KiVa Program
Reformed KiVa system to help fight bullying
KiVa is a globally recognised anti-bullying program developed at the University of Turku. Designed to prevent and address bullying effectively, it also enables schools to continuously monitor their situation.
Currently implemented in 25 countries, KiVa is used by over 800 comprehensive schools in Finland alone.
At the core of the KiVa Program are interactive lessons, games, and digital learning materials, all managed through the KiVa system. As the old system began to face technical limitations, we stepped in to redesign it—ensuring it meets the evolving needs of a growing and diverse user base.
5
User groups, each with unique needs
17
Language versions
6000+
Users
Careful planning as the foundation for a successful digital service
The KiVa system primarily serves as a distribution channel for digital learning materials to schools and international licensing partners. As a result, it must accommodate a wide range of user groups – from KiVa’s own staff to teachers – and support 17 language options. To ensure the system could handle its multilingual nature, complex licensing rights, and various user levels without causing confusion, we started the redesign project with a careful definition of its core functionalities, user groups, and technical requirements.
When user needs, use cases, and system functionalities are clearly documented, the development phase progresses more smoothly. This also makes it easier to assess project phases and resource requirements early on, creating a more structured and efficient development process.
“The project proceeded as planned, with smooth and open communication. Promises were kept, and the budget remained under control. We are very satisfied.”
UX/UI design aiming for ease of use
User-friendliness and clear navigation are at the core of internal services like KiVa. That’s why we focused on usability and easy access to materials in the new interface – features that have earned KiVa much praise.
Our design considers the system’s diverse user groups, their varying technical skills, and different operating environments, including challenges like poor network connectivity. The goal was to create an intuitive interface that helps all users quickly find the information they need, regardless of their starting point. At the same time, we simplified content management for the KiVa team to ensure efficient system maintenance.
To streamline development, we used a ready-made component library, adapting it to align with KiVa’s brand. This approach saved time and costs, allowing us to focus on enhancing the overall user experience.
The result: satisfied customers and a more efficient daily life
The renewed KiVa system was rolled out gradually in autumn 2024, ensuring a smooth transition without any downtime. The improved system streamlines the publication of KiVa materials and user management, freeing up the team’s time for more strategic development while enhancing the effectiveness of operational programs.
Built as an API-first solution, the system is designed to be both durable and adaptable, ensuring it can evolve with KiVa’s future needs.
KiVa has received positive feedback from its users, not only for the system’s ease of use but also for its reliability and fast response to technical inquiries. At Sofokus, we are proud to have contributed to a more efficient service through close collaboration with the KiVa team.
What we did
- Defining the user levels and needs of the system
- Technical specification
- UX/UI design
- Technical implementation of the system upgrade
- Maintenance
Tools and technologies used in the project
- University of Turku IT-environments
- ReactJS
- Spring Boot
- Figma
- Cookiebot
- Google Analytics 4
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