Introduction

The Akteev App is a mobile and web application that aims to connect athletes and personal trainers. It offers health promotion services, including personalized training and nutrition plans, as well as health-related articles recommended by experts. Designed for people in various life circumstances, the app seeks to provide an innovative and individualized approach to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The Challenge

In the health and fitness industry, recent studies have highlighted several key challenges faced by individuals and professionals. These include the need for personalized fitness programs tailored to individual goals, comprehensive nutrition support, access to reliable and expert-recommended health information, efficient communication between athletes and trainers, effective client management for personal trainers, and the challenge of expanding client bases in a competitive market.

Design Process

This is the design process I followed for this project.

Empathise

To begin the design process, I conducted user research to understand the needs, pain points, and expectations of our target audience – athletes and personal trainers . This involved:

1. Interviews with users: personal trainers and athletes, to gather insights and opinions.
2. Analysis of competitor apps to identify potential areas of improvement.*
3. Creation of user personas to represent different user types and their specific needs.

*Competitors apps for analysis: MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Nike Training Club

Research Findings

Based on the user interviews and competitor analysis, we’ve gained valuable insights into the needs, preferences, and pain points of our target users, as well as the existing solutions provided by the market. Here’s how Akteev can address these pain points and offer a unique solution.

Define

In the second step of the design process, I synthesized the insights gathered from the research and define the core problems or opportunities that the Aktee app should address. This stage will involve creating a problem statement, persona creation, and empathy map and User Journey Map.

Personas

Empathy Map

Understanding Sarah’s daily routine, thoughts, and emotions can provide valuable insights into her needs and pain points. By creating an empathy map, we can collaboratively visualize Sarah’s experiences and gain a deeper understanding of her perspective. This information can then be used to inform our decisions and design solutions that meet Sarah’s needs and preferences. Ultimately, the goal is to create a user-centered product that enhances Sarah’s experience and helps her achieve her fitness and wellness goals

User Journey Map

By organizing Sarah’s user journey into the steps of Discover, Registration, Onboarding and First Use, and Sharing, we can gain a clearer understanding of her actions, needs, and emotions at each stage. This format helps identify potential areas of improvement or new features to enhance the user experience.

Throughout her journey with the Akteev app, Emma discovers various features and resources that cater to her needs and help her progress towards her fitness goals. What’s more, Emma also gains a sense of motivation, discipline, and connection within a supportive community.

Problem Statement

Many athletes, like Sarah, struggle to find and connect with reliable personal trainers who can provide tailored training and nutrition plans to help them achieve their health and fitness goals. Additionally, they may not have access to trustworthy health-related information recommended by experts. This leads to frustration, confusion, and a lack of progress towards their health goals. Akteev aims to solve this problem by providing a platform that connects athletes with verified personal trainers and offers expert-recommended health-related articles, personalized training plans, and nutrition plans, all in one place.

Ideate

In the ideation phase of the design process, I leveraged creativity and critical thinking to generate innovative solutions. I translated these ideas into tangible designs through sketches, and a UI kit, all of which were rigorously tested for usability to ensure optimal user experience.

Solution

Akteev addresses the pain points in the health and fitness industry by offering a comprehensive platform with the following solutions:

1. Customized fitness programs: Akteev connects athletes with personal trainers who create tailored workout plans based on individual goals, fitness levels, and preferences, ensuring users receive appropriate guidance for their specific needs.
2. Comprehensive nutrition support: Akteev offers personalized nutrition plans and meal suggestions crafted by expert dietitians, providing users with balanced and goal-oriented nutrition advice to complement their fitness journey.
3. Expert-recommended health information: Akteev features a curated library of articles and resources from reputable sources, ensuring users have access to reliable and up-to-date information on various health and fitness topics.
4. Seamless communication: Akteev’s integrated messaging platform facilitates efficient communication between athletes and trainers, enabling real-time feedback, support, and guidance.
5. Client management for personal trainers: Akteev’s web application allows personal trainers to manage their clients, track progress, and update workout and nutrition plans efficiently, streamlining their work process.
6. Client base expansion: Akteev connects athletes with personal trainers based on their preferences, goals, and location, enabling trainers to attract new clients and grow their business.

Sketches

Usability Testing

I conducted usability testing with 5 participants, each lasting about 45 minutes.

The objective of the test:

1. Is it to assess users’ ability to complete a task and recover from mistakes?
2. How does the test help identify areas of the app that require a change to improve user performance and satisfaction?
3. Does it help identify areas for improvement in the app’s usability and user experience?

Here you can find the usability test result

Through this process, I was able to bridge the gap between my understanding of the users and what the users experienced, resulting in a product that better meets the needs and expectations of its users.

UI Kit

Design based on Material Design Style:

Prototype

After receiving user feedback on the initial design of the Akteev app, I made improvements and iterate on the design to enhance the overall user experience. Here is design for the design iteration based on user feedback:

Mobile App:

Web App:

Link to Akteev Design User Test Prototype

Reflection

Reflecting on the design process for the Akteev app, it has been an insightful journey in understanding the needs, preferences, and challenges faced by both athletes and personal trainers in the health and fitness industry. From user interviews to competitor analysis, we have gathered valuable information to create a comprehensive and user-centered solution.

The iterative design approach has proven to be essential in developing a product that caters to the target audience. By incorporating user feedback, we have been able to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to the app’s design and features. This process has highlighted the importance of continuous evaluation and refinement to achieve a high-quality user experience.

Looking back, we have learned the value of empathy and understanding in addressing the pain points of our users. By putting ourselves in their shoes and striving to create a product that genuinely meets their needs, we can make a positive impact on their fitness journey.

Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize user feedback and stay abreast of industry trends and technological advancements. As user needs and preferences evolve, so should the Akteev app. By maintaining a user-centric focus and adapting to changes, we can ensure the continued success and relevance of the Akteev platform in the competitive health and fitness market.