Movin App- Messaging Feature
Movin is a mock mobile fitness app that helps busy users create and achieve fitness goals and workouts. A prompt to create a messaging feature is reworked to better fit users workout needs.
by Jessica Soberanes
INITIAL RESEARCH & PROJECT GOALSBusiness goals.
In a mock interview with the project manager, they communicated that the project goal was to design a new direct messaging features that create sustained engagement. I distilled the business and project goals into three main themes below to keep in mind moving forward even if the project might look slightly different than planned.
Communication.
Create the opportunity for users to message each other with health and fitness goals/achievements.
Existing features.
Create a messaging feature that seamlessly integrates within the existing features.
User engagement.
Create an integrated messaging experience throughout the product that drives engagement and repeat usage.
Insights from the current market.
Three fitness tracker apps and their community features were analyzed to find insights from their weakness and strengths. These insights created some context and hypotheses that should be tested.
Direct messaging.
Currently, in the market, most apps do not integrate a direct messaging feature outside of fitness activities posts or challenges. Adding this feature would be costly and a large undertaking.
Shared user information.
User information shown to other users includes progress on fitness goals, challenges and workout performance. This information is then leveraged to motivate and engage other users.
Finding friends.
Directly connecting to other users through “find friends” features are clunky and don’t integrate well with users’ current digital social circle.
Messaging engagement.
The levels of engagement on existing apps’ messaging features are varied and unclear. Trying to increase engagement for the sake of metrics will not contribute to a sustainable business model.
“Usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology.”
Steve Krug
GOALS & SOLUTIONSProject prompt and established goals.
A mock prompt from the project manager required integrating a direct messaging feature into the current app experience to drive user engagement and repeat usage.
Taking into account the business goals and the context established from the competitive analysis, a set of project goals were established around the desired messaging feature. These goals address testing and validating the user needs solved by integrating a messaging feature.
Project goals include integrating a messaging feature that will help:
Solve a current user need in their experience of using the Movin mobile app.
Further support users’ group fitness needs and goals while keeping benefits and protections for users top of mind.
Create an opportunity for users to connect in a healthy, supportive and positive way related to their physical well-being.
Further support sustainable and useful user engagement with Movin mobile app, not just look for engagement for the sake of metrics.
User story boards.
Story boards were established to understand the use cases in which a messaging feature could best meet the project goals.
A possible use case is integrating a messaging feature to better help users invite each other to a scheduled workout.
This story board includes creating an opportunity for users to complete a workout together in person or virtually.
Another possible use case explored includes creating a chat feature for a larger group workout club that would allow a wider range of people to connect.
Initial solutions proposed.
Considering the established user stories, the project goals, and the feasibility for integration into the current app infrastructure, initial solutions were proposed for the first round of testing.
The solution proposed included the following:
Workout invite:
Incorporate a quickly executed and light weight feature to invite other users to a scheduled workout by sending them an invite within the Movin app infrastructure. Also include an option to send an invite outside the app.
Virtual workout option:
In addition to coordinating in person workouts, integrate a feature in which users can coordinate virtual workouts in which they share their real time progress (currently already collected by the app individually) and send motivating messages to each other during the workout.
Home page, added ability to invite buddies to workouts.
Workout page, added option to have a virtual workout with buddy.
Workout results page, added review of both users' workout results.
“I see [inviting someone on a virtual workout] as being a little step to help me stick to goals that I am setting. Because right now I feel like I set goals but if I don’t have someone to go with me, my motivation plummets...”
Steve
INITIAL RESEARCH & PROJECT GOALSLow fidelity user testing.
In order to get user feedback quickly, a low fidelity prototype was built with the initially proposed solutions.
We tested 5 users with a low fidelity sketch prototype to better understand how users currently use fitness apps in their fitness routines and uncover major usability problems through the main red route of adding another user to a workout plan and conducting a workout virtually together. This round of testing revealed 6 user insights.
Secondary devices.
Users don’t typically reference their phone during actual workout, but usually use a secondary device like smart watch, earphones or watch videos on a larger screen.
Solo workouts.
Although working out with others helps users stay accountable to their fitness goals, users often work out alone because of difficulty finding workout buddies, coordinating schedules, or feeling comfortable sharing their performance.
Others’ progress.
Working out at the same time as others and seeing their real time progress can be motivating for users to stick to their workout.
Pandemic impact.
The Covid 19 pandemic has negatively impacted users’ ability, desire and comfort with working out in larger indoor group environments.
Current messaging.
Most users use direct text messaging to coordinate workouts with others, and they don’t often allow notifications from fitness apps.
Logging progress.
Users are positively motivated by logging and seeing their real time progress during a workout, but they don’t often look back on that information or want to share it publicly on social media.
Scope adjustment recommendations.
Reviewing the insights from the first round of testing yielded some recommended adjustments to the project goals and scope.
Users currently rely almost exclusively on direct text messaging to coordinate workout related engagement. In lieu of a costly direct messaging feature to coordinate in person workouts, it is recommended to integrate a feature that connects with already existing texting functionality.
Because of pandemic impacts to schedule and localities, users are having a harder time finding opportunities for an in person workout with friends. Further integrating a virtual workout feature and messaging feature into a secondary device experience will better allow users to connect during their actual workout and create accountability and motivation to begin and finish a workout.
Resulting recommended solutions.
After the first round of Iow fidelity testing conducted, more developed solutions were created for testing. These solutions included the following:
Workout invite- outside app messaging.
Outside app messaging was integrating into the invite a buddy feature in order to allow for how users typically coordinate workouts with close friends and family. This also better creates opportunities for those without the app to be introduced to the app.
Workout invite messaging, outside of app integration.
Virtual workout features.
The first round of testing revealed that users typically workout more alone because of scheduling and pandemic limitations, so we removed the in person workout feature and focused on further developing a virtual workout feature.
Integrating two different types of virtual workouts creates more opportunities for users to connect over their workouts even if their schedules or locations don’t coordinate.
Virtual workout types explanation pages, real time and asynchronous
Virtual workout messaging.
As we learned form testing, users typically are using secondary devices during their actual workout, and seeing and communicating about workout progress engages and motivates users to finish their workout.
We integrated quick and easy prompts for feedback both on the phone interface and watch interface to open opportunities for user interaction without detracting from the workout.
Active workout screen,
feedback buttons
Workout results screen,
feedback buttons
Smart watch feedback screens
“I like the idea of texting versus messaging in an app. Generally how I use messaging in most things is via text, but also...I want all the scheduling to be in the app, and I want the option to not text it if I know the person will check the app.”
Kasey
High fidelity prototype testing results.
Next, I tested the process to invite a buddy to a virtual workout, and the process to start and complete a virtual workout with a buddy. Our goal was to understand how the invite feature would fit into users current methods of inviting a friend to workout, and how the virtual workout feature would integrate into users’ current workout experiences.
I conducted moderated tests with 7 participants. The resulting issues and recommendations were prioritized using the Kano model categorization and Rice scoring system in order to determine which changes to the red route were feasible with the time allotted and would be the most impactful.
Testing insight prioritization chart
I compiled the major take aways from testing, and reviewed them taking into account the resulting changes’ priority, feasibility, and impact. I chose four major issues to tackle in the last round of redesign.
Virtual workout invite- in app feedback needed.
The first round of testing revealed that the virtual invite messaging outside of app function was positively received.
Still, users were not sure if the invite was also sent in the app so that their buddy could reference the app to accept the invite. More feedback was added to assure users.
Virtual invite messaging, original design
Virtual invite messaging, recommended changes
Virtual workout invite- more clarity needed.
The first round of testing revealed that the virtual invite page needed more structure and clarity to assure users they clicked on the right button.
A title was added and the structure was reorganized to create more opportunities for the user to find and click on more info icons to further clarify the virtual workout parameters.
Virtual invite messaging, original design
Virtual invite messaging, recommended changes
Ending virtual workout- quicker ending process.
The first round of testing revealed that ending the workout felt like a lengthier process than necessary.
A more direct path was given by adding a stop button to the main interface itself.
Ending workout,
original design
Ending workout,
recommended changes
Ending workout, recommended changes
Workout results- visual enhancement.
The first round of testing revealed that users liked seeing their workout results side by side with their buddy’s, but they wanted more visuals and data to easily compare their performance.
A workout stats chart was added showing the workout performance and moments at which they sent each other workout feedback.
Workout results page, original design
Workout results page, recommended changes
“Features don’t disrupt industries unless they disrupt meaning.”
-Roberto Verganti
Conclusions.
Although the original project prompt was to integrate a more traditional messaging feature into the Movin app experience, competitive analysis and two rounds of testing revealed that there are viable opportunities within the Movin app infrastructure that can create user engagement and address user needs.
Creating lighter weight messaging features that accompany a virtual workout feature accomplish the project goals of helping users create viable opportunities to share workouts and motivate each other, and address business goals of creating more opportunities for long lasting user engagement.
The usability tests revealed that users needed more in app feedback regarding the invite status, virtual workout parameters and their workout results. I addressed these needs by adding an invite status feature, adding a tool tip about the virtual workout specifics, and showed users progress in a chart graphic on the workout results page.