Designed a behavioral science–driven habit app that leveraged identity association, one of the most reliable methods for long-term habit maintenance
ROLE
UX Researcher, PM
SKILLS
Behavioral Science
Mobile Design
User Research
TOOLS
Figma
Qualtrics
TEAM
3 Designers
2 Researchers
1 Developer
My Role
I focused on qualitative research synthesis, leading the journey mapping exercise, and translating insights into actionable design recommendations.
Challenges
Challenges
Many students and adults struggle to maintain a consistent exercise routine. While fitness apps, social media, and gym trainers exist to help, long-term motivation remains a significant challenge.
Many students and adults struggle to maintain a consistent exercise routine. While fitness apps, social media, and gym trainers exist to help, long-term motivation remains a significant challenge.
Many students and adults struggle to maintain a consistent exercise routine. While fitness apps, social media, and gym trainers exist to help, long-term motivation remains a significant challenge.
How can we design solutions that effectively sustain exercise habits?
How can we design solutions that effectively sustain exercise habits?
How can we design solutions that effectively sustain exercise habits?
Approach
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
User Testing and Analysis
User Testing and Analysis
User Testing and Analysis
Design Stategy
Design Stategy
Design Stategy
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyping
Research Goals
Research Goals
Research Goals
Identify barriers that prevent regular exercise.
Identify barriers that prevent regular exercise.
Identify barriers that prevent regular exercise.
Understand the role of fitness apps, trainers, and social media in motivation.
Understand the role of fitness apps, trainers, and social media in motivation.
Understand the role of fitness apps, trainers, and social media in motivation.
Develop behavior-driven design solutions that encourage consistency.
Develop behavior-driven design solutions that encourage consistency.
Develop behavior-driven design solutions that encourage consistency.
Journey Mapping
To design personalized solutions, we mapped out two key fitness behavior profile.
"I Love a good workout! It energizes me"!
Active Individual
"I Love a good workout! It energizes me"!
Active Individual
"I Love a good workout! It energizes me"!
Active Individual
Needs more variety & structured motivation to avoid burnout. Uses progress tracking tools for accountability.
"I am too anxious to start working out!"
Sedentary Individual
"I am too anxious to start working out!"
Sedentary Individual
"I am too anxious to start working out!"
Sedentary Individual
Needs a low-pressure, judgment-free starting point. Wants to exercise but struggles with consistency.
Emerging Themes
Fear of Judgement
Many users feel self-conscious working out in public spaces.
Fear of Judgement
Many users feel self-conscious working out in public spaces.
Fear of Judgement
Many users feel self-conscious working out in public spaces.
Role of Social Media
Fitness influencers can motivate users to start exercising.
Role of Social Media
Fitness influencers can motivate users to start exercising.
Role of Social Media
Fitness influencers can motivate users to start exercising.
Designing for Real-World Use
Seeing measurable progress boosts commitment.
Designing for Real-World Use
Seeing measurable progress boosts commitment.
Designing for Real-World Use
Seeing measurable progress boosts commitment.
Barriers to Consistency
Work schedules often limit exercise time & gym memberships & trainers are expensive
Barriers to Consistency
Work schedules often limit exercise time & gym memberships & trainers are expensive
Barriers to Consistency
Work schedules often limit exercise time & gym memberships & trainers are expensive
These archetypes helped us refine solutions tailored to different motivation levels.
These archetypes helped us refine solutions tailored to different motivation levels.
These archetypes helped us refine solutions tailored to different motivation levels.
Design Strategy
Based on our research, we developed a set of principles to improve fitness motivation through behavior design.
Judgement free experience
Private Workout to reduce social comparison and adaptive coaching based on confidence level & fitness goals.
Judgement free experience
Private Workout to reduce social comparison and adaptive coaching based on confidence level & fitness goals.
Judgement free experience
Private Workout to reduce social comparison and adaptive coaching based on confidence level & fitness goals.
Social Media as Motivation
Support Groups: Encouragement from peers instead of toxic fitness culture. Customizable Content Filters
Social Media as Motivation
Support Groups: Encouragement from peers instead of toxic fitness culture. Customizable Content Filters
Social Media as Motivation
Support Groups: Encouragement from peers instead of toxic fitness culture. Customizable Content Filters
Habit-Building first
Pre & Post workout rituals to prioritize habit-building rather than competition and performance
Habit-Building first
Pre & Post workout rituals to prioritize habit-building rather than competition and performance
Habit-Building first
Pre & Post workout rituals to prioritize habit-building rather than competition and performance
Motivating strategies
Commitment Devices: Lock in workouts with remindersand Instant Feedback: Small celebrations & progress badges
Motivating strategies
Commitment Devices: Lock in workouts with remindersand Instant Feedback: Small celebrations & progress badges
Motivating strategies
Commitment Devices: Lock in workouts with remindersand Instant Feedback: Small celebrations & progress badges
Solution & Features
Gamified Fitness Tracker
Gamified Fitness Tracker
Social Accountability
Social Accountability
Social Accountability
Visualizing Streak
Visualizing Streak
Visualizing Streak
Rewards & Badges
Rewards & Badges
Rewards & Badges
Scheduling workout in advance
Scheduling workout in advance
Scheduling Workouts
Prototyping & User Feedback
Key Learnings
Motivation isn’t linear, so habit-building is key.
Motivation isn’t linear, so habit-building is key.
Motivation isn’t linear, so habit-building is key.
Social Media can motivate or discourage users, so filtering options matter.
Social Media can motivate or discourage users, so filtering options matter.
Social Media can motivate or discourage users, so filtering options matter.
Different users need different engagement strategies.
Different users need different engagement strategies.
Different users need different engagement strategies.
