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IGnite
Role: UX Design Student at Noble Desktop
Tools: Sketch, Invision, Miro
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Conceptualize a mobile app that would be useful during the COVID-19 pandemic.
IGnite is an Instagram integrated fitness app that offers users access to free at-home full body workouts, muscle group specific exercises and personalized fitness goal tracking. IGnite allows users to workout with friends through live video calls and create their own workout routines with guided help for a well rounded workout.
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Skills: Design Strategy | UX Research | User-centered Design | Interface Design | Branding & Identity
For seven years I have worked as a part-time fitness instructor at the YMCA. So when the pandemic hit and gyms were forced to close, I couldn't help but think about the dedicated members who frequently attend group fitness classes. To them, going to the gym was a routine that enriched their quality of life physically, mentally and socially. Therefore, I wanted to design an application that combined the communal aspect and professional guidance of group fitness.
Why At-Home Fitness?
To better understand the exercise habits of users, I recruited 5 research participants who had their daily fitness routine disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Understanding How Users Exercise
Based on the interviews I conducted, users had similar fitness goals to look and feel strong as well as maintain an active healthy lifestyle. Four of the five participants enjoy working out with others because it encourages them to try new exercises, gives them accountability, and the opportunity to bond with friends and strangers.
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"If I am able to build a community at the same time, even better, because then it makes it easy to go to the gym."
- Jason G.
Identifying What Keeps Users Motivated
Users are committed to working out when they make fitness a priority and structure their schedules around it. However, inconveniences such as travel or weather can negatively affect motivation. I also looked into users’ interests and disinterests. Things like music and exercise variety keep the user interested, but a lack of knowledge and a fear of injury can deter users from working out.
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"I don't think I was fully aware of what this machine was doing to my body or what muscles I was working."
- Jenifer V.
Research Insights based on User Interviews:
After analyzing and sorting the information I gathered from the interviews, I realized a pattern in users' motivations to exercise. I determined three key factors to fitness motivation were:
Community
Users value having others support them, keep them accountable and share an experience
Knowledge
Having the basic knowledge of fitness and awareness of its benefits motivate the user
Personalization
Users expressed a desire to have personalized fitness plans tailored to their fitness needs.
Assessing the Market
I asked users about the fitness apps they have used in the past and discussed how the apps were helpful or how they fell short in their fitness journey. I researched the apps mentioned in a direct competitor analysis. I chose to study indirect competitors as well to broaden my ideas and inspiration, in hopes of finding opportunities that direct competitors have not tackled.
Direct Competitors
FitOn • Beach Body on Demand • My Fitness by Jillian Michaels • Nike Training Club
Indirect Competitors
DuoLingo (Language Learning) • Acorn (Investment) • Headspace (Mindfulness/Meditation)
I analyzed app features based on online user reviews to test how these apps perform in the three focal areas:
Community - How does the app incorporate friends in it's mission? How does the social network help to motivate the user?
Knowledge - How does the app educate or inform the user? Does the user have a better understanding of the subject matter?
Personalization - How does the app customize the experience for the user? Does it make the mission clear for the user to achieve their goal?
I found that most apps touched upon each area but came short. It was my mission to design an app that could make up for their shortcomings.
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Exploring Design Possibilities
Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a creative and logical means of note-taking that uses a natural organizational structure that radiates from a center idea and uses lines, symbols and words to "map out" concepts.
My main focus became how to engage and motivate the user to reach their fitness goal. I started by creating a mind map diagram to explore possible sources of motivation. Rewards, challenges and accomplishments were a few ideas that came to mind that could positively affect motivation.
6-8-5
The 6-8-5 brainstorming exercise aims to explore complementary approaches rather than sticking to the first good idea. The goal is to generate between 6-8 ideas (related to the objective) in 5 minutes.
With a few rough ideas from the mind map, I utilized the 6-8-5 activity to visually represent and conceive features that would boost the users motivation. Some visual concepts that I explored were timelines, progress bars, goal reminders and progress pictures that would encourage users to achieve their goals.
5 Second Test
Five second tests are a method of user research that help you measure what information users take away and what impression they get within the first five seconds of viewing a design.
After some further development, I tested a few concepts in a 5 second test with fellow classmates. The test demonstrated that the Diet portion stood out the most. I felt it detracted from the overall fitness direction of the app. As a result, I eliminated the section and decided to focus solely on exercise moving forward.
Problem Statement:
How might we help users who do not have access to a gym stay on track with their fitness goals?
Recreating the Gym Experience
When the worsening of the pandemic forced gyms to close, users were left in a panic and didn't know what do. I felt it was necessary to empathize and create a narrative of a potential user, Julia Rogers, who faces these same struggles. I created her user persona as well as a story board and an experience map that captures her journey and emotional response to touchpoints performed going to the gym (before the pandemic shutdown) and using the app (after the pandemic shutdown). From here, I could decide what actions and features were crucial and beneficial to emulate and enrich the gym experience at home.
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User Story:
A bride-to-be who feels stressed about losing weight for her wedding needs to stick to an effective workout regimen, but is unsure what to do after gyms are forced to close.
What Makes Gyms so Effective?
I identified 4 main reasons and how I could replicate the experience:
Physical Accountability
With technology, we can make things more convenient, so we aren’t restricted by closing times or class schedules.
Space Set for Exercise
Incorporate workout videos for limited workout equipment and small workout spaces.
Knowledgeable Trainers
Connect with Instagram influencers and certified trainers for effective and engaging instruction
Opportunity to Socialize
Offer users the opportunity to make working out a social activity and workout together.
Personalizing Individual Programs
& Developing Community Support
How can I address the three key factors of Community, Knowledge and Personalization in my design? These were the three challenges I aimed to tackle. So, I broke the overarching problem statement into 3 sub problem statements addressing each issue and created wireframes around them.
After many ideations laying out app features, I chose to focus on two user flows within the app. The "Buddy Workout" feature and the "Create You Own Routine" feature were two unique features I developed to address the three key challenges.
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Community
How might we create a positive community that contributes to the users' fitness progression and empowers the user to achieve their fitness aspirations?
Having the ability to workout with a friend is proven to keep users disciplined. By offering workouts that meet mutual fitness goals, users can support their friends while staying on track with their own fitness plans. The IGnite app will also allow users to encourage and congratulate users for their successes to promote a positive social network.
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Knowledge
How might we educate the user about the benefits of exercising so that they can make it a part of their everyday life?
Fitness should be an integral part of life so it is important to convey the benefits of exercise and inspire users to continue this lifestyle. By adding motivational quotes and workout tips, the user will have a better understanding on how to exercise and why it is beneficial to their health. Workout videos will display what muscles are being activated in each exercise. Users will be able to sync their tracking devices to the app for more accurate information, so they can see how their body is reacting to the exercise. IGnite will educate the user about creating an effective training program so the user can utilize this skill moving forward with the intention to provide long lasting knowledge of fitness.
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Personalization
How might we personalize an exercise program for specific fitness goals?
Making the fitness app personal and customizable offers the user a lot of control and guidance in their fitness journey. Creating a custom program and suggesting workouts that meet their needs and interests keeps the user focused on how they can achieve their goal. The IGnite app will track the user's progress throughout their journey and showcase their accomplishments offering a gratifying experience in their achievements.
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Branding a Fitness App
I conducted a user interface competitive analysis on the same four fitness apps and three indirect competitors. I included Instagram in my analysis this time. I felt it was important to review Instagram's brand guidelines to establish a cohesive look that would fit in the Instagram suite of products.
Direct Competitors
FitOn • Beach Body on Demand • My Fitness by Jillian Michaels • Nike Training Club
Indirect Competitors
DuoLingo (Language Learning) • Acorn (Investment) • Headspace (Mindfulness/Meditation) • Instagram (Photo Sharing)
With my prior knowledge in branding and graphic design, I analyzed how these apps built a unique identity. More importantly, I tested how these apps performed in usability heuristics to enhance their users' experience. Below are some areas I focused on:
App Icon - Is the icon unique and does it stand out?
Color - Are colors consistent throughout the app's branding? Do the colors enhance usability?
Typography - Is the information clearly displayed?
Imagery - How does the app display its imagery?
Graphics - How is the overall information architecture? What navigational patterns does the app use and is it easy to navigate?
The analysis was helpful in educating me on what other apps in the market are doing. It also directed me towards what ideas were successful and what areas I could develop in my own design.
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IGniting a Mobile App Brand
As a former brand designer, I enjoy bringing a product to life with a compelling visual identity. IGnite's brand identity is heavily influenced on the Instagram brand. IGnite would be integrated within Instagram so the use of colors and icon image are reminiscent of Instagram’s fun and lively branding. Even the name of the app alludes to Instagram integration, by capitalizing the IG in "ignite".
Instagram Integration
Part of the Instagram integration was implementing the app within Instagram allowing users to see their public progress pictures, and post workout selfies from their Instagram profile. Additionally, post workout selfies would be integrated with the Instagram story platform for easy sharing including new and fun photo filters for users to enjoy.
Reflections
Looking back, interviews set a good base to the research and allowed me to understand what users need and where I can focus, to meet those needs.
Next Steps
Moving forward, I would further develop the UI design and continue testing on users to see if features are clear and easy to understand. I would test how accessible the interface is to a color blind or hard of seeing audience. I would also design across different operating systems so the app is accessible to non-Apple users.
Lastly, I would explore how I would design with trainers in mind? IGnite would be a platform for fitness influencers, so I would like to challenge how I could serve their needs and create a holistic experience.
