UI & UX Design
Mobile App Design
The mission was clear: revolutionize the way fitness enthusiasts engage with each other and nature through the Outdoor Moves app. The goal was not just to create another fitness app but to foster a community where users could share their passion for outdoor activities and fitness, enhancing both their physical and mental well-being.
Worked in a team of 3 to create the Outdoor Moves app which integrates social media and users’ surroundings across a variety of online and outdoor workout events to inspire users to actively participate in their community. Users can access a diverse range of on-demand videos including user-generated content.
Additionally, the app gives personalized recommendations for outdoor activities where users can enjoyably create and promote their own events through an interactive map.
User-generated events doubled monthly can increase app engagement. As users form a community they can proudly share their experiences on the app, creating brand loyalty which can drive Outdoor Voices apparel sales.
Igniting a Movement Through Fitness and Community
Outdoor Voices (OV) is a clothing company that focuses on women’s and men’s athletic apparel with a mission to get the world moving.
They noticed a rise in customers using apps to exercise during the pandemic and asked us to create an app aligned with their values that allows users to access on-demand and in-person exercises while engaging in the OV community.
Design Process
Listening to the Community: Uncovering the Heart of Fitness Enthusiasts
We wanted to get insights on the target audience and the potential users of the app, so we came up with questions for user interviews, did some screening, and the following group represented the target audience. We screened for 11 interviewees using the the following inclusion criteria:
- Age range 22-40 years old
- Active at least 3 times a week
- Willing to take a group exercise class
144 data points later - Uncovered User Insights:
From interviews, we obtained valuable insights from the participants, which we summarized as a group with “I statement” to gain a deeper understanding about what community means to them, and what motivates them to stay active.
- "I like to have a variety of ways to get exercise."
- "I love being able to enjoy my surroundings when I’m active outside."
- "I seek a community of like-minded individuals."
- "Online and in-person exercises add value."
- "I seek a community of a sense of belonging in the community."
- "Staying active improves my mental health and helps me think clearer.”
- "I seek connection, camaraderie, and my exercise journey in different ways."
Affinity Mapping: 4-in-1 Holistic Key Theme
We identified four key themes that interconnect, providing a comprehensive view of the users' needs and motivations.
Users need a way to connect with others and be part of a fitness community so that they can receive the push and motivation to consistently work out in order to feel confident while achieving their goals of a healthier mind and body.
Moreover, users need access to a variety of workouts and environments in order to stay engaged, as well as access to like-minded individuals in order to feel fulfilled.
A Closer Look into Our Competitors:
Finding the Gaps: Learning from the Best, and Doing It Better
We conducted a competitive analysis to explore best practices in leading fitness apps and identify market opportunities where Outdoor Moves could stand out.
Clean, minimal design allow users to browse a variety of different exercises without overwhelm
Class pass utilizes concise onboarding to showcase and prime users for the apps features
Our How Might We (HMW) Statement
HMW create a virtual fitness platform that provides users with a sense of community and accountability for users while still keeping engagement by offering challenging and varied forms of "movement"?
Emily: Our Persona, Our Guiding Light
I created Emily, a persona that embodies our users’ preferences and needs, serving as a constant reminder throughout the design process.
Crafting and Sketching Our Vision
Armed with insights, our team embarked on a series of design studio sessions. Here, he idea of an interactive map feature was born—a tool that would not only guide users to outdoor activities but also allow them to create and share events, turning solitary exercises into community gatherings.
Crafting a Cohesive Component Library
During this phase, we meticulously constructed a comprehensive component library to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the Outdoor Moves app, and as the foundation/part for the design system which will be created as the product evolves / grow. The goal was to create a unified visual language and reusable components that could be easily adapted as the app evolved. This foundation enabled our team to maintain a seamless user experience while speeding up the design and development process.
The interactive map posed both a technological and user experience challenge - how to make it intuitive yet comprehensive. We experimented with various UI designs, ultimately adopting a simplified legend and clear icons to guide users effortlessly.
The Project at a Glance
We created a mobile experience that offered live and on-demand fitness classes while fostering an online community.
Get connected and like-minded individuals through the interactive map
It lets you search for activities in the area and connect with others who share your interests. You can see what activities others are planning, plan meetups, and share your fitness journey.
Introducing our personalized event creation experience!
With our innovative recommendation feature, you can customize a unique workout. Simply input your preferences and parameters, and let our platform curate a selection of tailored recommendations, ensuring every aspect of your event aligns with your vision.
Learning from Users: Refining Based on Real Feedback
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the app's ease of use and the inviting nature of its design. However, there was also a number of insights that we couldn't have discovered without the help of real users.
Users were overwhelmed by the amount of text during onboarding.
How we refined:
We streamlined the content, using visuals and bullet points to convey the app's benefits succinctly.
“That's a lot on one screen, it was hard to find in person events.”
How we refined:
Used cleaner images, made images larger, and spaced further apart to display less on the screen to make it scannable and less overwhelming.
Users didn’t understand what the people icon and stars represented
How we refined:
We created a legend and used visual cues (icons) to differentiate available friends and events. There's also a mini guide toast included at the top of the map to helps users identify what both elements mean.
The Power of Community: Reflections on the Outdoor Moves Journey
Working on the Outdoor Moves app project was a testament to the power of user-centered design, iterative development, cross functional collaboration, and strategic alignment. By linking our design choices with Outdoor Voices' business goals, we created a platform that not only meets user needs but also drives business success.
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