Strong App Enhancement
Roles: UX Research, UI Design
Project Brief:
This project aims to enhance the existing “Strong” app by conducting in-depth research on the target audience. By identifying key areas for improvement, the goal is to redesign the app with a user-centered approach. Through updated layouts and improved features, the app will offer better usability, ultimately motivating users to achieve their fitness goals more effectively.
Research Findings:
Research was done through surveys sent out to participants within the 18-34 year old age group. In a report done by IHRSA, this is the age group that holds the majority of gym memberships at 30.9%.
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After the survey results were collected and analysed, the participants were then categorised into two main user personas as seen below:
Notable findings that I leveraged to improve the Strong App :
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1. Among 5 options, the biggest motivation for participants to exercise is to improve their physique/appearance. This is followed closely by building strength.
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2. 100% of participants agreed that seeing visual changes in their body motivates them to exercise (e.g. muscle definition).
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3. 95% of participants agreed that seeing numerical progress encourages them to exercise. These numbers include calories burned, weights lifted, and weight gain/loss.
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4. Runners are more likely to use an application to track their progress, 35% more than weight lifters. A likely cause could be that running is measured by timing and distance. As compared to weightlifting, people might have different goals. If they were to tone their body, the weights they lift do not change. Additionally, a lack of clear, immediate gratification (e.g. improvement in run time) is harder to achieve when it comes to lifting weights.
Brainstorming:
Based on research data collected and some brainstorming, I have decided to incorporate the following features into the application:
Sitemap:
Another issue identified was that the original organisation of the application could be more coherent.
For example, the user opens the app to a “Profile” page, with an unpopulated dashboard and settings. The next tab is “History”, showing the user’s past workouts. The “Measurements” tab is at the other end of the navigation bar, when these two items should be adjacent.
Mid-Fi Prototype:
To show proposed edits in the application side-by-side with the original before turning it into a
high-fidelity prototype.
Final Prototype:
The Strong app now has new features incorporated to better suit users' needs, as well as improved organisation for ease of navigation for its users. Below are screenshots of individual pages and specific details/changes made.
Links:
If you would like to read the full paper (including survey questions and all the findings) or view the Figma prototype, you can view them by clicking the links below.