SideKcK
SideKcK is a mobile application designed to help users to find the right gym buddy when they need to, addressing the common challenge of maintaining a consistent workout routine and achieving fitness goals.
ROLE
User Research, UX/UI, Prototyping & Testing
DURATION
2016 - 2018
TOOL
Sketch
THE PROBLEM & BACKGROUND
The inspiration for this app stemmed from personal experiences in 2016 when my friend and I, despite a year of regular workouts, struggled with motivation and progress. The situation got much better once we decided to work out together. Realizing this was a widespread issue, we delved into research, discovering that having a workout buddy significantly reduces the dropout rate from 43% to 6.3%. This finding led to the development of SideKck, an app aimed at enhancing not only physical health but also social and psychological well-being by facilitating the discovery of compatible gym partners.
TARGET USER
Initially targeting young professionals in New York City, the team later refined their focus to university students and international students. This shift was driven by the recognition that college students, particularly those away from home, often rely on fitness as a means to maintain physical and mental health. Additionally, the vibrant university community and shared habits among students made this demographic an ideal starting point. The decision was reinforced by the practicality of coordinating workouts on campus with free gym access, as opposed to the complexities of scheduling sessions in a city with myriad gym options.
USER RESEARCH
To understand their target market, the team conducted an online survey, revealing that 70.7% of respondents believed a gym buddy would enhance their workouts, yet 61.4% still exercised alone. The primary concerns identified were schedule conflicts, discomfort in seeking help, and a preference for a workout partner with a higher fitness level. This data informed subsequent decisions in the app's development.
IDEATION & PROTOTYPE
Based on information we gather from the survey, I have hosted several design workshops with the team to share insights and user's pain points. Those Insights guided the team in organizing user concerns into three main categories: who to work out with, what to work out, and how to plan. This led to the establishment of the app's goal - helping users to find the right gym buddy when they need to. Two key features, "Create and post a plan" and "Discover and Join a Plan," were developed to address these concerns and facilitate effective workout coordination.
USER TESTING
The initial launch in September 2016 prompted user feedback, particularly highlighting the challenges in creating plans efficiently. Since “creating a plan” is the key feature to achieve our goal of finding the right gym buddy, we would like to limit the task process time to within 1.5 min. Therefore we conducted an official user testing, which revealed issues such as confusion for first-time users to create plans and send invitations, extended task durations, and difficulties in finding upcoming workout plans. Subsequently, the app underwent a comprehensive redesign aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy.
REDESIGN
The redesign simplified the app's workflow by offering a single starting point for creating workouts and streamlining the process of joining workouts to one-click interactions. The overhaul transformed SideKck into an efficient and user-friendly application.
A/B TESTING
Prior to the official launch of Prototype V2.0, A/B testing was conducted at a gym in Times Square, New York City with 30 volunteers, all of whom were overseas students between the ages of 20 and 25 years old with an equal number of male and female participants. The focus remained on the key features: creating a plan and joining a plan. Results indicated that V2.0 successfully achieved its goal of saving time and reducing user confusion. In the meantime, we received some further feedback including requests for customized tags / more tags, the ability to review and decline invites, and the need for user profiles, pictures, and social media links to build trust.
TAKEAWAYS
Despite the conclusion of SideKck's development in early 2018, the team gained invaluable experience in teamwork and product creation. One of the most crucial lessons we learned is the importance of addressing user pain points and adapting ideas to market needs. The enduring success of any business, irrespective of its size, is ultimately gauged by the rate at which users return to engage with its offerings.