This Solothurn native is lead designer of the Wikipedia app

Robin Schoenbaechler at Solheure in Solothurn (Image: Christina Varveris)

Robin Schoenbaechler from Solothurn is the lead designer of the Wikipedia app. He usually surfs in Biarritz at this time. Why do we still find him in his hometown?

Written by Christina Varveris for Solothurner Zeitung in German.

3.5 kilograms is the reason why he and his girlfriend are not abroad but in Solothurn. “I already miss her,” says the new father after the two-hour interview. He and his high school sweetheart lived as digital nomads for seven years. “A great time,” he says, but now they are ready for a family and a home.

Lead designer at Wikipedia

For seven years, Robin Schoenbaechler has been the Lead designer of the Wikipedia app. He is passionate about his employer. “This immense knowledge, gathered and made accessible to everyone, for free and without advertisements,” says the Solothurn native. That’s why he wanted to be part of it. After years of working in advertising agencies and creating campaigns for a sugary drink with wings, he tried to do something meaningful.

He applied to Wikipedia. However, his first application was unsuccessful. But Robin Schoenbaechler didn’t let that discourage him. “If you really want something, you can’t just give up,” he says. On his second attempt, he succeeded — and with the job came the nomadic lifestyle.

Since both he and his girlfriend have jobs in international non-profit organizations, they spent many years moving from Airbnb to Airbnb without a permanent home. His daily routine looked like this: surfing in Biarritz, Costa Rica, or Fuerteventura in the morning or snowboarding in Arosa, followed by video calls with colleagues from Nigeria, India, Brazil, and San Francisco in the afternoon.

Mobile-first design for a better user experience

Schoenbaechler’s task is to make the Wikipedia app even more user-friendly. For example, he and his team are currently conducting a survey in India to understand how people there use the app. “There are completely different conditions there,” says Schoenbaechler. The weak internet connection, for instance, and the more than 100 languages in the country present unique challenges for the app.

“Many people in India missed the development of the computer and laptop era, but now they have a smartphone and do everything on it,” explains Schoenbaechler. Because Wikipedia thrives on editing, this process must be as easy on smartphones as on larger screens.

Famous logo: The online encyclopedia Wikipedia is used worldwide (Image: Boris Rössler)

How about uploading a picture of the Postplatz?

Soon, you might be prompted to upload an image or provide a source when you’re at a relevant location. “For example, at the Postplatz in Solothurn,” he says with a smile. “If there’s an article about the renovation of Postplatz, and you’re sitting there, a notification might pop up asking you to upload a picture or provide a source.” The location data would be anonymized.

Privacy is key

Robin Schoenbaechler discovered his passion for design as a teenager. He taught himself how to use Photoshop and started creating invitations and mixtape covers for his girlfriend. After completing his vocational education and earning a business diploma, he studied web design at Middlesex University in London and Zurich.

Schoenbaechler greatly enjoys his work at Wikipedia, especially for moral reasons: There are no ads. “Google, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok know exactly when my child was born. Now, baby products are constantly popping up in my feed. Google and Co. know everything now, but Wikipedia remains ad-free,” he says.

Robin Schoenbaechler is from Solothurn (Image: Christina Varveris)

A vision for the future

Now, as a father, Robin Schoenbaechler is even more committed to using design for good. “I want to make complex issues like climate change more accessible, raise donations for Doctors Without Borders, or prevent people from throwing trash into the Aare,” he reflects. Although the ideas are still developing, he has already reserved the domain designforgood.ch.

By the way, Robin Schoenbaechler is not entirely settled. Around this time next year, he’ll be heading back to Biarritz for two months, and in the winter, he’ll spend several months with his small family in Arosa.