Challenge

The goal was to motivate University of Michigan students to engage in physical activity by promoting the UM Recreational Sports app. The app needed to encourage exercise participation, particularly in light of the significant decline in class attendance during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite offering online alternatives. The existing app was poorly designed, difficult to navigate, and not widely recognized among students.

Our objective was to analyze current user behavior, understand new user perceptions of the app and website, and develop a redesign that enhances the experience for both existing and prospective athletes.

89% of students reported working out at least once a month, indicating a strong baseline interest in fitness. With the redesigned app's simplified navigation and personalized workout recommendations, students were more easily able to find classes and resources that aligned with their fitness goals, increasing consistent participation.

45% of respondents were dissatisfied with their current workout routines, revealing a gap between motivation and fulfillment. The new app version introduced tailored exercise suggestions and scheduling features, helping students discover activities they enjoyed and removing barriers to commitment.

68% of students found the app's previous layout unattractive and difficult to navigate, significantly reducing engagement. The updated design introduced a cleaner, more intuitive interface that improved overall satisfaction and usability, leading to a notable increase in class bookings and app usage.

Relevant Research Insights

Three Key Features

Activity Tracking

Track workouts with a gamified approach and set personal goals. Earn badges for completed goals and save favorite workouts for future sessions.

Class Registration

GCal Integration

Integrate fitness class bookings with Google Calendar to combine your personal and workout schedules. Get suggestions based on your availability and automatic reminders for upcoming workouts.

Redesign the app to simplify viewing and booking classes. View classes by location and date, and book in a single screen instead of four.

Outcome

University of Michigan Recreational Sports

Design Lead, Product Designer

4 months

UX Research, Information Architecture, Prototyping, Design System, Product identity, Visual Design.

Client

Roles

Timeline

Process