Encouraging fitness for young adults through games.

Product Design
User Research
Prototyping
Client
Personal Case Study - FiTown
Team
2 Designers
Skills
UX Design & Research, Visual Design, Design system, Product Strategy, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google docs
Impact
Created user survey to gain insight on user needs, sketched, ideated solutions, and designed app from ground up
image of website on a laptop

Overview

Problem

The average young adult tends to lack the discipline to reach their fitness goals. They often find themselves starting their journey but end it relatively quickly. We need a solution that gets people moving and encourage them to continue exercising on the daily.

Solution

FiTown, an app that allows users a way to compete with friends on fitness streaks. Whether you like cardio or lifting, FiTown let's users to motivate within their community and grow a town based on reaching goals and surpassing them.

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surveying for insight

Our first step -> Getting feedback from 80 participants.

Our objective with this survey was to understand what the majority of people do for fitness and what is their motivator. These are the questions we asked and the answered we received.

01
Do you workout? If not, what prevents you from working out?

82% said they do workout.
The majority of users who said no mentioned they were lazy.

02
What are your favorite activities for working out?

Top answers: Running/walking and Weightlifting

03
What would motivate you start using a fitness app?

Friends on the app, incentives/rewards, competition, and progress trackers.

04
What specific features would you want to see on the app?

Goal setter, games, Video instructions

Needs & Motivation Synthesis

Our research revealed that users are driven by a combination of social interaction, competitive elements, and tangible rewards. The social aspect allows users to connect with others, fostering a sense of community and shared goals. Competition adds an exciting dynamic, encouraging users to push their limits and achieve personal bests. Meanwhile, a reward system provides motivation by offering incentives for reaching milestones, thus enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.

Features to include

Gamification
social aspect
Fitness Tracker
Reward system

What game would encourage users to exercise?

In light of this, we explored various strategies to integrate gaming elements into our app. Initially, we drew inspiration from Pokemon Go, particularly its ability to encourage users to engage with their surroundings. However, we concluded that Pokemon Go's approach was not entirely suitable due to its limited diversity in promoting different forms of physical activity.

Following an extensive brainstorming session, we identified key elements that contribute to a game's addictive nature and user retention. Games such as Clash of Clans and Bakery Story exemplify how competition and progression motivate users to return. We conceptualized a town-building game that incentivizes users to expand their town through various forms of physical exercise.

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FiTown

By offering rewards and recognition, FiTown encourages users to engage in friendly competition and strive for excellence in developing their towns. This gamified approach not only motivates users to enhance their creativity and strategic planning but also fosters a sense of community as they share their achievements and learn from one another.

Monitor your daily activities and set personalized targets to improve your health. By using advanced tracking tools, you can analyze your performance, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate milestones as you progress towards a healthier lifestyle.

FiTown offers personalized workout suggestions and tutorials tailored to user preferences during the account setup process. This feature is particularly beneficial for fitness newcomers, providing them with a structured and accessible way to begin their fitness journey. The platform also includes a progress tracking system, allowing users to monitor their improvements over time and adjust their routines as needed to achieve their fitness goals.

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Add workouts

Log daily activities like walking or yoga to earn coins, track progress, and unlock features, making fitness more engaging.

Track your progress

FiTown's tracking system records your progress, helping you visualize your fitness journey and identify areas for improvement. Regular updates allow you to set realistic goals and celebrate achievements, boosting motivation.

Build your town

Achieving your objectives allows you to accumulate coins, which can be utilized to expand and enhance your town. The larger your town becomes, the greater the sense of fulfillment you will experience throughout your fitness journey. Personalize your town to reflect your unique preferences and style.

Compete with friends

Demonstrate your achievements to peers and inspire them to persist in their fitness endeavors. A leaderboard will display the top participants, and there will be opportunities to explore the towns of friends. Engage in friendly competition to develop the most expansive town in FiTown.

Rewards for reaching goals

Upon achieving a personal milestone or exceeding a set target, users are awarded additional coins. These coins can be utilized to further develop their town which can incentive a user to continue their journey.

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