SYNQ
If you’re anything like me, tracking fitness feels like juggling five different tools just to stay on top of progress. I’d log my workouts in a notes app to make sure I was improving week to week, use a timer app to track rest periods, check Apple Health for step counts, keep mental tabs on my weight, and chat to mates in a separate app for motivation. It worked—barely—but it was messy.
After stepping back, I realised how fragmented the process was. No wonder it felt hard to stay consistent. I searched the App Store hoping to find an all-in-one solution, but most fitness apps were clunky, outdated, or looked exactly the same. It had me thinking, “Why isn’t there a centralised, visually engaging fitness app that simplifies tracking for people who already train?”
So I set myself a challenge: design a solution in 7 days. Sync, my training app prototype, was born.
Try me!
Try me!
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Design a fitness app dashboard that centralises health data for users who already engage in regular exercise.
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A high-fidelity prototype for a mobile phone dashboard featuring at least 3 key elements.
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✓ Figma
✓ Figjam (thematic analysis & synthesis)
✓ Google Forms
✓ AI: ChatGPT & v0 Dev
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7 Days
Research
Aim
To understand how people currently track progress and manage their fitness journey, and identify any pain-points they are currently experiencing.
Objectives
To inform our research question, we focused on four main objectives:
Identify what tools people typically use to manage their fitness journey.
Understand if, and why, tracking progress is important to them.
Assess how users interact with current tracking tools.
Method
Questionnaire
I recruited 12 respondents to answer a 6-question Google form. I intentionally chose respondents of different ages, genders, activity levels, occupations and ethnicities in hope to diversify insights, and see if, despite their differences, their were commonalities in their experiences. The questionnaire was mainly aimed at:
Why respondents do or do not use methods to track their fitness
What their current fitness goals are (as this may determine what information would be important to them)
If and what they use currently to manage their fitness journey
Pain-points they experience with these methods
Key Findings
After analysing and synthesising user data to better understand the people I was designing for, I distilled key insights into user personas. These personas helped shape a focused “How might we” statement, which framed the core design challenge my prototype set out to address.
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Demographic
Does not currently track fitness but is open to starting.
Goals
Understand how to track fitness progress in a meaningful way.
Integrate tracking seamlessly into their lifestyle.
Pain Points
Finds tracking too time-consuming or inconvenient.
Lacks understanding of how to track or interpret data.
Doesn't see clear value in tracking for their goals.
Motivations
Simplified tracking processes.
Clear visual progress indicators like graphs and milestones.
Integration with current devices or apps.
Personalised feedback tied to fitness goals.
Gamification elements like rewards or achievements.
Both personas value simplicity, visual appeal, and actionable insights in a fitness app.
Customisation and personalisation are crucial for engagement.
Both groups are motivated by tools that integrate well with their routine and provide clear benefits.
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Demographic
Does not currently track fitness but open to starting.
Goals
Understand how to track fitness progress in a meaningful way.
Fit tracking seamlessly into their lifestyle.
Pain Points
Finds tracking too time-consuming or inconvenient.
Lacks understanding of how to track or interpret data.
Does not see clear value in tracking for their goals.
Motivations
Simplified tracking processes.
Clear visual progress indicators like graphs and milestones.
Integration with current devices or apps.
Personalised feedback tied to fitness goals.
Gamification elements like rewards or achievements.
Shared Insigh
How might we…
…Create a fitness tracking app that simplifies the tracking process, provides clear and visually engaging feedback, and motivates users to consistently monitor their progress?
A/B Testing
To begin the ideation process, I sketched two respective minimal wireframes and conducted a second round of user testing through a Google form. Respondents were instructed to answer each question through as if embodying a persona they empathised with.
Concept A
Concept B
Synthesis
To begin the ideation process, I sketched two respective minimal wireframes and conducted a second round of user testing through a Google form. Respondents were instructed to answer each question through as if embodying a persona they empathised with.
Prototype, Iterate, Repeat.
I utilised Figma to begin my design process based on the wireframe sketches, drawing from fitness and health tracking apps I have previously used in my own journey, such as Everfit and Dropset. Throughout my iterative process, I used the 4 criteria of success to justify all design decisions, ensuring alignment to my users.
I also used v0, a generative AI platform, to streamline my ideation process.
Final Usability Test
A final round of testing was conducted with users via Google form including questions that required interaction with iteration 3 prior to answering questions regarding usability. Main findings identified were that users required a platform that is more:
Intuitive: features that promote more organic and intuitive navigation.
Efficient: a simpler and faster way to track progress to retain user engagement.
Motivating: an interface that evokes motivation and continual app usage.
Personal: a customisable experience, based on the user preference.
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For access to all data, please tap here.