Peloton

Integrating new features that motivates users to work out more with friends

The Challenge

How might we find a way to encourage Peloton users to exercise with their family and friends more in order to create a richer workout experience and community?

My Approach

  • Formulated and validated the hypothesis.
  • Conducted user interviews and usability testing on the current app to unveil unexpected pain points.
  • Defined MVP.
  • Focused on research results and create features that users really need.
  • Created hand draw sketches to hi-fi prototypes for iterative testing and modify based on users feedbacks.​

12

Interviews

06

Usability tests

03

Iterations

10

Days of work

Research

Synthesizing Insights from Interviews

We sent out screener surveys and phone interviewed 12 people who have great exercise habits and currently are in some kind of exercise community, then selected 5 out of them for in-person user interviews. Then we translated the needs into "I" statements so we can design from users' perspectives.

“I am part of a fitness community.”

Our users are part of a fitness community, whether it is a simple gym membership to Equinox or part of a CrossFit family.

“I work out by myself and in a group, but prefer group setting”

Our users prefer to always work out in a group setting but do not mind working out alone if they have to.

“I do a variety of workouts.”

Our users experience different kinds of workouts including but not limited to free weights, yoga, core exercises and running.

“I am a millennial living in a class A city.”

Our users are young and lively and live in cities.

“I would recommend my workouts if it worked for me.”

The users all stated that at the minimum their workouts had to be a positive experience in order for them to recommend them to their friends. Incentives also helped them give recommendations.

“I follow workout videos infrequently.”

All the users had on occasion watched workout videos even if they don’t necessarily do it anymore.

“I work out because I care about my health/body”

All the users workout in order to keep a healthy lifestyle as well as look good. Reasonings are for vanity, health

Personas

We need to find solutions that balance the Peloton’s goals and user needs. Based on the insights found in the discovery period of the project, we uncovered what our users need, now we need to validate these features to see whether they are relevant, appropriate valuable

We heard what users want!
Let's make their wishes come true with these features!

1. Fitness goals were the most popular in the wellness categories and they motivate people to workout harder.

2. Majority of the users prefer to work out in a group setting because they enjoy the guidance from trainers and the competition with others.

3. They would like to share their experience with other people if they see benefits and improvements.

4. They want an easier way to connect and communicate with their fitness friends on one platform.

5. The feeling of achievement will motivate them to exercise more

Design

Define Minimum Valuable Product (MVP)

Squad Feature

A way for friends and family to join a fitness group with each other and set similar goals to attain and hold each other accountable.

Screener Questions

These questions allow Peloton to determine ways in which to help their user, which includes losing weight, increase strength and more.

Gamification for personal goal tracking / Track Progress

This is for individuals who want to keep track of own achievements. We have a tab dedicated entirely to themselves which holds all of their personal information and progress, including stats, goals and any personal interactions with other members.

Message feature

This allows users to communicate with each other better and more efficiently on the platform.

Low-Fi Wireframe

I started the design process with low fidelity sketches. This is the way we quick share our ideas and explore more technical aspects of the design.

Mid-Fi Wireframe

Throughout the Design Studio, we all realized the importance of gathering personal information from our personas. This is to ensure that we are able to curtail the app to them in hopes that they have a more intimate relationship with Peloton which will inherently allow for users to invite friends and family to participate in their workouts as well as easing booking for them.​

Testing & Iterations

Usability testing

In order to make sure our designs are not only solving the problems but also useful and usable for the user. We conducted usability testing with 3 scenarios and task to see where we can improve on

Findings

1. Participants were not able to directly find the “play” button because they were confused about where to locate it on the tab bar.
2. The profile screen is too busy because it has too much information like community, stats, upcoming classes.
3. Users couldn’t find the squad chats as easily as we would have hoped.
4. Users were confused with the icons because there was no description next to them.

Final Prototype

Welcome screener questions

These questions help the app determine ways to help the user, whether it be by creating a personalized workout given the options that best fit his goals or act like a gatekeeper to his or her accomplishments through a points system.

Personalized home profile
& Progress-tracker

This is the new profile page which holds users' personal workout information, including stats, goals, and workout summary.

Create Squads

We are introducing the idea of squads, a fun and playful way for friends and family to join a group with each other and set similar goals to attain.  The purpose of the squad feature is to hold each other accountable and create a sense of belonging.

Stay connected, Stay fit

This massage feature allows users to communicate with each other more directly and efficiently.Instead of having found under the “more” tab, we created its own tab for users to have direct and quick access.

What I learned

1. Always test with the right target audience

In most UX projects this goes without saying, but here we were not able to find existing Peloton app users as we expected.  I believe we will get better feedback if we can run 1 more usability test on existing users.

2. Create a precise schedule for a short-term project

Plan out every team members’ task day-by-day if needed. This avoids two designers working on the same screens simultaneously. Plan so designers can use each other’s assets and screens to speed up collaboration.

3. Keep flexible in Collaboration

We all have our preferred working and communicating methods, but if one of us wants to introduce something else, don’t say No right away. Start using it, test it, see if it works. You never know, you might end up with a method you’ll love later on.​

4. Pay attention to details

Create a user journey and identify points to introduce little delights (illustrations, feedback screens). Forming a personality for a product is not only fun, but it will engage your users in a whole different way.