Circle K Charge Mobile App. Reimagined.

We helped reshape Circle K’s dedicated EV charging app around one simple goal: make starting a charge feel effortless. A renewed visual language, continuous testing with drivers, and close collaboration with the iOS and Android teams brought that ambition into everyday use.

For three years, Lab1 founder Michal Gryczka worked as the app’s Senior UI Designer, alongside the product manager, UX researchers, and two development teams. He redesigned much of the interface and helped refine the experience release after release.

When we started, Circle K Charge had around 30,000 active users. Today, that figure is approximately 300,000, with significantly higher user satisfaction.

The redesign brought a more cohesive visual language and clearer interactions to Circle K Charge. With an app dedicated entirely to EV charging, we could focus every design decision on helping drivers move confidently through that core experience.

One Tap Start became the heart of the app. Together with Circle K’s UX researchers, we tested with drivers at charging stations and kept refining the experience with the iOS and Android teams. Behind the simplicity drivers loved were years of careful iteration.

Charging takes time. Worrying about it shouldn’t. We designed the Circle K Charge experience to let drivers step away, enjoy a coffee and a cinnamon bun, and relax. Live Activities, real-time progress and smart notifications keep them connected to their car — without keeping them glued to their phone.

But a truly effortless experience goes beyond the happy path. Thoughtful service design ensures drivers feel supported at every step. From a smooth charging start to unexpected payment issues, the app communicates clearly, anticipates problems and guides drivers towards a solution. Because peace of mind isn’t just about knowing everything is going well. It’s about knowing what to do when it isn’t.

Norway is the EV capital of Europe, and Oslo is its heart — the city where electric cars stopped being the exception long ago. It is also home to Circle K E-mobility’s headquarters, so that is where the work kept bringing us back.

Workshops at HQ, testing at the chargers with the drivers who use them every day, and evenings in the city once the laptops were closed.

For Michal, Circle K Charge remains a defining project — and an expression of what Lab1 values most: beautiful UI, close collaboration, and the commitment to keep making a product better.