ADIDAS RUNTASTIC · LEAD PRODUCT DESIGNER (CORE PLATFORM) · 2022 – 2023
Adidas Runtastic: Infrastructure & Cross-Device UX at 100M+ Scale
Role & Ownership
Lead Product Designer (Core Platform Architecture, Web Systems, Design System Migration, & Global Privacy)
Cross-Functional Team
2 Product Managers, 6 Software Engineers, 1 Data Analyst, Adidas Global Legal
Unifying web & mobile infrastructure, migrating design systems, and pioneering server-driven campaign delivery across global touchpoints servicing 100M+ athletes.
100M+
Global active athletes
2022–2023
Core Platform Squad lead
100%
EU GDPR compliance
Cross-Device
App & Web handshake
TL;DR / Executive Summary
- • The Challenge: Servicing 100M+ global runners required navigating native App Store billing/privacy restrictions while migrating legacy Runtastic web systems into the unified Adidas Design System.
- • The Solution: Built a cross-device web portal for SSO authentication, raw GPS file imports (.gpx/.fit), sports science training plan handshakes, and server-driven (Latte) campaign delivery.
- • Strategic Impact: Standardized 100% GDPR data autonomy worldwide, eliminated 15-30% App Store commission overhead for web transactions, reduced privacy support tickets by 70%, and enabled instant global campaign deployments without app store releases.
01: Overview
The Core Platform Challenge
As a Lead UX Designer within the Core Platform Squad at Adidas Runtastic, my scope extended far beyond individual feature screens. Our squad served as the foundational engineering and UX backbone servicing all global running and training teams—maintaining web infrastructure, single sign-on (SSO) authentication, global notifications, privacy governance, and real-time data sync with adidas.com.
Key strategic initiatives during my tenure:
- Adidas Design System Migration: Migrated legacy standalone Runtastic visual guidelines into the unified, high-performance Adidas Design System.
- App Store Bypass & Web Bridge: Engineered web-based account management for subscriptions, billing, and privacy controls restricted by native App Store policies.
- Sports Science Training Plans: Designed cross-device training programs in partnership with Adidas Sports Scientists.
- Server-Driven Campaigns: Global technical UX lead for "With Women We Run" and "The Ridiculous Run" using Adidas' server-driven Latte component engine.
02: Pillar 1 — Web Platform, Design System Migration & Cross-Device Journeys
Bridging Web Portals & Native Apps
Native Apple App Store and Google Play guidelines restrict or penalize in-app subscription management, complex account deletions, and raw file exports while taking up to 30% commission on digital transactions. To bypass these commission fees and eliminate a 70%+ support ticket queue for manual account actions, we established runtastic.com as the central web management portal while executing a complete design system migration to Adidas guidelines.
We designed unified SSO login flows, subscription & membership management hubs, and manual activity file import tools supporting open GPS formats (.gpx, .tcx, .fit). Every migrated web component was fully tokenized and mapped 1-to-1 between Figma design libraries and production React code, dramatically accelerating engineering handoffs across global squads.
03 — Pillar 2: Adidas Training Plans Integration
Bringing Sports Science Plans to Mobile & Web
Working directly with Adidas Sports Scientists, we translated complex workout algorithms into accessible mobile and web visualizations. Mobile web browser visitors trigger instant app deep-links, while desktop browser visitors are presented with dynamic QR codes for instant mobile execution.
04 — Pillar 3: "With Women We Run" & Server-Driven UI (Latte)
Server-Driven Component Delivery for Global Initiatives
I served as global technical UX lead adapting Adidas' proprietary Latte engine—a dynamic server-driven UI delivery tool. This allowed us to launch web campaign hubs and deep-link routing for global runner safety initiatives (including "With Women We Run" and "The Ridiculous Run") rapidly without waiting for native App Store releases.
05 — Pillar 4: Privacy Governance & GDPR Rights at 100M Scale
GDPR Governance & User Data Autonomy
Operating across Europe and 100+ countries required strict adherence to European GDPR regulations and data privacy frameworks. Partnering with Adidas Global Legal, we standardized self-serve ZIP data export mechanisms and localized privacy controls worldwide.
