Connecting fitness enthusiast with trainers: a case study on OG fitness, a hybrid fitness and social app
My role
Design Management
UI/UX Design
Platform
Web
Mobile
Team members
Malik Mbaye (Head of Products)
Sandeep (Design Manager)
Duration
2 weeks (Research)
4weeks (Design & Testing)
Project Overview
As the lead product designer for OG Fitness, the goal was to improve the fitness experience for trainers and clients. We achieved this by leveraging a comprehensive research methodology, incorporating insights from focus groups, and following a meticulous design process, we developed a user-centric app that addresses the unique challenges faced by the fitness community.
40%
Increase in community engagement
5,000 +
Newly acquire unique users.
15,000
App installation. 80% increase from previous design.
$50,000+
In-app merchandise sales
The underlying product challenges
OG Fitness faces challenges in streamlining the client journey, particularly in the areas of discovery, engagement, and management. Clients struggle to find the right trainer due to a lack of dedicated platforms, while communication and relationship management between trainers and clients are fragmented and inefficient. Trainers also grapple with overwhelming client management tasks, leading to disorganization and a suboptimal user experience.
From Struggle to strength
OG Fitness isn't just another fitness app. It's a story driven by the needs of passionate trainers and dedicated clients. We understand that success goes beyond reps and sets; it's about feeling empowered, supported, and inspired. By combining a user-centric approach with a commitment to community, OG Fitness creates a transformative fitness experience that gets you, and keeps you, moving forward.
Reimagining the user experience
We knew there were solutions out there, but were they truly helping people thrive? We embarked on a journey to understand the existing landscape of health and wellness apps. It was like sifting through a crowded marketplace – some offered a glimpse of what we envisioned, but none quite captured the essence of holistic well-being and a sense of community.
To guide our efforts, we embarked on an extensive research expedition, seeking insights directly from the fitness community. Over the course of our research, we engaged with a diverse group of individuals, including both trainers and clients, totaling more than 100 participants. This ensured a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and needs within the fitness community.
Findings from the research
Participants expressed frustration with the lack of dedicated platforms for finding trainers.
Trust and credibility were key concerns, as existing options did not adequately showcase trainer qualifications or client testimonials.
Participants struggled with communication and relationship management with their trainers.
They resorted to fragmented channels like text and social media for updates, leading to inefficiency and lack of accountability.
Many trainers faced overwhelming task management challenges, resulting in disorganization.
Clients desired a centralized platform for scheduling sessions, making payments, and accessing personalized workout plans.
Giving control to the users
As we progressed, we gathered a few individuals from the previous survey into a focus group sessions. This group consist of trainers and clients all on a virtual session, eager to share their experiences and insights. Through lively discussions and candid conversations, we unveiled valuable insights.
We knew that our solution had to be more than just functional—it had to be intuitive, seamless, and delightful to use. So, we embarked on a series of iterative design and testing cycles, gathering feedback from our focus group participants and refining our designs based on their insights.
Biography
Emily Johnson is a 29-year-old Marketing Manager residing in the bustling city of New York, NY. Balancing a demanding career, Emily is committed to maintaining her health and fitness, constantly seeking ways to improve her overall well-being.
Pain-points
• Balancing a busy work schedule with fitness commitments
• Staying motivated and consistent with workouts
• Finding exercises that are engaging and fun
• Overcoming occasional plateaus and setbacks
Biography
Alex Ramirez is a dynamic and passionate Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach based in Los Angeles, CA. At 34, Alex brings a decade of experience to his role, having transformed the fitness journeys of countless clients.
Pain-points
• Keeping clients engaged and motivated remotely
• Managing and tracking individual client progress efficiently
• Finding it hard to manage appointments and schedules
• Need to constantly being in the business of the client
Prioritizing Key features
The findings we gathered validated our decision to create an "all-in-one" platform that allows fitness enthusiast to not only improve their fitness routine but also connect with trainers that align with their fitness goals and a community that inspire them to keep up with their goals, all in one.
Core Features that Reflect our Value Proposition
Unlike generic directories, OG Fitness uses a curated platform and matching algorithm to connect users with trainers who specifically align with their goals, learning styles, and preferences.
OG Fitness offers a dedicated in-app communication channel for trainers and clients. This streamlines communication, eliminates the need for scattered messages across platforms, and allows for real-time feedback and progress tracking within the app itself.
OG Fitness recognizes the power of community. Their platform fosters a supportive environment through a social feed filled with inspiration, collaborative challenges that promote accountability, and live events that facilitate interaction between users and trainers.
OG Fitness understands that fitness is more than just workouts. By incorporating features like progress tracking with photos and data visualization tools, they empower users to celebrate milestones and stay motivated on their overall wellness journey.
Outlining navigation paths and sections
The focus was on establishing a solid information architecture for the OG Fitness app. This involved organizing and structuring the content and functionality of the app in a logical and intuitive manner to ensure a seamless user experience.
We began by conducting a thorough analysis of the app's features and content requirements, taking into account the needs and preferences of both trainers and clients. Based on this analysis, we developed a hierarchical structure that categorized content and functionality into clear and distinct sections.
Highlighting Key features
Trainers Onboarding
Our onboarding welcomes Fitness Trainers with an open arm, guiding them through a seamless process. The user can log in or sign up by entering their email and password. To create a new account , the app ask question about their fitness preferences, height, weight and goals.
Work-out Scheduling
The calendar view is the central focus of the Workout schedule view. This allows you to easily navigate through days, weeks, and months, making it simple to plan your workouts in advance. The layout is intuitive, enabling you to view your entire workout schedule at a glance. This helps you stay committed and on track with your fitness goals.
Create Programs & Trainings
Upload videos, photos, and detailed exercise descriptions – all within the app. Build customized workout programs for clients, no matter where inspiration strikes.
Merchandise Sales
Fitness trainers can Rep their passion and inspire their clients with branded merchandises like t-shirts, water bottles, and workout gears with their custom logo. This feature enables Trainers make more money and also foster a sense of community stemming from an ownership of the branded merchandises.
Analytics Report
The intuitive trainer dashboard empowers trainers with a clear view of their active client subscriptions, ability to track their deposit history from their shop effortlessly, and ensuring a smooth financial and client management.
Highlighting Key features
Upcoming Sessions
The OG Fitness app gives you an overall view of all your activities and events. all your sessions in one place with your upcoming sessions taking the front role to keep you in the know.
Explore Feed
The dynamic explore feed is your one-stop to view highlight of all your activities and events. Dive into pre-built workout plans, by top OG trainers. Discover fresh fitness content, from insightful articles to energizing workout demos.
Social Hub
Your fitness journey isn't meant to be a lonely trek. OG Fitness fosters a vibrant social space where you can: Post updates, photos, and milestones to celebrate your progress and inspire others. Connect with fellow fitness enthusiasts who share your goals and passions.
Dieting and Meal Plans
Explore a library of meal plans crafted by nutrition experts. Find meal plans that complement your workout program and personal preferences. OG Fitness empowers you to fuel your body the right way, for optimal results and a holistic approach to wellness, right at your fingertips.
Turning Pain Points into functionalities
We knew OG Fitness had the potential to revolutionize the fitness landscape, but translating our vision into a user-friendly app required real-world validation. In other to test and validate the findings from our research we created a focused group with a diverse mix of fitness enthusiasts, aspiring trainers, and people just starting their wellness journeys.
The Focus group feedback validated our design choices and highlighted areas for refinement. We saw firsthand how our features addressed the pain points we identified in our research. The frustration of finding the right trainer? Solved with the OG matching algorithm. The struggle with disorganized communication? Conquered with the in-app chat feature.
Each feature within OG Fitness wasn't just a technical marvel, it was a story waiting to be told – the story of overcoming challenges, building connections, and empowering users to achieve their full fitness potential. The focus groups confirmed we were on the right track.
