Objective This study researches how to develop a smartphone application that supports young people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis in consultations with their Rheumatologists. Methods The design process is performed as a participatory design approach, by involving young people with Rheumatoid Arthritis as part of the design team. The development process builds on an extensive research of the problem situation by conducting focus group interviews, contextual inquiry, a conceptualisation workshop, and cooperative evaluations. Two Rheumatologists have also been a part of the design process during semi-structured interviews, as well as through cooperative evaluations. This ensures that all stakeholder requirements have been located and met, even tertiary ones. Results Young people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis are challenged in almost every aspect of their everyday life because of their condition. Understanding their relation to their Rheumatologists reveals a potential for enhancing their position when attending consultations. Rheumatologists are rather protective of the sparse amount of time allocated for each consultation. Thus, designing an application for smartphones to support patients has to consider this requirement of the Rheumatologists in order to be successfully adapted by the young people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Conclusion The study concludes that developing a smartphone application to support young people living in consultations with Rheumatologists can enhance patient empowerment. Developing a successful application relies extensively on involving all stakeholders in the problem situation throughout the whole process. The data input in the application has to follow a linear path to ensure user engagement and data quality. The data has to present data that is visualised as simply and recognisably as possible to the Rheumatologist, in order to be adapted into the preexisting practice of consultations.