Pulse
Introduction
There are plenty of fitness apps that track health metrics, but most don’t focus on building a social community. That’s where Pulse comes in. It’s not just about tracking workouts; it’s about creating a space where people can connect, motivate, and support each other.
I worked on the Pulse app during a project for the Udacity User Experience Nanodegree Program. My goal was to shake up the fitness app market. I handled user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing to meet the needs of fitness enthusiasts. I ran surveys and interviews to gather insights, built low and high-fidelity prototypes, and led several rounds of usability testing. These efforts helped create an app that blends fitness tracking with social features, fostering a supportive community for users.
Timeline
January 2024 - February 2024
My Role
UX Designer
Collaboration
N/A
Platform
Figma, Miro, Lookback, Zeplin
Problem
Most fitness apps focus on individual metrics, which can feel isolating. Users want a more interactive, connected experience where they can share their fitness journey with others. The challenge was to build an app that offers real-time motivation, creates a sense of community, and gives fitness enthusiasts a space to connect, share, and grow together.
Solution
Pulse is here to change the game by combining detailed fitness tracking with engaging social media features. It’s a platform where achievements are celebrated, goals are shared, and every step of the fitness journey becomes part of an interactive story.
Process
Discovery: Research & Analysis
I began by exploring the behaviors, needs, and motivations of fitness enthusiasts and everyday athletes who use fitness trackers and social media. Using both qualitative and quantitative research, I discovered that people wanted a more dynamic social fitness platform. Insights about gamification and social sharing played a key role in shaping Pulse's design.
Challenge Overview
To meet user needs, Pulse had to be more than just a fitness tracker. It needed to become a digital fitness community that offers real-time motivation, builds a sense of belonging, and gives fitness enthusiasts a place to connect, share, and grow together.
Design: Concepts & Sketching
The app started with a research-driven focus, uncovering a need for a social fitness platform that appeals to a wide range of users, from busy professionals to dedicated athletes. This initial research shaped my entire design approach.
Interview Notes
Interview Synthesis
Feature Ideation
Feature Prioritization
My sketches centered on building an intuitive UI that made navigating the app easy. I focused on key elements like the signup/login process, the main feed, and a clean, appealing aesthetic for the target audience.
Paper Sketch - Iteration 1
I began with low-fidelity prototyping, trying out interactive elements like event hubs, progress tracking, badges, and features for users to share their fitness stories.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
User testing feedback was crucial in refining my designs. Users liked the clean UI and easy navigation but wanted more social interaction and clearer explanations of some features. This input guided me through several design improvements.
Usability Guide - Iteration 1
My design philosophy focused on building a user-centric product for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and busy adults. I kept refining my concepts and prototypes based on user feedback, which allowed me to explore various ideas and solutions. This approach led to a design that I believe will truly enhance users' health, well-being, and sense of community.
Iterated Prototype - Iteration 2
Develop: Prototyping
I moved on to creating high-fidelity screens and interactive mockups in Figma, then tested them with users. This step helped me fine-tune the user experience and make sure the design fit what the audience needed. The tests showed that people liked the navigation and social features, but some parts, like finding progress tracking, needed tweaks.
Test: Validation, Usability, Feedback
Usability tests revealed that:
80% of users found the app easy to navigate.
The social features on the main feed greatly increased user engagement.
Some users wanted the progress tracking section to be easier to find.
Using this feedback, I made a few key improvements. I made the badges section more engaging and refined the design to improve readability and accessibility.
Design Iteration
After collecting user feedback, I made a few important changes to boost the app’s usability and interactivity. I worked on making the badges more engaging to improve task success rates. I also refined the app’s look to balance a clean design with a rich, informative interface. The feedback guided me to improve typography for better readability and accessibility. I stuck to the 8pt grid system throughout to keep spacing and alignment consistent across all UI elements.
Design System
Solution & Impact Overview
The final version of Pulse was a fully interactive, high-fidelity prototype that highlighted its ability to blend fitness tracking with community engagement. It offered an experience that was both intuitive and engaging.
User testing brought in very positive feedback, especially praising the user-centric design and social features that helped build a sense of community. The prototype showed how users could smoothly shift from tracking their own fitness to interacting socially within the same app.
The impact was clear. Testers valued how Pulse connected users and created a space for shared fitness journeys, showing that the prototype effectively met its goals.
What I Learned
Working on Pulse as my first case study taught me a lot about building a user-centric product. I learned how important it is to make the app engaging, easy to navigate, and to include social features that users love. I also realized the value of refining the design to balance a clean look with a rich, informative interface. Using the 8pt grid system was key for keeping consistent spacing and alignment, which really boosted the app's usability and overall design quality.