This project is a concept for my UX Design Foundations course through Yellowbrick x Parsons.

The goal of this project was to redesign an app that you use every day and see room for improvement in. After reviewing the currently implemented app design, I established a set of pain points:

  • No designated home screen

  • Not all pages have meaningful icons, and there is no visual indication of what page the user is currently on.

  • There are multiple pages that relate to personal information that could be condensed into one page for the users account.

  • Some pages in the nav appear disabled (ex. Buy) but they are completely functional pages.

I conducted user research by creating a problem statement, question, hypothesis, and research goals, then gathered users for a small user test.

Problem
The M/Body App’s user experience does not reflect the community-like experience of the gym in person.

Question
How can we make the user feel more connected to the gym while using the app?

Hypothesis
We believe that creating an easy, friendly, and personal experience for the M/Body App will make the members feel more connected to the gym and its trainers, therefore improving the company’s reputation and image.

Research Goals

  • What are the pain-points users encounter in the app?

  • What changes need to be made to improve the users connection with the gym/app?

  • Are the important features easy to find/use?

The test showed 3 main results:

  • The main pain points for users are the visual appearance being bland and generic, an un-personalized experience, and the need to simplify/add hierarchy to the side navigation.

  • The users would feel more connected to the gym/app with integration to M/Body’s social media, the ability to set personal goals in the app, and a way to access or see deals and coupons that are current.

  • The most used feature (booking a class) is the easiest to find/use. Other features that are less likely to be used are more difficult but still not hard to find.

From there I created a new information architecture and low-fi mockup to get the base idea out. After the root of the design felt solid, I developed a new visual design style that included a mini brand refresh. I applied the styles to my initial mockup and had my high-fi mockups. The next steps of this project would be to release the app to the public and continue to make improvements based on real user feedback.