Discover
The Problem
Walking is a great way to improve your health. It can be done by people of all ages and fitness levels. It can be done anywhere and at any time.
Studies show that even less than 8,000 steps a day can drastically improve your cardiovascular health.
However, many individuals lack the time, motivation & incentive to do it!
How might we incentivize users to meet and continue to accomplish their daily step/cardio goals?
Research
Incentivize users to exercise through gamification
After conducting interviews, it was revealed that users lack the motivation and incentive needed to get their steps in. They like positive feedback and to be rewarded in some way for their merit.
Inspired by loot systems and "battle passes" popularized by big gaming services, I introduced a loot reward system. Users virtually unlock access to more cosmetic loot with more steps they put in. User steps essentially act as a currency for users to spend on customizing their personal avatars.
Competitors don't quite meet user needs
Many apps on the market simply track fitness data and not much else.
These apps do not do a good job of incentivizing users to stay on target with their fitness goals. None of these platforms utilize "gamification" methodologies to provide users with real incentive and motivation.
Key Insights
After synthesizing the data collected from interviews and secondary research, I keyed in on a few ideas;
How might we allow users to track/maintain their steps (cardiovascular health) seamlessly throughout their busy day?
How might we incentivize users to accomplish and continue to accomplish their daily step/cardio goals?
How might we make “8,000 steps” more digestible to users?
I believe that with effective use of gamification, utilizing custom avatars and collectible loot, I can effectively attack all three of these "how might we…" scenarios.
Ideate
Setting up the structure
I created a sitemap that revolved around the main draw of the app;
Avatar personalization
Collectible loot
The structure had to function like typical pedometer/exercise statistics app, but it also needed to highlight the main features of "Walk With Friends".
Design
Crafting an identity
I formulated a UI design system to maintain coherence and clarity throughout the project. I carefully selected easily readable fonts that perform well across various sizes and opted for inviting, inclusive colors with optimal contrast. The incorporation of identifiable icons and familiar UI components enhances the overall user experience, making the app more enjoyable.
With these essential elements in mind, I proceeded to draft several low-fidelity wireframes, constructing a functional foundation for "Walk With Friends". The wireframes were implemented around five main navigation tabs, with two of the five navigation tabs are dedicated around avatar customization.
Materializing ideas
After combining all of the elements that make up the app's skeleton, I created a final design that felt like a warm, fun, approachable and functional application for fitness.
From those final designs, I developed a couple of prototype flows for user-testing and, ultimately, for design iterations.
Final Design
Walk With Friends
key screens
Figma Prototype
A reflection…
What have you learned in the process?
Features are very important in an app. But without proper structure and functional hierarchy/classification, good features are doomed to waste away.
Next Steps?
Prototyping would be a good next step. Another great step to take would be to expand user testing to a larger audience.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my "gamification" feature. Through design, I found a way to provide a real solution to an identifiable problem.