Developing A Customizable
Fitness Routine
Student Project for the Flatiron School
Role UX Researcher and Designer
Date 5 Weeks
Mock Client The YMCA
Tools Sketch, Invision, Axure, Keynote
THE CHALLENGE
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 2 in 3 adults do not exercise enough every week and less than 5% of adults exercise every day. The YMCA tasked us with developing a product to help discover the goals, needs, motivations, and frustrations of their members as they pertain to physical fitness in order to design a digital experience specifically geared towards helping users make use of the physical fitness resources the YMCA has to offer.
RESEARCH
We started out by doing research on what student data collection looks like within schools in general. A big takeaway for us was that the collection of data should start with the end purpose in mind. Quite often it happens in the opposite order where data is collected first and then schools decide what to do with it. So as a team, we really wanted to understand what was the purpose of the metrics that were being collected by PMP and if the correct metrics were chosen to support that purpose.
We interviewed 5 PMP administrators and 7 tutors. They both told us how frustrated they were by the process of inputting the data. They just wanted a way to make it simpler. The process was as follows:
-
The tutors collect student data with pencil and paper either during or after their tutoring session.
-
The PMP site leader of the school collects the papers from the tutors for the week.
-
The site leader or administrator puts the data in a google sheet.
-
The google sheet is analyzed and any trends or recommendations are recorded.
-
Finally, a report is created and sent in an email to the school.
A previous UX team had begun working on a digital way to collect the student data. It was then our job to find out what the goals and frustrations of the PMP administrators and tutors were from that point forward.
PMP Administrators
RESEARCH
Competitive Analysis
We started our research by looking at the competitors of the YMCA such as Equinox, Fitbit, Boys and Girls Club of America, Classpass, Blink, Zogsports, and the Sweat App. We discovered that there are many digital products and companies that cater to younger, athletic people, some programs have a similar mission to the YMCA, but there are very few digital resources that cater to older gym members.
Subject Matter Expert and User Interviews
Then we interviewed 5 subject matter experts from the YMCA, including two Healthy Lifestyle Directors, a Director of Communication and Funds Development, a Head Age Group Swim Coach, and a Receptionist. Jim Dolle, a Healthy Lifestyle Director at the McBurney YMCA in Chelsea, Manhattan said, ''There is a lack of people in the 20-30 age group since the YMCA is not as “sexy” or a “cool” place that would appeal to this age group.'' Valerie Krauss, a Healthy Lifestyle Director at the South Shore YMCA in Staten Island said, “What makes us special is all the people that we help. People that come through these doors have had a lot of issues, and we are trained to help them in their quest for better health.''
Our team then conducted 8 YMCA gym member interviews and 4 YMCA gym member observations in NY, NJ, and CT. Mohammed / 27 Cross Island YMCA (Queens, NY) said, “I wanted some way to keep in shape and everyone was like, 'just run or jog.’ and I'm like, ‘I don't want to destroy my joints'. So I looked up how to exercise without destroying my joints.” Yana / 64 South Shore YMCA (Staten Island, NY) said, “It makes me more comfortable to be around people my age, my physical condition, and the ability to move like I'm moving. My main goal is not to let my body degenerate, to keep exercising, and to be healthier.”
DISCOVERIES
Problem Statement
Through our user interviews, we discovered that the middle-aged YMCA member with an aging body needs a trustworthy tool that develops a flexible fitness routine that caters to their health needs so they can maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Personas
We created a persona based on the synthesis of our user interviews and subject matter expert interviews.
Concepting
We used the 6-8-5 method to develop 4 divergent concepts to test with users. These 4 ideas were:
QR Code Scanning
On-Demand Coaches
Personalization Based on Medical Issues
Personalization Based on The Body
Concept Testing Results
The concept that tested the best among users was personalization based on the body. Overall users responded well to 3 principles:
A quick flow to the workout
Tailored workouts based on areas of pain, not health conditions
Visual exercise information
Creating Initial Wireframes
Based on our concept testing results, we created initial wireframes.
Change goals as needed
Choose pain points before the workout
Choose time
Workout
SOLUTIONS
The YMCA app…
-
Helps members avoid all physical and technological roadblocks in maintaining a healthier lifestyle, in whatever state or shape they are in
-
Considers the aging YMCA member and certain conditions that prevent them from doing the same exercises a young person would do
-
Gives the older YMCA member the confidence to start and maintain their fitness journey via a virtual coach that gives them suggested workout routines based on their health needs and abilities
-
Helps the YMCA improve member satisfaction and retention
PROJECT OUTCOMES
This is a project that I worked on with a team at the Flatiron School with the YMCA as our mock client but not having the users sourced for us gave us great experience in sourcing Subject Matter Experts and Users for interviews on our own. The staff at the YMCA were so gracious in lending their time to our team and gave us really valuable insights. Being that we were creating a fitness app, it also required us to go into the field and see what people at this particular gym did and used. The project was received really well by our instructors and our peers.
After further testing and iterations, the YMCA could use this app to help its members make the most of the YMCA's facilities. This app could help encourage older members or members with injuries to continue their fitness journey, doing workouts that avoid the injured body part. The YMCA would have an easier time retaining its members which would then increase profits.
Thank you for reading my case study!