Motivmate

An app designed to foster connections among gym-goers, maintain motivation and promote social accountability.

designed to lift you up

⬆️

designed to lift you up ⬆️

  • This personal project involved comprehensive research, ideation, design, and iterative development.

  • Primary & Secondary Research, User Interviews, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Interaction Design.

  • Many gym-goers struggle to maintain motivation for gym attendance but find it difficult to stay engaged when exercising alone.

  • Create a platform for gym-goers to foster social accountability and enhance community support to boost motivation.

  1. Discovery

Discovery Opportunities

At the beginning of the design sprint, I set out to discover opportunities among my participants by first exploring their daily routines. This approach allowed for a deeper understanding of their lifestyles and interests, which naturally led to discussions about their fitness habits.

Background Research: User Interviews

User interviews were conducted with 5 participants to investigate the common experiences, barriers, and motivations that influence users' fitness behaviors.

 
 

Key Research Questions

To gain further insights into how individuals navigate specific opportunities and to narrow the scope, the same 5 users were surveyed and another round of interviews were conducted.

  • Motivations and Incentives

How do we drive people towards consistency at the gym?

  • Barriers and Challenges

What obstacles and challenges prevent individuals from maintaining a consistent workout routine?

  • Behavioral Insights

What behavioral principles and insights affect people’s motivation and commitment to their fitness goals?

Generative Research: Survey Insights

To better understand how users navigate these opportunities, participants were asked about incentives that keep them motivated at the gym:

 
 

Participants were asked how important it is (1-5) having a workout partner for their motivation:

 
 

Research displayed that 60% of individuals believe that social accountability would enhance their consistency at the gym.

65% of participants indicated that having a workout partner would significantly increase their motivation at the gym.

Generative Research: Secondary Interviews

 
 

Key Opportunities

Following secondary user interviews, several critical opportunities were identified.

  • Social Accountability

How can we enhance community support to boost motivation among gym-goers?

  • Goal Setting and Structure

What approaches can help users establish and maintain clear fitness goals?

  • Reducing Barriers to Participation

How can we encourage individuals of all fitness levels to engage in fitness?

Among these opportunities, one particularly stood out for further exploration:

 
 

2. Ideation

The Problem

In today's fast-paced environment, many individuals struggle to maintain motivation to attend the gym, particularly when exercising alone. This often leads to decreased gym attendance and lower engagement in fitness activities. Identifying this problem highlights the need for solutions that foster connections among gym-goers and promote social accountability.

Mission Statement

Who are we addressing?

Individuals who want to stay active but struggle to stay motivated going alone, often feeling isolated or intimidated in gym environments, leading to inconsistent attendance. Ultimately, they need support and structure to foster accountability and encourage regular participation in fitness activities.

Persona

 

Why is this opportunity important?

This opportunity is significant due to the widespread challenges individuals face in maintaining motivation and consistency by themselves, in their fitness routines. Addressing this gap can enhance user motivation through social connections, leading to improved mental health and a sustainable fitness lifestyle.

Design Goals

  • Facilitate User Matching
    Create an intuitive matching process that connects users based on shared goals and preferences

  • Encourage Social Accountability
    Design features that promote accountability among users, enabling them to support and motivate each other in their fitness journeys

  • Enhance User Engagement
    Develop interactive features, such as ice breakers and group challenges, to keep users motivated and involved

  • Promote Community Building
    Foster a sense of community by incorporating social elements, where users can share experiences and support one another

How might we help people stay motivated to achieve their fitness goals while fostering social connection and community?

Ideation

3. Design

Once the scope was narrowed, I moved on to ideating solutions. Using the insights I had collected from surveying and interviewing, I generated a range of ideas and developed a concept which consists of two key features:

Interactions for Users

I developed three primary interaction types to ensure users engage with one another, foster a supportive community and cultivate a motivational space.

Wireframes

Paper Prototype

Initial Task Flow

Task Flow: Scheduling a workout session with a workout buddy

Usability and Prototype Testing

After creating high-fidelity wireframes to establish critical user flows, these designs were tested with five users during a monitored session to evaluate the app's key functions.

The results from the initial testing not only validated the opportunity and solution but also provided valuable feedback to inform further development.

Testing Insights and Informed Iterations

Following the initial prototype test, user insights and feedback on key features were collected to evaluate usability and effectiveness, guiding subsequent developments:

Explore Page

Participants expressed overall satisfaction with the concept of matching workout buddies, highlighting their appreciation for the social aspect of the tailored experience.

However, some participants voiced that the explore page reminded them of a dating app.

Chat Feature

Participants reported high satisfaction with the chatting feature, underscoring users' desire for functionalities that enrich their social interactions.

Some participants highlighted the opportunity to further develop the chat feature, to make it even more social.

Workout Class Feature

Informed by the usability testing insights, a Friends feature was implemented, aiming to further encourage social accountability amongst users.

4. Visual Design & Style Guide

Lexend: A research-backed typeface that enhances reading speed and clarity with a modern touch

Cyan: Energetic, Motivational, Inviting

5. Delivery

On-Boarding

User selects their workout preferences and location to find their desired workout mate.

Explore

Users can discover workout partners through the main explore page, which features individuals that align with their workout preferences, and the “Wants to Workout with You” page, showcasing users who have expressed interest in connecting.

Chat Feature and Scheduling

Once users are paired with a workout mate, they can schedule workouts with each other using the chat feature.

Group Workout Classes and Mates Feature

Once users have established connections with one another, they can join group workout classes and view which connections are attending specific classes.

 

The Solution

6. After-design

Monetization & Future Business Direction

Successfully tapping into this need can create a robust user base, increase engagement, and generate revenue through:

  • Subscription Model: Offer tiered subscription plans that provide access to premium features

  • In-App Purchases: Introduce features such as customized workout plans, nutrition guides, or fitness challenges that users can purchase for a fee

  • Partnerships with local gyms: Collaborate with local gyms to provide users with special discounts on memberships or classes, incentivizing sign-ups through the app

  • Events and Challenges: Organize fitness events, challenges, or competitions, charging participants a fee to join

Future Iterations

Based on the results from usability testing feedback, several iterations will be explored:

  • Enhance Personalization Features: Develop additional personalization options, such as tailored workout plans and recommendations based on user preferences and activity levels, to further engage users

  • Integrate Community Features: Introduce community-building tools, such as discussion forums or group challenges, to strengthen user connections and promote a supportive fitness environment