Fitness App Project
Skills showcased: User Research, Requirement Gathering, Competitive Research
Fitain® Fitness App | maintaining fitness
Fitain® empowers users to create plans and programs to share with their friends, family, and clients. When I joined the project, Fitain already existed, primarily serving as a directory connecting users and professionals based on their interests. This initial MVP had mixed results.
My role was to comprehensively understand the users and pivot the product's direction. My focus was on enhancing user engagement, attentively listening to user feedback, incorporating features that resonated with them, and establishing monetisation strategies. Throughout this process, I employed various skills, including a strong emphasis on UX/product design
User Research
Given the scope of the project, we needed to divide the user journeys into two primary categories:
Fitness PROs (Qualified)
This group includes Personal Trainers, Physiotherapists, and similar professionals.
Casual (Not qualified)
Individuals who are not professionals in the health and fitness field.
For this user experience research, participants were asked, "If you could design the perfect app for yourself, please provide a detailed description of the features you would want to see." You can find a link to the actual interview below.
User research (PRO users)
My initial research concluded that the main pain point professionals encountered was the high cost of client management software.
They expressed the need for a plan builder.
They expressed the need for a program builder.
They sought the ability to manage clients online.
They were interested in having a scheduling feature.
They were keen on the possibility of monetisation.
User research (Casual users)
We didn’t interview casual users however, they gave constructive criticism by using the “send feedback” form in-app. Most of these issues raised we’re fixed promptly.
Competitive research (Product Analysis)
I'd like to introduce this page to provide a comprehensive overview of how my influence shaped the product's direction and made a significant impact.
I identified some key features which we’re ‘the standard’ of any app in our world. Some required a lot of time to build but others we’re attainable for short to mid term gains.
They have rigid Plan builder builders.
They have rigid Program builders.
Exercise library av. 1500 exercises.
Dashboard for their clients.
Nutrition and recipes.
Connect to their apple/Android watches.
Graphs to monitor sleep/mood etc…
Potential gaps
I presented the ideas which would make us competitive for the time we had. Here are some potential gaps I gathered.
No senior-specific exercises online in a exercise library.
Plan and program builder extremely rigid.
Exercises are very stereotypical.
Exercise library only had limited information.
Their exercise heat maps are only pictures.
For PROs, no client limitations.
The competitive analysis I conducted led to the development of new features and eventually paved the way for the much-needed exercise library project, which now serves as the heart and soul of the app. This will be discussed later.
User Stories
During the initial research phase, we formulated user stories, albeit with some limitations due to time and financial constraints. Here are a few examples:
User Story: As a user, I want to log into the app and find workout plans suitable for both gym and home settings.
User Story: As a user, I want to view a comprehensive list of health and fitness professionals available on the app.
User Story: As a user, I want to access an extensive catalogue of exercises offered by the app.
User Story: As a user, I want to establish connections with friends, clients, and fitness professionals.
User Story: As a user, I want the ability to design personalised workout plans.
User Story: As a user, I want to create customised fitness programs.
User Story: As a user, I want to be able to share my created plans with others.
User Story: As a user, I want to share my designed fitness programs with others.
User Story: As a professional, I want to expand my outreach and engagement.
User Story: As a professional, I want to manage physical bookings for clients.
User Story: As a professional, I want to handle remote bookings for clients.
User Story: As a user, I want to track specific metrics related to my fitness journey.
User Story: As a user, I want the option to include exercises that are not officially tracked.
Through using the app, ourselves and conducting comprehensive testing, we identified additional user stories aimed at minimising friction. These refined stories are intended to guide the next development phase, emphasising an iterative approach for continuous improvement.
Understanding the pain points
This excerpt is part of a more extensive tutorial in which I conducted an interview with Gregg, an enthusiastic Fitain® advocate. During the interview, Gregg outlined his requirements and vision for future app functionalities.
Interestingly, everything he expressed was closely aligned with ideas I had championed for a significant time. It was reassuring to realise that my instincts were on point, and I accurately anticipated the app's needs. You can find evidence of this alignment in the Fitain® Redesign App Architecture project, where I'll present prototypes for upcoming features.
Key Accomplishments
Exercise library project green lighted.
Set the foundations of a flexible plan and program builder.
Reference list
Project link: Visit Fitain Website