Crafting the Digital Future

nuCamp has built its reputation on something rare in today’s world: handcrafted excellence. Known for their Amish craftsmanship and sleek, European-inspired teardrop campers, nuCamp delivers more than a product—they deliver adventure, authenticity, and a way of life for those who crave exploration.

But as their brand grew, nuCamp saw an opportunity. Their campers already spark connection to the outdoors and to community—but how could they extend that same spirit of connection into the digital space? They envisioned a mobile app that would elevate the ownership journey, giving adventurers tools that complement the experience of owning a nuCamp camper.

What they lacked, however, was the technical expertise to bring this vision to life. That’s where we came in.

The Challenge

nuCamp didn’t just want an app. They wanted a digital product that would feel as carefully crafted as their campers themselves—elegant, intuitive, and inspiring.

The challenge was steep:

• No internal development team. nuCamp’s staff excelled in design, manufacturing, and customer experience—but not software development.
• High expectations. The app had to reflect the craftsmanship and quality of nuCamp’s physical products. Anything less polished would diminish their brand.
• Customer-first focus. nuCamp wanted the app to make their customers’ adventures better, not just add another piece of technology to their lives.

They needed a partner who could not only build the app but also understand the soul of the nuCamp brand.

Our Approach

We approached the project with the same values nuCamp embodies: thoughtfulness, care, and precision. From day one, this wasn’t just about writing code—it was about translating craftsmanship into a digital experience.

Immersing in nuCamp’s World

Before designing or coding anything, we immersed ourselves in the nuCamp story. We studied their brand, their customers, and what differentiated them. We wanted the app to feel like a natural extension of their campers: beautifully designed, intuitive, and built to last.

Collaboration at the Core

Just as nuCamp builds each camper with a deep respect for detail, we built this app with a deep respect for collaboration. Our process was highly iterative:

• Two-week sprints with clear goals and tangible outputs.
• Regular feedback loops so nuCamp could stay hands-on in shaping the product.
• Shared ownership of the vision to ensure the final app felt truly theirs.

Technology with Purpose

We chose technologies aligned with long-term goals:

• Native iOS and Android apps (Swift and Kotlin) for performance, responsiveness, and polish.
• Elixir + Phoenix backend for reliability, scalability, and fault tolerance—qualities essential to support growth and real-world usage at scale.

Our first milestone was an MVP: a secure login screen connected to a working backend—delivered on schedule and ready for expansion.

Implementation

Once the MVP was in place, we began building the features that would truly bring the app to life, guided by customer insights and brand-aligned priorities.

Listening to Customers

Early users expressed a deeper need—not just utility, but connection. They wanted to meet fellow campers, share stories, and feel part of something bigger.

This insight led directly to CONNECT, one of the app’s most defining features.

Building the CONNECT Feature

CONNECT enables users to:

• Share their location while traveling
• Discover and connect with other nuCamp owners across the U.S. and Canada
• Build a sense of community that extends beyond a campsite

In effect, the app became more than a tool—it became a digital gathering point, a place to share the spirit of adventure.

Prioritizing What Mattered

We worked in tandem with nuCamp to sequence the feature roadmap. By focusing on core priorities first, we kept the timeline realistic and the experience polished. Over time we delivered four versions of the app—each refining usability, adding value, and improving performance.

Results

The end product exceeded expectations:

• Successful Launch: The app launched on both iOS and Android, marking nuCamp’s entrance into the digital realm.
• CONNECT Feature: Users embraced it—sharing journeys, meeting fellow campers, enriching their ownership experience.
• Scalable Architecture: The Elixir + Phoenix backend ensures the platform can evolve as the user base grows.
• Clean Handoff: We delivered code repos, deployment pipelines, documentation, and analytics tooling so nuCamp could autonomously maintain and extend the app.

Technologies Used

• Mobile: Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android)
• Backend: Elixir, Phoenix
• Database / Analytics: Custom reporting and usage tracking
• Distribution: Apple App Store, Google Play Store

Conclusion

For nuCamp, this project was more than an app—it was an extension of their craftsmanship, community, and spirit of exploration. The app deepened engagement, enriched the ownership journey, and gave users a new way to connect.

Just as nuCamp builds campers meant to last, we built an app meant to last—scalable, reliable, and ready for all the miles ahead.

At augustwenty, we believe technology should resonate. For nuCamp, that meant creating something that wasn’t just software, but a reflection of the same care and authenticity behind every camper they craft.

This is what happens when craftsmanship meets code.