RU Recreation App 2.0
Overview
Rutgers University students are increasingly adopting healthier lifestyles, influenced by societal and social media trends. As a member of the NCAA Big Ten Conference Football, the university places a strong emphasis on physical activity, encouraging students to participate in recreational activities for improved well-being. Through Rutgers Recreation, a division of student affairs, students have access to a diverse range of resources to support their health throughout their college experience. With four expansive recreational centers and over 100 fitness and wellness classes offered weekly, Rutgers offers abundant opportunities for students to prioritize their health. The RU REC2GO app enables students to conveniently access recreation center resources, including operation hours, fitness class schedules, and event updates, directly from their phones.
My Contribution
Developed interview script and questions to guide user interviews for gathering insights
Conducted user interviews to extract valuable feedback and insights
Created a decision point model to map out user interactions and inform design decisions
Crafted user personas based on research findings to empathize with target users and tailor design solutions
Conducted usability testing on the prototype to identify pain points and areas for improvement
Research
Our research methodology integrates both qualitative and quantitative techniques to comprehensively understand the challenges faced by users of the RUREC2GO app at Rutgers New Brunswick.
Quantitative surveys target the general student population, aiming to gather statistical data on app usage and identify overarching issues.
Qualitative interviews with experienced app users delve deeper into individual experiences and challenges, providing nuanced insights.
Analysis methods such as empathy mapping, affinity mapping, and experience/journey mapping aid in organizing and identifying patterns in collected data.
The research aims to cultivate a clear understanding of user needs and pain points, guiding the design of effective solutions for enhancing the RUREC2GO app's usability and functionality.
Prioritization of issues
Leveraging user feedback, we collaboratively defined a common vision for the app. Through individual brainstorming and prioritization (green = high, yellow = explore, red = exclude), we discerned a clear directive: to focus our design efforts on facilitating users in locating gym hours and capacity, registering for fitness classes, and accessing the fitness schedule.
This collaborative approach streamlines design by focusing on functionalities with the highest user impact.
Wireframing the solution
Ideation•Story Board•low-fi Wireframe
At this stage of the redesign process, we initiated the creation of sketches and low-fidelity wireframes. Two key ideas emerged from this phase, which we believed could effectively address user pain points while enhancing the overall user experience within the app for gym-goers at the recreation center.
Implementation of a Real-Time Crowd Meter:
This feature aims to provide users with real-time information regarding the current crowd density in the gym. By visualizing the number of individuals present, users can make informed decisions about when to visit the facility. Our decision-making model indicates that users often base their gym attendance on crowd levels. By integrating this feature, users can better plan their schedules, ensuring optimal workout experiences.
Inclusion of Descriptive Information for Fitness Classes:
Recognizing a deficiency in the original design, we proposed the addition of detailed descriptions for each fitness class within the app. Presently, users encounter classes without sufficient information regarding their content or difficulty levels. While class titles like "Cycling" or "Bodypump" provide some insight, they do not offer comprehensive details necessary for informed decision-making. By incorporating brief descriptions, difficulty levels, and visual aids such as images, users can gain a clearer understanding of each class's focus and intensity. This empowers users to select classes tailored to their preferences and fitness levels, thereby enhancing their overall experience with the app.
Prototype
We utilized Figma to create this high-fidelity prototype. Below are the key features we intergrated into the redesign version of RU REC2GO.
Key Features:
Informed Decisions: Real-time information on facility hours and crowd levels helps users choose the optimal time for their gym visit.
Enhanced Fitness Class Management: Users can search for specific fitness classes, browse schedules by date, save favorites, register for classes, and access class descriptions with videos.
This prototype prioritizes a user-friendly experience by incorporating:
Simplified Login: A login page using Rutgers ID fosters a sense of community while streamlining access.
Informed Choices: Real-time crowd data empowers users to choose their gym visit time strategically.
Streamlined Class Management: The class registration and management process is designed for ease and clarity.
Usability Testing
Results and takeaways
To evaluate our final prototype, we conducted usability testing with Maze on a total of 8 participants. Three scenarios were pre-defined based on the most frequently used features of the current RUREC2GO app. This approach allowed for a direct comparison between the redesigned interface and the existing version.
Key Findings and Iterations
The testing yielded positive results, with two out of the three scenarios exceeding an 80% success rate. However, the scenario involving fitness class registration resulted in a lower success rate of 37.5%. This finding prompted us to revisit the registration flow and refine it for improved clarity and user comprehension.
Our analysis suggests that users might be under the impression that selecting a campus is a prerequisite for registering for a fitness class. This insight highlights the potential for aligning our information architecture with existing user mental models to enhance usability.
Overall, user feedback was positive, with all participants favoring the revised version over the original app.
Next Step:
Registration Flow: Based on user testing results, the registration flow for fitness classes will be redesigned to ensure clarity and eliminate confusion regarding campus selection.
Information Architecture: We will explore opportunities to optimize the information architecture to better align with user expectations and mental models.