique learning companion, an offline-first, purchase-on-progress vocabulary app that prioritizes user agency and retention. It offers thousands of words across themed dictionaries, a gamified unlock system, and clean, delightful UX. With a growing user base, its launch has validated the core product-market fit. With a roadmap pointing toward smarter conjugation logic, and deeper personalization, Kann stands as a premium indie-built solution poised to challenge mainstream Japanese learning platforms.

Problem

The Japanese learning app market is saturated with generic, textbook-style solutions that ignore individual learner goals. Whether someone is preparing for a job in Japan or simply wants to navigate travel situations, they're forced to sift through irrelevant vocabulary and school-like grammar drills. The one-size-fits-all approach wastes time and kills motivation.

Solution

Design a modular, interest-driven learning experience using thematic dictionaries that adapt to the learner’s goals. Deliver a sleek, ad-free interface that keeps the user in flow, and build around flexibility, whether it’s offline access, gamified progression, or curated content paths. Kann strips away friction to keep learning focused, fast, and fun.

Intuitive

Clean, familiar patterns with delightful UX moments that build trust and boost usability.

Curated

Content collections built around what users want to learn, not what we want to teach them.

Accessible

Designed for learners worldwide with offline mode, multilingual UI, and localization-friendly architecture.