Fitt Finder - A better way to access fitness
Intro:
Fitt Finder is a local business in Austin. We approached the project with the open-ended task of figuring out the best way to improve the Fitt Finder app.
It’s an existing fitness app that allows you to find your fitness level, whether you are a beginner, an intermediate or an enthusiast.
Fitt Finder connects people to free passes, meetups, gyms, and studios with regard to their location.
My Role:
I worked with two other UX Designers. I was the visual lead and led usability testing. Also, I collaborated and contributed to my associates in every phase of the project.
Discover:
The Challenge:
After our initial stakeholder meeting, we hit the ground running to evaluate if the existing app was performing to its potential. Immediately, we created several basic task scenarios and conducted usability testing with six participants. I performed two of the six tests.
Synthesizing the data:
Following the usability testing, we organized our data through an affinity mapping process.
We discovered some trends needed attention and were prohibiting the users from understanding the true potential of the Fitt Finder app.
Fitt finder Affinity map - Initial usability Testing
The Trends we discovered:
Navigation
The participants were generally confused when navigating the app.
There was an existing hamburger icon menu that was confusing.
Landing page
There was general confusion when trying to complete tasks on the landing page.
What does the “Explore now” button mean?
Profile page
Participants were confused as to why they were being asked certain information.
General UI/UX issues
Notification or confirmations were not emphasized
General font, icon size, and spacing issues
Back arrows were not visible
Competitive Analysis
I conducted a competitive analysis of similar fitness and wellness apps to decipher what Fitt Finder should include or what it was lacking. Below are the results.
Fitt Finder App competitive analysis
Online Survey:
Also, we conducted an online survey to gather more information about potential users. We limited the study to participants who used similar apps. There were six participants.
The main takeaway from the survey was that users wanted to be informed when scheduling or booking a class or meetup.
Proto Persona
Based on the information we had gathered from usability testing and an online survey, we were able to develop a proto-persona. I didn’t feel entirely comfortable calling it a persona based on the information we gathered but given the time constraints of the project we needed to move forward.
Heuristic Evaluations
To assist in determining the essential items that needed attention, my associates and I conducted individual heuristic evaluations of the existing Fitt Finder app to determine what we believed were the most significant concerns.
Main Navigation
Landing Page
Profile Page
Define:
Problem:
Fitt Finder needs a way for its users to find a low cost or free fitness classes and physical activities no matter where they are located.
Currently, many potential customers use similar apps to find classes and physical activities for a subscription or high fee.
Solution:
Fitt Finder needs to integrate a more intuitive navigation system for its existing mobile application to attain new and repeat users.
This can be validated when we see a 10% increase in repeat users of the app.
User Flows
I sketched a few potential user flows to determine precisely where the existing problems were.
Main Trend
I discovered based on usability testing that users were consistently trying to go to the hamburger menu to accomplish tasks and there was no way for them to achieve their goals by going this route.
Customer Journey
In addition, I created a customer journey map based on the proto-persona before and after the redesign.
Bio & Demographics
Nick Salvadore is a young professional with an above average fitness level.
He uses Fitness apps on a weekly basis to schedule and find new classes or meetups.
Stories & Scenarios
Nick is a busy professional who knows he has 6-7pm free to attend a fitness class. So he needs an easy way to find and schedule a fitness class close to his current location.
Fitt finder Customer Journey (Before and after redesign)
Design and Develop:
Design Studio & Sketches:
By identifying existing user flows and creating a customer journey map we were able to progress to the sketching stage. My teammates and I went our separate ways to come up with solutions to the trends we discovered. We regrouped and conducted a design studio. I always feel that performing a design studio is a great way to collaborate and make group decisions.
Sketches version 1
Sketches version 1
Wireframes:
The key takeaways from the design studio were that we all agreed on the main navigation and the landing page needed an overhaul. Based on these collective decisions we created low fidelity wireframes and a prototype. We were ready to do more usability testing to see how effective our new design was.
Usability Testing with the Redesigned Low Fidelity Prototype:
Low fidelity wireframes
Task One
You have 6-7 p.m. free to attend a fitness class. You would like to find a Yoga class for 6 p.m. and book it.
Task Two
How would you check to see what yoga class you have booked for today?
Results
We concluded based on the usability testing that our redesigned navigation and landing page was intuitive and a vast improvement from the existing app.
A Flaw in the Redesign
We did notice a flaw in our design. Three out of six participants didn’t realize the “Schedule” tab in the main nav was their schedule.
We made a simple iteration and named it “My Schedule” instead of “Schedule.”
I believe this will solve the issue, although it would need to be tested again for complete validation.
Iteration
“Schedule” vs. “My Schedule”
“Schedule” vs “My Schedule”
High Fidelity Prototype
Click below to view the High Fidelity Prototype
Looking forward:
Next steps
Given the limited time on the design sprint we were unable to address a recurring interest of wanting to see a social media gallery or presence from other users in the events, classes or businesses listed.
I was able to start sketching some ideas for how to integrate a social media gallery. Going forward, I would have liked to implement the sketch ideas into the low-fidelity prototype and would have conducted more usability testing with the iterations I made.
Reflections:
If I were to go back and work on this project again, I would have preferred to conduct user interviews after the initial usability testing to establish two to three robust personas compared to the proto-persona we established. Although, I do believe our proto-persona was strong based on user interviews that coincided with our second round of usability testing.
Evolution of the Redesigned Landing Screen
original Landing Screen
original screen
redesigned screen
Summary
Overall, this was a great project to work on. First, I had the privilege to work with two great individuals who contributed unique perspectives to every scope of the project. Secondly, I believe we really addressed the needs of the user by not being presented with an initial problem but having to determine it based on research. It was a systematic process that I believe made the fitness app more intuitive.