Bertie Bear

Defijn partnered with the client to design and engineer the full system. Our discovery workshops shaped the Minimum Viable Product, priorisiting features such as an instant alert button for parents, a breastfeeding timer synced directly from the device, and app-based visibility of nightlight and white noise settings. On the design side, we developed an effortless UX flow for family profiles, caregiver alerts, and device management, paired with a clean and reassuring UI that reflects the warmth of the product itself. Behind the scenes, the engineering challenge was significant. We architected a secure cloud infrastructure on AWS to handle authentication, notification, and real-time device communication.

The app, developed in Flutter / React Native, ensures seamless performance on iOS and Android while integrating with the bear’s embedded hardware over WiFi. This allowed us to bridge physical interactions – like pressing a button on the bear, with digital feedback and control via the app. Additional layers included device scalability, localisation for future language options, and app store provisioning across iOS, Android, and Huawei. Every detail, from micro-interactions in the app to firmware programming on the bear, was designed to create a smooth, reliable experience for families. Bertie Bear represents the best of design meeting engineering: a child-friendly device paired with a robust digital ecosystem, giving parents confidence, comfort, and a smarter way to care for their little ones.