FITNESS
COMMUNITY
Project
FIT[hive]
Helping users track progress, stay motivated and feel connected
Enabling Users to Track, Connect, and Stay Engaged
FIT[hive] is a fitness app designed to help users stay consistent by combining workout tracking, gamification, and a supportive social experience. Despite initial enthusiasm, data showed a sharp drop in engagement after the first three weeks. Research revealed that users lacked meaningful connection and ongoing motivation—resulting in abandoned streaks and disengaged routines.
As sole designer, I led the end-to-end redesign of FIT[hive]’s social and motivational features. My goal was to reimagine community, streaks, and rewards in a way that fostered consistency without adding pressure. Through user research, flow mapping, UI design, and iterative testing, I crafted a refreshed experience that prioritized emotional connection, personal progress, and sustainable motivation.
help users stay motivated through consistent, visible progress?
foster meaningful community support without adding social pressure?
simplify fitness tracking to reduce friction and encourage daily use?
Revealing the Gaps in Engagement
Key Activities:
- Surveyed active fitness app users
to identify behavioral patterns - Interviewed participants
to understand emotional drivers & retention blockers - Analyzed competitor
features and interaction models
Research Insights
Community = Accountability
Users are more likely to stick with a routine when they feel supported by others—even in small, private groups.
Gamification Works
Visible streaks, rewards, and challenges significantly boost motivation and reinforce habits.
Users Want Control
People preferred to share progress selectively—favoring private groups over public feeds.
Designing for Motivation Without Pressure
Make progress feel visible and emotionally rewarding
Foster accountability through private, low-pressure community spaces
Reduce friction in key flows like activity logging and group engagement
Encourage consistency with positive reinforcement—not competition
Ensure clarity and control in all sharing and messaging touchpoints
Designing Motivation That Feels Natural
I approached the redesign of FIT[hive]'s core experience with a focus on intrinsic motivation, emotional safety, and simplicity. The goal wasn't just to add features, it was to reframe how users feel about tracking progress and engaging with others. Rather than creating pressure to perform, I designed for supportive connection: small, personal wins, private group dynamics, and visible signs of progress. The challenge was to build a UX that motivated consistently, without becoming competitive or overwhelming—something that felt rewarding, not demanding.
What I Designed:
UI Design System
I developed a clean, mobile-first design system featuring:
- A soft, motivational color palette and calming visual language
- Intuitive iconography and consistent spacing
- Dashboard that highlighted streaks, recent wins, and challenge progress
- Lightweight modals and clear messaging feedback flows
Turning Data Into Encouragement and Ownership
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Making Fitness Social—Without the Pressure
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Turning Consistency Into Celebration
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Building a Scalable Design System
- Modular components for onboarding, dashboards, and cards
- Iconography that’s fun but intuitive
- Color palette balance vibrancy & accessibility
- Typography for multi-age readability
- Incorporated Avatar kits to support personalization and character identity
What I Learned
Beyond reimagining the onboarding experience and increasing user engagement, this project surfaced a critical learning:
This project reinforced that motivation is deeply emotional, and subtle reinforcements like streaks, badges, and personalized community interactions can significantly influence user behavior.
I learned that simplicity in UI, paired with meaningful feedback, builds confidence and encourages repeat use.
Most importantly, I saw how designing for emotional connection—not just functionality—can elevate the entire product experience and drive long-term engagement.
Legal Discovery
During onboarding design, I identified a company-wide COPPA compliance risk—the app was collecting identifiable data before parental consent. I escalated the issue and redesigned the flow to ensure compliance, protecting both the user and the business.
Final Screens & Prototype
![Design system overview for FIT[hive] app, showing typography styles, icon set, and a twelve-color palette](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/680fd75d7658c63ad6833eff/68542ee03955cba506bf27a9_f3e62624cdd620a6b539223bc65efc55_fithive%20visual%20design.avif)
