Capstone Two
This project optimized UX and UI onboarding process to integrate new and diverse user groups for a fitness app. Existing platforms lacked the flexibility to cater to evolving user needs, such as outdoor fitness tracking. By prioritising accessibility considerations within the onboarding process this enabled the project to create a more inclusive and engaging experience for users.
This project investigated how UI and UX are utilised to successfully incorporate new and specific user groups to fitness tracking devices and application market. Deliberate focus on the unique accessibility needs of specific user groups and how existing platforms have successfully or unsuccessfully done so.
This project had a particular focus on the incorporation of specific user groups to existing platforms and investigated how UI and UX are both functionally and theoretically utilised when doing so.
This involved looking at user groups that are sometimes overlooked and learning how existing companies have made their platforms more accessible to these user groups.
To assess the challenge faced by industry leaders when incorporating new and specific user groups, Fitbit, Garmin and Apple were investigated to ascertain the methodologies used, the industry standards and the general reception from users. Furthermore, by looking at such companies as examples, an understanding of what standards exist, both official and non-official, within the area of UX and UI accessibility will become apparent. Furthermore, it will help to reveal those companies that still, in 2024, have not employed such standards.
specific challenge
An obvious and easily found accessibility mode/feature; this feature could be “switched on” during onboarding.
Inclusion of a new fitness activity for users (gardening).
Outdoor activity mode which includes sun safety and water reminder features.
business requirements
Targeting a new user group: Atypical fitness tracker app users.
Increase accessibility.
Introduce a new feature.
How to introduce new feature to existing users.
Onboarding of new users.
user requirements
Allow users to adjust accessibility settings during onboarding.
Increased opportunities for users to customise their own experience.
Include sun safety and other outdoor activity features.
Cater to a generationally diverse demographic.
How do established brands, companies and platforms utilise UX and UI to incorporate new user groups?
What groups are often overlooked?
What UI/UX that already exists that benefits these groups specifically? (e.g. larger text size/high contrast)
How are user groups incorporated without making individuals feel singled out or stigmatised? What are the typical methods utilised to achieve this?
What could be missing from these user experiences and interfaces that could potentially benefit more than one of these groups?
Percentage of Smart Device Users in the USA aged 50+
In 2024 77% of Americans participated in gardening Activities
70% of this percentage reported that gardening reduced their stress levels
Defining the Problem- Statements & Personas
“I find that relabelling of the “other” option to an appropriate activity of mine is insufficient”
“It would be good to have a feature that is specific to outdoor activities and helps older adults like me avoid sunstroke or ‘overdoing it’.“
"Accessibility settings are frequently tucked away in the depths of app settings, making them challenging to find."
“Most of my activities are outside, I have to be very careful in the sun- I usually check the UV rating to gauge sunblock reapplication and when it is too hot for me to be outside.”
Solution
An application for fitness tracking that includes:
An obvious and easily found accessibility mode/feature, this feature could be “switched on” during onboarding.
More common fitness related activities are available for the users to choose from.
Outdoor activity mode which includes aspects such as sun safety and water breaks.
Solution Implementation
Onboarding involves a customisation aspect where users can toggle features on and off before entering into the application for the first time, thereby ensuring that the features required for a user with accessibility requirements are appropriately implemented beforehand
Target Demographic
50+ years
gardeners
other user groups that share or have overlapping requirements, desires etc
Unique Features
Outdoor “mode” - UV rating -relevant reminders
Accessibility “toggle” - Considered within app and not as an afterthought
More common physical activities are listed to choose from. - gardening etc.
Early Iterations
The first design suffers from poor contrast between background and functional elements, making screens look busy and obscuring calls to action. The font is incompatible with the prototyping software, and similar colours interfere with the visibility of calls to action. Additionally, colours are used aesthetically rather than functionally, resulting in a lack of cohesion amongst screens.
