A Digital Platform for Stride | Elliptical & Stationary Bike – 2-in-1 Exercise Machine
Product: Original concept & MVP native iOS app
Client: Joseph Prosnitz, Stride
My Role: Research, IA, UI, personas, usability testing, visual design; primarily focused on the challenges section
Team: Myself, Sarah Alberti, Steven Schaller
Duration: 3 weeks
The Stride digital platform app serves as the Stride exercise machine console, user dashboard and resistance controls. The app was designed with a focus on community, support and motivating long-term use. The innovative challenges section gives users the opportunity to complete group or solo challenges such as “Hiking the Appalachian Trail” with other Stride Riders. As users continue to engage with the Stride machine they unlock badges and other real world courses.
Methods Used
Discovery & Research
• User research
• User interviews
• Online market survey
• Supplemental articles; media reports
• In-depth interviews with client
• Onsite visit of working prototype
• Competitive analysis
• Persona/real-life person
Sketching & Ideation
• User journey
• Rough sketches
• Multiple possible solutions
Narrowing Scope & Structure
• User flows
• Wireframes
Prototyping & Testing
• Clickable prototype
• Usability testing & results
• Multiple prototype iterations
End Deliverables
Project case study presentation
• Sketches of ideation process
• Multiple design iterations
• Key screens and wireframes
Design specification documents
• High-level personas
• Wireframes
Interactive prototype
• MVP original native iOS application
• Style sheet and design files
• Branding/logo design
• Product roadmap/Future iterations
Stride Prototype
What is Stride?
Digital Mockup of Stride Machine - The Stride machine is currently a working prototype, our client is in the process of raising funds to bring the Stride to the consumer market.
Our client Joseph Prosnitz, a former mega-marathoner, needed a low-impact solution to continue an active lifestyle after difficulties with Crohn’s Disease & autoimmune-related arthritis. He realized:
Runners face huge injury rates
Running participation typically drops at ~40
Most popular low-impact equipment purchases: elliptical + stationary bike
Seeing the value in creating a 2-in-1 elliptical and stationary bike he created the Stride exercise machine.
Our Objective
Design an open platform for Stride that supports holistic health and fitness by promoting social and communal interactions
Research & Discovery
Client Meeting
One of the major differences between the Stride and most of its competition is that the machine doesn’t have a console or any physical controls on the machine itself. All controls & metrics would be displayed on an app. Our client discussed possible platforms, phone, tablet, laptop, smart tv.
Key takeaways from the meeting:
Console & Controls — The machine itself had no physical controls or console, the machine would be controlled via an app, possible platforms; phone, tablet, laptop, smart tv.
Support & Community — It was important to our client that we designed a product that provided Stride users a supportive community in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Social — The client wanted to incorporate a social aspect into the end product, such as social platform for user generated content.
Research Methods
The Stride bike is a business to customer product. However we didn’t yet have any users of the actual stride bike, so one of the objectives of initial research was to identify our target audience. We knew that our users (a)incorporated exercise into their lifestyle, primarily working out in their home and solo (b)used exercise equipment in their workout routine. We coupled in-person interviews with an online market survey, to understand exercise habits, preferences, motivations, where and how individuals were primarily exercising and why. Through our first round of research we were able to identify our target audience.
Direct Interview Quotes
No controls — that’s nice because I have my phone with me all the time anyways and with the app I can save and see my progress. Linda, 62
Cool & smart — I like that it’s connected to you. Gretchen, 41
Having a 2-in-1 machine would be great for us, we don’t have space for two machines but we both want one. Jules, 37
I would want reassurance that when I was converting the machine I had done it correctly, and it was safe for use. Matt, 35
In-depth Interviews Main Takeaways
Competitor Research
Additional considerations: Fitbit, Nike Run, Track My Run
Research revealed the market is saturated with exercise equipment, apps, streaming services and products. Competitor information was compiled on the the most commonly mentioned during user interviews and surveys. Combined with online research, user reviews and in-person visit to a Peloton studio.
Insights
Personas
Two real-life personas were developed based off real people we interviewed during our research
Sketching, Ideation, & Concept Testing
Basic Use Case: Operating the Machine
Secondary Use Case
Other solutions considered, implementing in-real-life component, notifications and banners, user set alarms, mentoring
Usability Testing
Following three rounds of user testing, the final design went through many iterations.
STRIDE PROTOTYPE
WORKOUTS YOU LOVE IN THE SPACE YOU HAVE.
ELLIPTICAL, EXERCISE BIKE, EASY.
loveyourstride.com