As a UX Designer for the Fit Shape mobile app, I led efforts to research, design, and enhance the user experience, focusing on aligning the app with user needs and business goals. Collaborating closely with a cross-functional team of four (Product Manager, Marketing, and Developers), my contributions included:

• User Research: Conducted interviews and usability tests to gather insights, ensuring designs addressed real user pain points.
• Workshops and Collaboration: Facilitated ideation workshops to prioritize features based on user and business impact.
• Design Process: Created wireframes and prototypes to explore user flows, iterating based on feedback.
• Usability Testing: Oversaw tests to refine the interface, ensuring optimal usability and engagement.

My approach ensured that every design decision was data-driven and user-focused, while fostering collaboration across the team to deliver innovative solutions.

About the research

Identified problem
Post-pandemic, many people shifted from gym workouts to alternative options like outdoor training. However, they faced challenges such as:

• Finding safe and suitable outdoor locations.
• Connecting with others for social or group training.
• Addressing personal safety concerns while exercising outdoors.

Research Phase:

1. Post-pandemic context analysis:

• Habit changes: During the pandemic, many users distanced themselves from gyms and adopted new ways to exercise, such as home workouts or outdoor training. However, the need for social interaction persists.
• Outdoor training trend: There has been a significant increase in people who prefer to exercise outdoors, not only for physical health but also to socialize in open and safe spaces.

2. Benchmarking of existing apps:

• A study of other apps like Meetup, Strava, and MapMyRun. While some facilitate connecting with others for training, they lack a specific focus on finding suitable locations and forming real-time groups, which is crucial for a more complete experience.

3. Interviews with potential users:

Common pain points identified:
• Difficulty in finding suitable parks or areas in their vicinity.
• Lack of motivation to exercise alone.
• Fear of insecurity when training outdoors, especially in unfamiliar places.s

Design and development decisions:

• Search for safe places: A database of recommended parks and outdoor areas with user reviews was included to ensure that the spaces are safe and accessible. This helps users feel confident when stepping out of their usual zones.
• Group functionality: The ability to create and join groups was a key need identified during the research. This functionality becomes a crucial social component that not only motivates people to exercise but also helps them make new friends with shared interests.
• Personal safety integration: Developing a feature that allows users to share their real-time location with friends or family during their workout became a priority, as safety was a recurring theme in the interviews.
• Gamification for motivation: To make the experience more fun and engaging, a gamification system was implemented, allowing users to earn points or rewards by achieving goals such as participating in multiple outdoor workouts or making new connections.