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UI Design

UX Case Study

Product Design

Apple Fitness+

Apple Fitness+

Apple Fitness+ is a health and activity app by Apple that helps users stay active and maintain healthy habits. It tracks daily movement using three Activity Rings - Move, Exercise, and Stand to encourage regular activity. 
Apple Fitness+ is a health and activity app by Apple that helps users stay active and maintain healthy habits. It tracks daily movement using three Activity Rings - Move, Exercise, and Stand to encourage regular activity. 
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
This project began from a personal need as someone who’s physically active, I found it frustrating to rely on multiple apps to manage different parts of my fitness journey. This redesign of the Apple Fitness+ app aims to create a more complete, connected, and motivating experience by addressing key gaps in usability, personalization, and engagement making it more aligned with the real needs of users.
This project began from a personal need as someone who’s physically active, I found it frustrating to rely on multiple apps to manage different parts of my fitness journey. This redesign of the Apple Fitness+ app aims to create a more complete, connected, and motivating experience by addressing key gaps in usability, personalization, and engagement making it more aligned with the real needs of users.
Goal
Goal
To explore how Apple Fitness can better support users in their fitness journeys by improving usability, personalization, and engagement. The aim is to identify gaps in the current experience and uncover opportunities to make the app more motivating, connected, and versatile.
To explore how Apple Fitness can better support users in their fitness journeys by improving usability, personalization, and engagement. The aim is to identify gaps in the current experience and uncover opportunities to make the app more motivating, connected, and versatile.
Assumption Map
Assumption Map
At the start of the project, I mapped out what I believed about Apple Fitness+ users - from their reliance on multiple apps, to their comfort with Apple’s design system, to the assumption that progress tracking, strength training, and social features were core needs. This helped highlight which assumptions were well-supported and which required validation through research.
At the start of the project, I mapped out what I believed about Apple Fitness+ users - from their reliance on multiple apps, to their comfort with Apple’s design system, to the assumption that progress tracking, strength training, and social features were core needs. This helped highlight which assumptions were well-supported and which required validation through research.
User Research Plan
User Research Plan
This project began from a personal need as someone who’s physically active, I found it frustrating to rely on multiple apps to manage different parts of my fitness journey. This redesign of the Apple Fitness+ app aims to create a more complete, connected, and motivating experience by addressing key gaps in usability, personalization, and engagement making it more aligned with the real needs of users.
This project began from a personal need as someone who’s physically active, I found it frustrating to rely on multiple apps to manage different parts of my fitness journey. This redesign of the Apple Fitness+ app aims to create a more complete, connected, and motivating experience by addressing key gaps in usability, personalization, and engagement making it more aligned with the real needs of users.
Opportunities Priortization
Opportunities Priortization
After research, I prioritized opportunities based on feasibility and importance. Progress tracking emerged as a high-priority, high-feasibility solution, strength training as a high-priority but more complex solution, and social features as valuable for motivation but lighter in scope. This ensured the design direction was realistic, impactful, and aligned with user needs.
After research, I prioritized opportunities based on feasibility and importance. Progress tracking emerged as a high-priority, high-feasibility solution, strength training as a high-priority but more complex solution, and social features as valuable for motivation but lighter in scope. This ensured the design direction was realistic, impactful, and aligned with user needs.
1. Limited Strength Training Customization
1. Limited Strength Training Customization
Feedbacks
Feedbacks
  • “If strength is your focus, there’s simply nothing for you past the beginner level.”
  • “If strength is your focus, there’s simply nothing for you past the beginner level.”
  • “There should be a feature to create and save my own plan from different workouts.”
  • “There should be a feature to create and save my own plan from different workouts.”
Painpoints
Painpoints
  • Lack of advanced programs for experienced users.
  • Lack of advanced programs for experienced users.
  • No customizable workout plans (sets, reps, weights).
  • No customizable workout plans (sets, reps, weights).
  • Limited support for equipment beyond dumbbells.
  • Limited support for equipment beyond dumbbells.
Solution
Solution
Introduced a dedicated Routine tab where users can create and schedule personalized strength training programs. Users can choose exercises, assign them to specific days, and save routines for progressive training.

2. Progress Tracking
2. Progress Tracking
Feedbacks
Feedbacks
  • “I want to see how my fitness has improved over months or years, not just weeks.”
  • “I want to see how my fitness has improved over months or years, not just weeks.”
  • “The app just shows me data, but it doesn’t tell me what to do with it.”
  • “The app just shows me data, but it doesn’t tell me what to do with it.”
Painpoints
Painpoints
  • No tracking for specific workout progress (e.g. pace, reps).
  • No tracking for specific workout progress (e.g. pace, reps).
  • No long-term data trends or analytics.
  • No long-term data trends or analytics.
  • No personalized recommendations or actionable insights.
  • No personalized recommendations or actionable insights.
Solution
Solution
Designed a progress dashboard that allows users to view detailed workout history and trends over days, weeks, and months. This helps them see measurable improvements and stay motivated over time.

3. Social features
3. Social features
Feedbacks
Feedbacks
  • “I see my friend’s rings but can’t cheer them on or compete.
  • “I see my friend’s rings but can’t cheer them on or compete.
  • “Why can’t I start a step challenge with coworkers?”
  • “Why can’t I start a step challenge with coworkers?”
Painpoints
Painpoints
  • No group challenges or live competitions.
  • No group challenges or live competitions.
  • No way to share achievements within or outside the app.
  • No way to share achievements within or outside the app.
  • Isolated, solo workout experience.
  • Isolated, solo workout experience.
Solution
Solution
Added the ability to create custom challenges with friends, with options to invite multiple people, set shared goals, and receive tailored suggestions. Users can track progress together and celebrate achievements for stronger accountability.

Design Approach and Process
Design Approach and Process
The design process followed a user-centric approach to ensure that the solutions aligned with real user needs, behaviors, and expectations.
The design process followed a user-centric approach to ensure that the solutions aligned with real user needs, behaviors, and expectations.
Personas
Personas

Maya, 24

School Admin
"I’m working just as hard, but the app doesn’t show me why my progress slowed."
Frustrations :
  • No context behind slowed progress.
  • No clear long-term trend visuals.
  • No insights from data.
Goals :
  • Compare monthly progress to stay motivated.
  • Understand why weight loss slowed recently.

Maya, 36

School Admin
Maya is a beginner who uses Apple Fitness+ for guided workouts at home. She finds the app helpful for starting her fitness journey but struggles to stay consistent because it feels isolating. Without social features like challenges or shared goals, she often loses motivation.
Frustrations :
  • No way to create or join challenges with friends.
  • Achievements and milestones feel invisible.
  • Finds it hard to stay motivated alone.
Goals :
  • Friendly challenges with coworkers and friends.
  • Motivation from seeing friends’ activity.
  • Social recognition for achievements.
Alex, 24
Motion Designer
Alex is an active user who relies on Apple Fitness+ and his Apple Watch to track daily runs and cardio sessions. While he enjoys the seamless tracking for cardio, he feels frustrated that Fitness+ doesn’t let him build or save structured strength routines with sets and reps.
Frustrations :
  • Can’t create or save custom strength training routines.
  • No tracking of sets/reps/weights.
  • Feels stuck using multiple apps (Fitness+ for cardio, Strong for strength).
Goals :
  • Wants all workouts - cardio and strength in one place.
  • Ability to plan routines for weeks.
  • See long-term improvement, not just calories burned.

Maya, 24

School Admin
"I’m working just as hard, but the app doesn’t show me why my progress slowed."
Frustrations :
  • No context behind slowed progress.
  • No clear long-term trend visuals.
  • No insights from data.
Goals :
  • Compare monthly progress to stay motivated.
  • Understand why weight loss slowed recently.
Application Flow
Application Flow
Wireframes
Wireframes
All Screens
All Screens
Reflection
Reflection
While there are many additional features that could be added to Apple Fitness+, I chose to focus on the most impactful opportunities without disrupting the existing flow. Almost all user feedback emphasized how comfortable and user-friendly the current navigation and design system felt, so maintaining that consistency was a priority. Instead of a full redesign, I layered improvements on top of the existing structure — ensuring the app remains familiar while addressing real user needs.

Looking ahead, there are still opportunities to expand personalization, integrate richer analytics, and build stronger community experiences. These could be implemented gradually, in a way that respects Apple’s ecosystem and design language while continuing to improve usability, motivation, and engagement.
While there are many additional features that could be added to Apple Fitness+, I chose to focus on the most impactful opportunities without disrupting the existing flow. Almost all user feedback emphasized how comfortable and user-friendly the current navigation and design system felt, so maintaining that consistency was a priority. Instead of a full redesign, I layered improvements on top of the existing structure — ensuring the app remains familiar while addressing real user needs.

Looking ahead, there are still opportunities to expand personalization, integrate richer analytics, and build stronger community experiences. These could be implemented gradually, in a way that respects Apple’s ecosystem and design language while continuing to improve usability, motivation, and engagement.