I began my research by conducting 5 interviews with individuals that regularly work out and who use a fitness app during their workouts. By directly engaging with users and asking them about their experiences with existing fitness apps, I was able uncover pain points, areas for improvement, and gain a deeper understanding of what motivates people to use fitness apps in the first place. The information was then used to inform the design of the app and ensure that it meets the needs of my users, leading to a more successful and user-friendly product.
5 participants took part in the study, 4 females and 1 male aged 21-36
Below are some questions that helped with my design thinking.
...staying motivated and accountable for working out regularly can be challenging...being part of a community has helped me stay committed...
Based on the information gathered from my research, I was able to create a realistic representation of the ideal user who will use and gain value from the app during and after working out. This helps us build empathy.
The userflow chart below was created to help me better understand the user's experience when using the fitness app with its new features. By understanding the user's journey, I can make sure that the most important tasks are easy to find and complete. Additionally, the userflow chart will help to improve the usability of the app when navigating from start to finish. From the onboarding process to completing a workout, one can see the flow of steps the user will encounter.
To further understand how to meet my goals, a task flow was generated to represent the user’s journey through each specific task. By mapping out the user journey, I was better able to identify potential pain points or areas where the user might get stuck or confused. This information was then used to create potential solutions in the design that make the user journey smoother and more intuitive
To establish an effective app layout, I began with sketching low-fidelity wireframes based on identified user flows. Adding more context, I iterated on mid-fidelity wireframes. Finally, I refined the design and brought it to life through high-fidelity wireframes.
When opening the app, the user will have the ability to create an account through a social media account or through an email. Choosing either way, the user will eventually have to open their email and input a PIN number that was emailed to the user to validate the account.
Once the verification is completed, the user will proceed to generate a profile based on their fitness routine or goal. Its purpose will be to personalize the experience of using the fitness app, provide tailored recommendations, and guidance that align with the user's specific goals and needs.
When focusing on the general layout of the main feed and profile I looked to my research to ensure that the content is organized and presented in a clear and logical way. The user's profile, sharing a post, the user's friends and groups were given priority in the information architecture in the feed for users to more likely to interact with them and engage with the features, leading to increased usage.
On users profile, the user will have access to friends and new gamification features to boast motivation and engagement.
I decided to revamp the UI design of my fitness app as the existing one was outdated and failed to offer a user-friendly experience. With a modern and sleek appearance, the new design boasts a host of features that enhance usability and user experience. Incorporating bright and vibrant colors into specific elements of the user experience we create a fun and energetic atmosphere.
With the new onboarding system, users will be able to quickly and easily generate a customized profile based on the users interests and focus. This not only improves the user experience but also helps to increase retention and overall satisfaction with the app.
With the introduction of challenges, I choose a simple and clear representation of how the user will interpret and complete the challenge.
Challenges can foster a sense of community among app users.
By participating in challenges with others, users can share their progress, offer support and encouragement, and compete in a fun and engaging way.
To further validate the new added and the additional design changes i decided to do a usability with 7 participants. 4 tests were conducted in person; 2 via video chat; 1 online
With the usability test, I was able gather feedback from actual users on their experiences using the app, which helped me make informative decisions on how to improve the app's design and functionality.
All usability tests that were conducted in person or via video chat were successful.
Some questions and concerns did come up when completing the tasks via using an Maze.
Due to time constraints, after correcting a few small niches in the prototype, I was able to conduct only two more quick usability tests.
When looking to make a post, the user will now be able to choose from three extra options to add more versatility to the option of creating a post.
In order to create a successful community feature, it's important to understand the needs and preferences of your target audience. User research can help you identify what users are looking for in a fitness app community, what types of features and interactions they prefer, and what motivates them to engage with others.
Building a community around your fitness app is the best way to engage and retain users. By seeing how their friends or fitness influencers achieve their goals with the app, the users will be aware of the value that this app brings.
