BOLTA
An active lifestyle community builderMarch 2024 - June 2024
▸ Problem ◂
Many users find that their initial enthusiasm for workout apps wanes after the first few weeks. This decline in engagement is often due to the lack of social interaction and accountability features in these apps. Without the ability to connect with others, users feel isolated in their fitness journey. The absence of community support and shared goals diminishes motivation, leading to decreased adherence to fitness routines. Users need a platform that fosters a sense of belonging and provides the social reinforcement crucial for maintaining long-term engagement.
How might we enhance workout apps to foster community and accountability, thereby sustaining long-term user engagement and motivation?
▸ SOLUTION ◂
To address these challenges, we aimed to create a more socially integrated workout app, designed to foster community, accountability, and sustained engagement. Recognizing that our primary users are tech-savvy adults who thrive on social interaction, we introduced several key features:
- Group Challenges: Users can create and join custom health and fitness challenges with friends and family. Participants can compete, track each other’s progress daily, and encourage one another through messages and reaction emojis. This feature leverages the motivational power of social support and friendly competition.
- Clubs: Users can join clubs based on shared interests, such as running, yoga, or weightlifting. These clubs serve as communities where members can connect, share tips, and support each other’s fitness goals. Research shows that group exercise and community support significantly enhance adherence to fitness routines (Burke, Carron, & Eys, 2006).
- Chat: Integrated messaging allows users to communicate directly with friends, family, and club members. This real-time interaction fosters a sense of camaraderie and provides instant encouragement and support.
- Posts Feed: Users can share their progress, post questions, and express their interests on a community feed. This feature enables users to celebrate achievements, seek advice, and engage with a wider community, further reinforcing their commitment to their fitness journey.
By incorporating these features, our app creates a socially engaging environment that enhances user motivation, accountability, and long-term engagement. Studies indicate that social interaction and community support are critical factors in maintaining exercise adherence, making our app a comprehensive solution for fitness enthusiasts looking to stay committed to their goals
▸ rESEARCH ◂
Competitor Analysis:
To thoroughly understand the problem space, conducting a competitor analysis was crucial. This analysis allowed us to examine existing solutions in the market and how they encourage regular, habitual exercise. By studying competitors, we gained insights into their strengths and weaknesses, which informed our design process and helped us identify gaps and opportunities for innovation.
I analyzed the user experience of three prominent apps: Strava, MyFitnessPal, and Nike Training Club. This analysis provided valuable perspectives on various approaches to user engagement and retention. Strava, with its strong emphasis on community and competition, leverages social features to motivate users. MyFitnessPal focuses on comprehensive tracking and integration with other health apps, offering detailed insights and personalized feedback. Nike Training Club excels in delivering high-quality content and structured workout programs. By understanding these different strategies, we aimed to create a workout app that combines the best elements of each, while addressing the unmet needs of our target users.
Secondary Research:
I conducted my secondary research with two questions in mind:
What causes people fall short of their goals while pursuing an active lifestyle?
What motivates a user to continue working on their and fitness goals?
According to studies, initially driven by personal goals and aspirations, individuals often struggle to maintain motivation without robust social support and accountability mechanisms. Social cognitive theory emphasizes the role of observing and interacting with others in shaping behavior, suggesting that without visible peer progress or encouragement, individuals may falter in their commitment. Furthermore, self-determination theory stresses the needs of autonomy, competence, and connection; when these needs are unmet, motivation declines, heightening the risk of goal abandonment.
Effective motivational strategies within fitness apps leverage community support to bolster engagement and adherence. Messages that highlight shared progress and collective achievement, such as "Join your fitness family in conquering today's challenge!" or "Your team is counting on you—keep pushing!" foster a sense of camaraderie and mutual accountability among users. By emphasizing community involvement and celebrating group successes, these messages not only validate individual efforts but also cultivate an environment where sustained motivation thrives, promoting long-term commitment to health and fitness goals.
Synthesis:
▸ DEFINE◂
Based on the themes uncovered in our affinity mapping exercise, I opted to focus on social goal-setting through Group Challenges, a social feed, community groups, and chats. This decision also marked the inception of our app's name, BOLTA, reflecting its dual focus on community and fitness goal-setting. With a larger aim of promoting sustainable habits, the concept aligns seamlessly with the notion of encouraging friends to embark on holistic lifestyle improvements together.
I developed a user flow from the red routes I identified through research.
User flows
▸ Design ◂
Low-Fi Prototype
Our low-fi prototype for BOLTA integrates essential features like challenges, clubs, chat, and a feed screen to enhance user engagement and foster a sense of community. Challenges allow users to set and achieve fitness goals together, promoting accountability and motivation through friendly competition. Clubs provide dedicated spaces where like-minded individuals can connect, share tips, and support each other's fitness journeys, enhancing social interaction and camaraderie. The chat feature enables real-time communication, facilitating instant support and encouragement among users. Additionally, the feed screen serves as a centralized platform where users can share their progress, achievements, and questions, fostering a vibrant community atmosphere focused on mutual encouragement and inspiration. Together, these elements form a cohesive prototype that not only promotes active participation but also cultivates a supportive environment conducive to long-term engagement and goal achievement in health and fitness.
Style Guide
Our style guide adopts dark purple and lime green as its primary colors to create an energizing and gender-inclusive atmosphere within BOLTA. Dark purple symbolizes creativity, wisdom, and ambition, reflecting our commitment to empowering users to set and achieve their fitness goals with innovative solutions. It evokes a sense of sophistication and depth, appealing to a diverse audience seeking a dynamic and engaging platform.
In contrast, lime green represents vitality, growth, and positivity, embodying the lively and invigorating spirit of our community-oriented app. This vibrant hue promotes a sense of inclusivity and optimism, inviting users of all genders and backgrounds to participate actively in their fitness journeys. By combining dark purple and lime green, our style guide not only creates a visually appealing aesthetic but also communicates BOLTA's dedication to fostering a supportive and empowering environment where everyone can thrive and succeed together.
▸ HI-Fi prototype and test findings◂
First Round
I conducted 5 moderated tests on my Hi-Fi prototype to assess whether the app satisfied users' needs and usability features.
The following findings were made:
✖ There is no way to see/edit your own profile
✖ Users are confused about the “Adding a Friend” user flow
✖ The “+” button lacks functionality
Recommendations
✦ Add a profile creation/modification screen
✦ Demonstrate all buttons and more critical screens
✦ Simplify flow by adding labeled icon buttons
✦ Add “Create post” function to “+” button
I conducted 5 moderated tests on my Hi-Fi prototype to assess whether the app satisfied users' needs and usability features.
The following findings were made:
✖ There is no way to see/edit your own profile
✖ Users are confused about the “Adding a Friend” user flow
✖ The “+” button lacks functionality
Recommendations
✦ Add a profile creation/modification screen
✦ Demonstrate all buttons and more critical screens
✦ Simplify flow by adding labeled icon buttons
✦ Add “Create post” function to “+” button
Second Round
After implementing the first round of changes and a second round of usability testing, additional findings were made:
✖ “Close” button from chat screen goes to “friends” screen instead of “chats”
✖ The way “progress” is expressed lacks information
Recommendations
✦ Add an overview of data progress with a numeric label
✦ Re-link bugged buttons
After implementing the first round of changes and a second round of usability testing, additional findings were made:
✖ “Close” button from chat screen goes to “friends” screen instead of “chats”
✖ The way “progress” is expressed lacks information
Recommendations
✦ Add an overview of data progress with a numeric label
✦ Re-link bugged buttons
▸ Conclusions & Next Steps ◂
The journey of developing BOLTA has been rooted in extensive research to understand the dynamics of user engagement in fitness apps and the role of community in fostering long-term commitment to health goals. By leveraging insights from social cognitive and self-determination theories, we crafted a prototype that integrates essential features like group challenges, community groups, and real-time chat to create a supportive and interactive environment. The choice of dark purple and lime green in our style guide underscores our commitment to creating an energizing and gender-inclusive space where users can thrive and achieve their fitness aspirations together.
Looking ahead, next steps can include expanding the UI to incorporate badges for completed challenges and goals, providing tangible rewards and recognition for user achievements. Additionally, the integration of analytics could offer deeper insights into user behaviors and preferences, empowering us to optimize the app's functionality and enhance user engagement. While these advancements are temporarily deferred due to time constrains, they can significantly enrich BOLTA into a comprehensive platform that inspires and supports a healthier lifestyle for all users.