END-TO-END MOBILE APP
Soun.ah
END-TO-END MOBILE APP
Soun.ah
Project Overview
Project Overview
Saunas are experiencing a global surge in popularity, growing 5% annually worldwide (Harvia, 2024) with recognition of their potential health benefits. However, current sauna apps lack features that personalize the user experience, provide personal health insights, and require manual entry.
Saunas are experiencing a global surge in popularity, growing 5% annually worldwide (Harvia, 2024) with recognition of their potential health benefits. However, current sauna apps lack features that personalize the user experience, provide personal health insights, and require manual entry.
Timeframe: 8 weeks
Timeframe: 8 weeks
Role: UX Design, User Research, Concept, Art Direction, Interaction, Wireframing, Prototype & Testing
Role: UX Design, User Research, Concept, Art Direction, Interaction, Wireframing, Prototype & Testing
Team: Individual conceptual case project
Team: Individual conceptual case project
Framework: IDEO's Design Thinking
Framework: IDEO's Design Thinking
Image: Project Timeline
Image: Project Timeline
Competitive analysis
Competitive analysis
Researching and finding a lack of personalization and safe, real-time tracking in saunas
I compared 5 competitors, selecting them based on 3 key criteria:
Diversity of the operating systems
Post-session recording or biometric monitoring like heart rate
Provides personalized insights.
Out of the 5 cometitors, I highlighted 3 with the main key takeaways below.
Researching and finding a lack of personalization and safe, real-time tracking in saunas
I compared 5 competitors, selecting them based on 3 key criteria:
Diversity of the operating systems
Post-session recording or biometric monitoring like heart rate
Provides personalized insights.
Out of the 5 cometitors, I highlighted 3 with the main key takeaways below.
Image: Competitor Analysis of varied apps
Image: Competitor Analysis of varied apps
User Interviews
User Interviews
Discerning two distinct proto-persona groups amongst interviewees
To gain a deeper understanding of user motivations, preferences, and goals related to sauna experiences, I interviewed 5 individuals and selected interviewees based on these 3 main criteria because finding the core users proved a challenge:
1. ) Used a sauna/cold plunge within the last year
2.) Currently track their fitness and exercise routines
3.) Owned a smart watch or fit bit
Discerning two distinct proto-persona groups amongst interviewees
To gain a deeper understanding of user motivations, preferences, and goals related to sauna experiences, I interviewed 5 individuals and selected interviewees based on these 3 main criteria because finding the core users proved a challenge:
1. ) Used a sauna/cold plunge within the last year
2.) Currently track their fitness and exercise routines
3.) Owned a smart watch or fit bit
Highlighting the main takeaways
Image: Key user insights
Image: Key user insights
Proto-Personas
Proto-Personas
Discovering and selecting the user group
Affinity mapping revealed two distinct data analysis preferences, which helped to determine the two distinct personas.
User group 1 focused on predictive insights for optimizing routines
User group 2 focused on historical data for tracking progress.
Designing for users interested in predictive insights for customized and optimal results
While market solutions cater to the latter, a significant opportunity exists for predictive analytics. This project will prioritize its development to differentiate our offering.
Discovering and selecting the user group
Affinity mapping revealed two distinct data analysis preferences, which helped to determine the two distinct personas.
User group 1 focused on predictive insights for optimizing routines
User group 2 focused on historical data for tracking progress.
Designing for users interested in predictive insights for customized and optimal results
While market solutions cater to the latter, a significant opportunity exists for predictive analytics. This project will prioritize its development to differentiate our offering.
Image: The Wellness Athelete, one of the user groups
Image: The Wellness Athelete, one of the user groups
Problem
Problem
Fitness and sports enthusiasts dedicated to optimizing their workouts and recovery lack data-driven insights into the effectiveness of their sauna routines.
These individuals strive to maximize their training potential and achieve peak performance, but current solutions don't offer personalized guidance on how sauna use can accelerate progress.
Fitness and sports enthusiasts dedicated to optimizing their workouts and recovery lack data-driven insights into the effectiveness of their sauna routines.
These individuals strive to maximize their training potential and achieve peak performance, but current solutions don't offer personalized guidance on how sauna use can accelerate progress.
Solution
Solution
This project aims to create a helpful tool that uses data to show athletes how saunas can improve their training. By using both the tool and mobile app, athletes can learn how to use saunas to improve their performance and recovery.
This project aims to create a helpful tool that uses data to show athletes how saunas can improve their training. By using both the tool and mobile app, athletes can learn how to use saunas to improve their performance and recovery.
Image: Final app design of selecting and tracking a program
Image: Final design of selecting and tracking a program
Wireframing
Wireframing
Prioritizing user needs by designing essential user flows for the MVP
To define the MVP and ensure the platform focused on core functionalities, I created a feature set and sitemap. This led to the development of two primary user flows:
1.) select a program
2.) track a session
Prioritizing user needs by designing essential user flows for the MVP
To define the MVP and ensure the platform focused on core functionalities, I created a feature set and sitemap. This led to the development of two primary user flows:
1.) select a program
2.) track a session
Image: Lo-mid fidelity wireframes
Image: Lo-mid fidelity wireframes
User Testing
User Testing
Validating design concepts and features early in the development process
I conducted user testing on my lo-fidelity wireframes with 5 individuals to understand user needs, preferences, and willingness to share personal information for personalized health insights. I focused on the following:
identifying the type of insights users valued
investigating the level of personal information they were willing to provide.
Validating design concepts and features early in the development process
I conducted user testing on my lo-fidelity wireframes with 5 individuals to understand user needs, preferences, and willingness to share personal information for personalized health insights. I focused on the following:
identifying the type of insights users valued
investigating the level of personal information they were willing to provide.
Image: User testing results and iteration
Image: User testing results and iteration
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Designing for the Wellness Athlete
After gathering the thoughts and comments from my users, I set out to implement the main features. These features were:
1.) Dedicated programs with cold options
2.) Insights into patterns and routines
3.) Personalization for a more intimate experience
Designing for the Wellness Athlete
After gathering the thoughts and comments from my users, I set out to implement the main features. These features were:
1.) Dedicated programs with cold options
2.) Insights into patterns and routines
3.) Personalization for a more intimate experience
Designing for the Wellness Athlete
After gathering the thoughts and comments from my users, I set out to implement the main features. These features were:
1.) Dedicated programs with cold options
2.) Insights into patterns and routines
3.) Personalization for a more intimate experience
Image: Implementing Usability testing insights and adjustments
Image: Implementing Usability testing insights and adjustments
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Finding and iterating on design flaws
Finally completing the hi-fi prototype, I recruited 5 users to do the usability testing. I wanted users to have a seamless experience between the space of the product and mobile app.
My goal at this stage was to answer, “What is wrong?” throughout the user experience.
Finding and iterating on design flaws
Finally completing the hi-fi prototype, I recruited 5 users to do the usability testing. I wanted users to have a seamless experience between the space of the product and mobile app.
My goal at this stage was to answer, “What is wrong?” throughout the user experience.
Image: Usability testing insights and adjustments
Image: Usability testing insights and adjustments
Visual Branding
Visual Branding
Expressing the product's core values when it comes to personal data
The desaturated color palette and uncluttered visuals create a sense of tranquility and transparency, similar to the feeling after a sauna session. This approach differs from high-energy fitness apps, which often use vibrant colors. The interface's glassmorphism maintains a sense of airiness and innovation, reflecting the app's data-oriented nature.
Expressing the product's core values when it comes to personal data
The desaturated color palette and uncluttered visuals create a sense of tranquility and transparency, similar to the feeling after a sauna session. This approach differs from high-energy fitness apps, which often use vibrant colors. The interface's glassmorphism maintains a sense of airiness and innovation, reflecting the app's data-oriented nature.
Image: Simplified Style Guide with a focus on relaxation
Image: Simplified Style Guide with a focus on relaxation
Home Tab
Home Tab
Creating a delightful experience that engages and motivates users
To enhance user engagement, I added a personal health score to the Home tab. This feature aims to motivate users to improve their score through consistent app use. Based on user feedback, I needed to provide clear explanations about how the score is calculated to foster trust and transparency.
Creating a delightful experience that engages and motivates users
To enhance user engagement, I added a personal health score to the Home tab. This feature aims to motivate users to improve their score through consistent app use. Based on user feedback, I needed to provide clear explanations about how the score is calculated to foster trust and transparency.
Profile and Insights Tab
Profile and Insights Tab
Managing personal information with updates on weight loss (Profile Tab)
The Profile Tab allows you to update to personal details such as: weight. Consider integrating with smart scales to streamline weight tracking and reduce the risk of manual input errors.
Managing personal information with updates on weight loss (Profile Tab)
The Profile Tab allows you to update to personal details such as: weight. Consider integrating with smart scales to streamline weight tracking and reduce the risk of manual input errors.
Detailing personal patterns, trends, data, and history (Insights Tab)
The Insights Tab provides valuable data, surpassing current sauna apps with the unique integration of the Sand Sensor. It will allow users to see information that will help them make improvements to their routines.
Detailing personal patterns, trends, data, and history (Insights Tab)
The Insights Tab provides valuable data, surpassing current sauna apps with the unique integration of the Sand Sensor. It will allow users to see information that will help them make improvements to their routines.
Programs Tab
Programs Tab
Addressing the need for customization and control in the sauna
The Programs Tab addresses market pain points by offering customizable programs tailored to individual needs. Real-time tracking eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors. Additionally, users can dynamically adjust their sauna experience based on their current well-being. This comprehensive approach ensures a personalized and efficient sauna experience.
Addressing the need for customization and control in the sauna
The Programs Tab addresses market pain points by offering customizable programs tailored to individual needs. Real-time tracking eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors. Additionally, users can dynamically adjust their sauna experience based on their current well-being. This comprehensive approach ensures a personalized and efficient sauna experience.
Reflection
Reflection
What I Learned:
Developing a sauna product presented unique challenges. Primarily, I had to address the incompatibility of traditional mobile devices with the sauna environment and integrate AI capabilities effectively. To bridge the gap between the mobile app and the sauna, I had to align the core values of both mobile and product interfaces.
In addition, user research highlighted a significant barrier to AI adoption: user reluctance to share personal data for data-driven insights. Moreover, ensuring data accuracy was crucial as generalized estimates would diminish the value of the AI's recommendations.
What I would do next time:
While initial usability testing of the low-fidelity prototype led to adjustments in the high-fidelity wireframes, critical feedback regarding information placement emerged post-high-fidelity design. In retrospect, dedicating more time to information placement within key screens during the low-fidelity stage would have been beneficial.
What I Learned:
Developing a sauna product presented unique challenges. Primarily, I had to address the incompatibility of traditional mobile devices with the sauna environment and integrate AI capabilities effectively. To bridge the gap between the mobile app and the sauna, I had to align the core values of both mobile and product interfaces.
In addition, user research highlighted a significant barrier to AI adoption: user reluctance to share personal data for data-driven insights. Moreover, ensuring data accuracy was crucial as generalized estimates would diminish the value of the AI's recommendations.
What I would do next time:
While initial usability testing of the low-fidelity prototype led to adjustments in the high-fidelity wireframes, critical feedback regarding information placement emerged post-high-fidelity design. In retrospect, dedicating more time to information placement within key screens during the low-fidelity stage would have been beneficial.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Viewing the final prototype
By employing the MoSCoW method and incorporating ux research throughout, a robust feature set was prioritized for the MVP. This approach ensured that the core functionalities essential for user satisfaction were delivered first, while also laying the groundwork for future enhancements that have yet to be included in other sauna apps.
Viewing the final prototype
By employing the MoSCoW method and incorporating ux research throughout, a robust feature set was prioritized for the MVP. This approach ensured that the core functionalities essential for user satisfaction were delivered first, while also laying the groundwork for future enhancements that have yet to be included in other sauna apps.
See Prototype