Mobile App Design – General Assemb.ly UX project
A mobile application to appeal to a wide audience to provide an effective
weight-loss program accompanied by a fun and motivational fitness
plan to fit anyone’s lifestyle and goals they would like to achieve.
Discovery
Research & user understanding
The facts
(and just the tip of the iceberg)
3 in 5 Australian adults are overweight or
obese. That’s over 12 million people!
In the next 10 years 66% of all Australian’s
will be overweight or obese.
30% more people living in regional areas
are obese than people living in major cities.
Obesity has overtaken smoking as the main
cause of illness and premature death.
Sources:
National Health and Medical Research Council: stats from Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Authoritative information and statistics to promote better health and wellbeing
Heart Foundation’s Sedentary Guidelines
The problems
The health burden
The electronic age and increased sedentary
behaviour is a direct link to obesity, poor nutrition,
insulin resistance (leads to diabetes).
Excess weight from over-eating and sedentary
behaviour is a major risk factor for
• Cardiovascular disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Some cancers
The economic burden
The direct and indirect cost for overweight and
obesity in Australia results in an overall annual
cost of $56.6 billion.
The solutions
Sit less.
Adults who sit less throughout the day have
a lower risk of early death particularly from
cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Turn off the box.
It’s recommended the time limit for TV and
computer games is less than two hours a day.
Move, move, move!
A minimum of 30 minutes moderate-intensity
physical activity is recommended everyday.
What goes in, must be burnt.
If energy going in (as food and drink) is greater
than the amount of energy being burnt (even
as small amounts over a long period), this will
cause weight gain.
And... a weight-loss and fitness app on
your phone!
Concept
Inspiration & context
Leonardo da Vinci’s
‘Vetruvian Man’
The drawing is based on the correlations of ideal
human proportions with geometry described
by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius Pollio.
Leonardo’s drawing is named in his honour.
Sometimes called the ‘Proportions of Man’.
If the Vetruvian Man depicts the ideal proportion
of (man) people, then it is something that can
define balance.
MyBodyPlan brand draws
from this ideal of human
balance. It is there to help
and guide, and to remind
users of what they strive for
– balance and wellbeing.
Surveys 52 participants, 10 questions
Gender
Age
Physical movement at work
33%
67%
12%
60%
13%
10%
6%
Male
Female
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
Trying/tried
to lose weight
1.88
1
5
Average
Lowest = 1
Types of weight loss programs tried
Highest = 4
Program success
85%
15%
88%
8%
6%
10%
6%
17%
60%
8%
33%
Yes
No
Eat healthy
& exercise
Clinic
Online
Books
Dietician/
naturopath
Other:
juice diet,
carb-free
Yes
No
A bit
Surveys 52 participants, 10 questions
Why weight loss program failed
13%
Didn’t
motivate
4%
30%
4%
Costly
Lack of
results
Didn’t like
food
Does exercise
accompany weight loss?
Would try weight loss app
39%
9%
Not
Other: lazy,
personalised
family or
time-poor
56%
44%
Yes
No
Why have you not exercised?
96%
4%
23%
52%
42%
10%
Yes
No
Boredom
Time-poor
Lack of
motivation
Don’t enjoy
exercise
19%
17%
Gym/trainer Other: health
too costly issues, injury
or gym issue
Interviews
6 participants – 3 female, 3 male, 10 questions
Interviews
Questions
Themes, insights & quotes
Themes
Insights
Quotes
1 What’s your opinion about your body
weight or health at the moment?
• Overweight or obese
• Tired, body not at peak
• Desire to want to lose weight
• Feels healthy, but still concerned
“I am making an effort to lose it (which
is why I am having a hot chocolate!)”
2 How much weight were you, or are
you trying to lose?
• Lost 20-40 kgs previously
• Trying to lose 5-20kgs
• Wants to lose more weight but not
stressed about it
“I’m going back to the gym tonight ...
hopefully.”
3 What was or is your main motivation
to lose weight?
• Vanity and appearance
• Health issues: back & knees
• Wedding or summer motivates
4 Is it difficult to stick to a weight-loss
program? And why?
• Discipline with food
• Family
• Very easy to find excuses
• Maintenance required
“I go for the easiest thing to snack on, or
comfort food. And wine is a big problem!”
5 Are you unsure about what foods are
the best to eat?
• Knows what to eat, lack of time or
no self control
• Starvation is quick fix
• Young family hard to maintain diet
“The less I eat, the quicker I lose
weight, which I know is wrong”
6 What part of your life restricts you the
most when it comes to exercise?
• Family (children) • Work • Time
• Daylight hours
• Swayed by spouse to not exercise
• Gym not favoured
“Probably my wife and kids I would
say... they’re very demanding!”
7 When is the best time of day to fit in
exercise?
• Mornings before work
• Evenings, after work (before dark)
• Fit in exercise when baby sleeps
8 Do you exercise with friends or
partner? How does it make you feel
with them?
• Likes with partner/spouse
• Fun and motivational
• Partner exercise can also get
competitive e.g tennis
9 How much would you say you use
phone apps? What’s your favourite
app & why?
• Most on phone apps, 1 tablet
• Banking/utilities/email most used on
phone
• Pedometer popular on other devices
• Likes games, not interested in
facebook
10 Have you tried a weight loss/fitness
phone app? What do you like/dislike?
• Pedometers OK, calorie counters bad
• Not enough fitness options or food
• None are very satisfactory
• Reminders & personalisation
“I like most to exercise with my
partner, cause then we can have a
chat. Time just disappears”
“I want (the app) to basically just remind
me and annoy me to stick to it”
Insights & Groupings
Women
Men
FemalePersona
“I go for the easiest thing
to snack on, or comfort food.
And wine is a big problem!”
Valerie
Demographic/Background
• Female
Exercise
• 39years
• InAccountsDepartment
Positive
Negative
• Partnerwith2yearoldchild
Technology
• Generallyingoodhealth
•Earlyevening,
afterwork
• E xerciseatnight
indarknotsafe
Smartphoneuse
• Lost20kgatWeightWatchers,thenput
weightbackon
• Gymboring&
trainerexpensive
Rarely
•Walkwithpartner,
timegoesfast&
breakintoarun
Goals
Often
• Self-motivation
Profienciencyofuse
Food
• Lose10kg
Hard
• Getintoswimsuitandfeelcomfortable
Typeofappuse
Positive
Negative
•Noself-control
LikesGames
•WeightWatchers
counter&variety
•Likesquick,
healthyoptions
• Afraidtogo
hungry
Concerns/Challenges
•Hardtoexerciseregularlywithtoddler
• Goesforquicksnacksorcomfortfood
• Lovesawine!
•Hardtokeepmotivatedwithfood
Easy
Likesutilities
Apps most used. Trainadvisor,banking,
news,weather&email,pedometers&games
Least used apps. Facebook,caloriecounters
(notenoughfood)
•Giveportionsizes
• Time-poor
Jeremy
MalePersona
“The less I eat, the
quicker I lose weight,
which I know is wrong.”
Demographic/Background
Exercise
• Male
• 34years
Positive
Negative
• Contactcentremanager
•Lunchtimegym
workswell
• Don’tspend$$
onexerciseapps
•Tennispartner
helpstopush
• Gymmusic
off-putting
•Remindershelp
• Gympartnerhas
differentgoals
• Married
• Bodynotatpeak,tired&backpain
• Stilloverweight,lackingselfconfidence
Goals
• Lose20kgs
• Wantstolookgood&feelbetter
Concerns/Challenges
•Comesupwithexcuses&lazy
• Believesstarvationisasolution
• Wifecookswhichdictates
•Eastingfreshfoodtakestime
Technology
Smart phone use
Rarely
Often
Profienciency of use
Hard
Easy
Type of app use
LikesGames
Likesutilities
Apps most used. Games,banking,weather,
viber,Linkedin&pedometer
Least used apps. Facebook,BobParker
Fitness,WorkoutBuddy
Food
Positive
Negative
•Likesgoodchoice
• Time-poor
•Wifewantsto
participate
• Caloriecounters
don’twork
• Knowswhat
‘should’eat
• Lovescream,
lovesbutter
Competitive Analysis
The good, the bad & the ugly
Food & nutrition apps
Fitness apps
MapMyRun
Modiface Weight Loss
Nike+ Running
Bodytrack.it
Angry Weight Loss
Guide
Nexercise
8700 NSW Govt
(nutrition info & calorie
to kJ converter)
Competitive Analysis
Nike+ Running:
Standout features
Nexercise:
Create password help
MapMyRun
Extensive activity log
and live track list
Social sharing
Auto-pause workout
Reminders
GPS route tracking
“...and the crowd
cheers!”
Gift/discount rewards
Competitive
Analysis
2x weight loss apps, 2x fitness apps
Competitive Analysis – Weight loss & Fitness Phone Apps
= UX Project inclusions
Nat’s App
MyBodyPlan
Competitor 1
ModiFace
Competitor 2
Bodytrack.it
Competitor 3
MapMyRun
Competitor 4
Nike+ Running
• Goal-setdietplan
Yes, choice of 3 quickstart
plans OR create custom plan
Yes
Yes
No
No
• Goal-setfitnessplan
Yes, fitness plan to
accompany food plan
Yes, verybasic,noexercise
detailprovided
Yes, butverybasic,no
exercisesdetailisgiven
No,noplanassuch–
premiumversionhascoaching
• Progressreporting
Yes
No
Yes,thereisabriefprogress
reportpage-asummary
Yes, progressreportbyemail,
butnotinapp
Yes,‘Coach’weekly/dailyrun
plan.Has4planswith3levels
each,butnotcustomised
• Profile
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, asummaryordashboard
offriends&recents
Yes, asummaryordashboard
withcolourbadgestobewon
• GPSlivetracker
Yes, includingvoiceprompt,
map&defaultpause
No
No
Yes, verycleardesign+voice
promptsinc.1kmupdates
Yes,clean+voiceprompts.
Cool3Dmap+defaultpause
• Routelist
Yes, seepastroutes
No
No
Yes, comprehensivetrack
recommender+friendsroutes
No, onlyviewyourpastroutes
• Foodlog
Yes, loginfood/calorieintake
Vscaloriestoburn
No, canonlyadd/subtract
fooditemstoyourplan
No
Yes,loginfood/calorieintake
Vscaloriestoburn
No
• Bodyphototracker
Yes, photoforplancreation,
thenafterphotooneachlogin
Yes,butdifficulttonavigate-
likeyou’regoingincircles
Yes, addbodymeasurements,
butstupidlyaskseachleg!!
No
No
• Exerciselog
Yes, add/tickoffminimum
requiredperday
No,canonlyadd/subtract
exercisetoplanrandomly
No
Yes
Yes
• Measurementinput
Yes, to change or create a
new plan... not on each log in!
Yes, annoyinglyeverytimeyou
logbackin–nooption
Yes, annoyinglyeverytimeyou
logbackin–nooptiontoskip
No
No
• Foodfacts
Yes,informationaboutfood
groupsandspecificfoods
NO,strangelynodetailsgiven
aboutfoodotherthancalories
No,strangenodetailsgiven,
notevencalorieinfo
No, onlyinputoffoodlog
No
• Workoutideas
Yes, demostrativeillustrationfor
musclegroups&stretching
No, elaborationonspecific
exercises.Onlyalistintheplan
No
No, nohintsorhelp
• Findalocalchallenge/race
No
No
No
Yes, greatlittleaddition–find
alocalracetosignupto
No, surprisinglynoexercicse
hintsorhelp
• Findaroute
No
No
No
Yes,seepastroutes+use
‘RouteGenius’tocreatearoute
CustoMised PlAN
Yes, hasactivitysummary
tRACk
iNFoRMAtiC CoNteNt
No, butcancreatechallenge
aloneorwithfriends
No, onlyseepastroutes
• Findalocalchallenge/race
musclegroups&stretching
exercises.Onlyalistintheplan
No
No
No
Yes, greatlittleaddition–find
alocalracetosignupto
Yes,seepastroutes+use
‘RouteGenius’tocreatearoute
No, surprisinglynoexercicse
hintsorhelp
No, butcancreatechallenge
aloneorwithfriends
No
No
No
• Find/raceapartner
Yes
No
No
Yes, goodsocialaspect,to
racewithoragainstfriends
Yes, racewithoragainst
friends
• PostonFacebook/Twitter
Yes
Yes
No
Yes, postandbragabouthow
faryouran
Yes, postandbragabouthow
faryouran
• Setachallengewithfriends
Yes
No
No
Yes,findaformalracealone
oraskfriendstojoinyou
Yes, createachallengealone
oraskfriendstojoin
• Reminders
Yes, viatheappdaily
No
Yes, butnotswitchedonby
default,soImissedthem
Yes, butnotswitchedonby
default,soImissedthem
Yes, remindersbutI’veonly
recievedemails,notviaapp
• Rewards
Yes, gifts&awards/badges
No
Yes, KiipRewards-claimgifts
No, strangelynorewards...
Yes, collectbadges.Bitboring
• AppPersonalisation
Yes, “PimpMyApp”style
options
No
No
No, butyoucansyncto
sensorsonbike,chestorarm
No, butappcolourchange
basedonyouracheivements
• Free
Yes
Yes,freetodownload
No, $1.99todownload
No, freetodownload
No, freetodownload
• Acost
No, never.Allplansfree
Yes, but$6.49tocreateaplan
Yes
Yes, upgradetopremium
featuresfor$7.49p/mth
No, noextracost.Cannotfind
apremiumversion
•Personalised,customised
&realisticplan
•Photoreducer/enlargergoal
plannerquitefuntouse
•Clean&simpledesign
•Slickdesign–appealingto
Nikebrandlovers&runners
•Simpleuserflow
•Food&fitnessoverviewon
theonepageveryhelpful
•Clean,simpledesignand
easyuserflowtoadd
measurements
• Findaroute
No, onlyseepastroutes
soCiAl
MotivAtioNAl/FuN
Cost
oveRAll PRos
•Simpleprogressoverview
•Funandmotivational
•Greattoseefriendswalkor
runlive,goodmotivation
•Routeexampleshelpful
•E xcellentuserflow,cute
detailslikerunemoticons
oveRAll CoNs
•Maybetoomanyfeatures
whichiswhyIhaveindicated
keytasksabove
•Potentialforuserjourneyto
gettoolongonkeystasks
•Aconfusinguserflow–app
goesround&roundincircles
•Measuringlegsandarms
separatelyisstupid
•Foodlogabitisolated(not
partofacustomisedplan)
• Difficulttorecogniselinks
•It’saittletoosimple,not
enoughdepth
•Coachfeaturetooexoensive
•Visualdesignperhapstoo
intimidatingtogeneralusers.
Seemsgearedupmorefor
seniousrunners
•GPSdoesn’tpauseby
default.Needtoactivate
•Withoutappreminderitshard
togetmotivatedtowalk/run.
•Noremindersnotveryhelpful
nor motivational
Define
Information Architecture & Feature Inclusion
Kano Features mapped & MVP
Delights
Satisfied
Performance
“Pimp My App”
Find a partner
Past route list
Fun & motivational
GPS live tracker
Personalised & realistic
Progress report
Measurements input
Challenge with friends
Not implemented
Post on FB/Twit
Daily/weekly reminders
Rewards
Indifferent
Fully implemented
Simple flow
FREE app
Profile setup
Create custom plan
Body photo tracker
Exercise log
Create quick plan
Food log Vs calorie intake
Food facts/info
Workout ideas
Dissatisfied
Basic
Minimum Viable Product
(MVP) range
User Flow
‘Create Your Plan’ or ‘Quick Plan’
User Flow
‘Record Measurements’ + ‘Log Food’
Design
Sketching, wireframing & user testing
Screens
Home & main navigation
Screens
‘Pimp My App’ & Food Choices
Wireframes
‘Create Your Plan’ & Create Quick Plan
Home
Welcome
Your Plan
‘Create Your Plan’ happy path + data input
‘Create Your Plan’ less data
‘Quick Plan’ happy path
‘Quick Plan’ choices
No data input path or back steps
User Testing
Axure wireframes
Objectives:
Measure the success of completing the main task to
‘Create Your Plan’ for the first time. Identify at what
point, if any, participants trip up on a feature.
Methodology:
Interview 2 users to test on iPhone via Axure prototype.
Observe/Video as they complete the task.
Measurements input
Select weight goal
Plan summary
Save plan/choices
Observation/issue:
Couldn’t chose units
Observation/issue:
Scale slider not working.
Widget too small for fingers.
Observation/issue:
Difficulty with scrolling
Observation/issue:
Disappointed with extra step
Solution:
Fix widget, control size larger
Solution:
Design needs further thought,
more space for fingers
Solution:
Look at eliminating the step
Create Your Plan start
Measurements input
Take a photo, create goal
Set time goal dial
Observation/issue:
Took a long time reading,
stumbled over the copy
Observation/issue:
Couldn’t chose units
Observation/issue:
Long pause – didn’t know
what to click
Observation/issue:
Didn’t understand why dial
wouldn’t change number
Solution:
Clear copy instruction,
“Take a photo” inside button
Solution:
Being a static dial didn’t help,
but perhaps an instruction?
1
Observations,
issues and
solutions
Overall
results:
3
Solution:
Add units, copy to-the-point
with instruction
Both participants
completed the task
to ‘Create Your Plan’
successfully and
mostly with ease.
Common
issues:
2
Measurements
input missing units.
Solution:
Lean to-the-point copy,
remove “great choice”
Solution:
Add units, copy to-the-point
with instruction
Screens
‘Your Plan’ design changes post testing
Add time units
as expanding
accordion.
Default current
timeframe open
Food and
exercise
separated
vertically –
not stacked
Take out extra screen after
with choices after to save
plan/start again.
Wireframe screens
Measurements input
Select weight goal
Updated and developed post-testing
Your Plan
Home
Home – flyout menu
Solution:
Solution:
Solution:
Home:
•Added cm/in & kg/ib units
•Fixed broken scale action
(Still not happy on iPhone,
OK desktop)
• Resolved further. Plan is
summary of all data. Exercise
e.g per day & food plan per
meal + option to change/add
Added more detail & links + created left fly out menu navigation
•Made copy to-the-point
with clear instruction/CTA
•Increased control size.
Added scale & numbers
change for clarity
• Still potential difficulty with
scrolling & fingers