Deaf Bible Society wanted the Bible in sign language on every phone, even where there’s no signal. We built its iOS and Android app in Flutter on Firebase, with over 1,000 videos in more than 30 sign languages to stream or download.
- sign languages
- 30+
- Bible videos
- 1,000+
- users worldwide
- 10,000+
The Deaf Bible app on a phone, with a sign language video player and a reading plan, beside a switch for the phone’s signal. With signal, videos stream and can be downloaded. With the signal off, downloaded videos still play and the others show the app’s You’re offline card.
Phone signal
In town · 4G
01The ask
Put the Bible in sign language on every phone.
Deaf Bible Society is a non-profit organization that helps Deaf communities around the world experience the Bible in multiple sign languages.
It wanted an app for Android and iOS that streams video, performs well, and puts the user experience first. We started from scratch on Firebase, with a database of over 1,000 videos in more than 30 sign languages.
02Offline
Download it where there’s signal, watch it where there isn’t.
The app had to work offline, so people in remote areas can download videos when they reach a connection and watch them later.
Every video got a download button. Once downloaded, it is stored in the phone’s gallery.
03The design
Fewer buttons, fewer words, fewer symbols.
We designed for Deaf users first, with fewer buttons, clicks, words, and symbols so the app is as friendly as possible. UX research and best practices shaped a UI built around how its users move through it.
The team took an intensive accessibility course with a specialized mentor, and worked closely with Deaf Bible Society and its Products Team on features, feedback, and the roadmap.
04The build
One Flutter code base, plugged into Firebase.
We started from what the client needed first, planned the features in that order, and drew wireframes and mockups of each screen so the client could see how the app would work and look.
Flutter gave us one code base for Android and iOS, with tablet support. Firebase handled sign-in with Auth, the media with Storage, and user data with Firestore.
Then we tested the heart of the app, the videos in 30+ sign languages, and every menu around them, and Deaf Bible had its app on iOS and Android.
05What changed
The Bible in sign language, in 10,000+ hands.
-
30+ languages
The Bible in sign language, on iOS and Android.
Over 1,000 videos across more than 30 sign languages, on phones and tablets.
-
Offline
Videos that work without a signal.
Download once where there is a connection, then watch anywhere.
-
10,000+ users
A community, not only an app.
The app brings Deaf communities together around the Bible, with over 10,000 users worldwide.
06If you’re next
What we’d tell a team in Deaf Bible’s seat.
- 01
Design with the people who will use it. Fewer buttons, words, and symbols made the app friendlier for Deaf users.
- 02
Plan for no signal from day one. Downloads mattered as much as streaming.
- 03
Train the team on accessibility before the first screen, not after launch.
Roll credits.
Who did what, and with which tools.
- Client
- Deaf Bible Society
- Our part
- Product designUX researchApplication development
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, and tablet
- Built with
- FlutterFirebase AuthCloud StorageFirestore
Built by Very Good Ventures
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