UX Research
UI Design
Designing Fitness That Creates Independence for Elders
3 Weeks
Sketch, Figjam, Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop
Product Thinking, Interaction Design, Visual Design
Overview
While technology continues to evolve, it often overlooks the needs of aging individuals. The Everfit app bridges that gap, offering a safer and more accessible fitness platform for those who may feel disconnected from digital advancements.
DISCOVERY STAGE
DISCOVERY STAGE
THE FOUNDATION
What’s the real issue?
Older adults have always been an afterthought in the tech world. Ironically, in an era of constant innovation that transforms lives daily, we’ve overlooked the very people who helped shape these advancements. This project began with a single question: What major challenges do senior citizens face that are largely ignored, and how can I help improve them?
GENERAL RESEARCH
I first looked at statistics provided by Mintel and Statista to see what were the main concerns of our senior citizens. These were the key insights:
Approximately 44% of U.S. adults identify mobility issues, cancer, and cognitive decline as top aging-related health concerns.
In developed countries, a significant portion of seniors manage multiple chronic health conditions; for instance, in Canada, 30% of the elderly have three or more chronic conditions.
Maintaining physical health is a concern for 40% of U.S. adults aged 60 and older, while 35% are worried about memory loss.
EMPATHY INTERVIEWS
After looking that general research, I went in and interviewed 6 lovely seniors to untangle where they need more support and how technology can play into that.
Here were the common themes:
Users want independence but fear getting lost or needing help.
"I don’t want to keep calling my daughter for help." - Retired Nurse, 78
"It’s nice if they can find me, but I still want my freedom." - Retired Warehouse Manager, 81
"I avoid new places because I don’t want to be a hassle." - Immigrated Teacher, 62
Too many buttons, small text, and confusing menus make apps difficult to use.
"One wrong tap and I’m lost in menus." - Immigrated Teacher, 62
"Too many choices make me nervous." - Travel Agent, 59
"I have trouble reading the tiny words." - Retired Restaurant Owner, 73
Users want independence but fear getting lost or needing help.
"I don’t want to keep calling my daughter for help." - Retired Nurse, 78
"It’s nice if they can find me, but I still want my freedom." - Retired Warehouse Manager, 81
"I avoid new places because I don’t want to be a hassle." - Immigrated Teacher, 62
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
I also carried out competitor analysis to understand the strengths and weaknesses of current, popular fitness and navigation apps, and how they can benefit seniors.
Life360
Life360 is designed for family location tracking and safety alerts. While it’s useful for keeping loved ones connected, its detailed tracking data and privacy concerns might be concerning. Also, it includes features that older users may not need.
Elder-Friendly Features: Emergency SOS button, location sharing, and arrival notifications.
Challenges: Battery drain from constant GPS tracking, and an overload of settings.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a reliable navigation tool with real-time traffic updates, street views, and voice-guided directions. However, its cluttered interface can overwhelm users seeking simple directions. Frequent UI updates and small icons/text make it harder for older users to adjust.
Elder-Friendly Features: Voice commands, turn-by-turn navigation, and offline maps.
Challenges: Too many menu options, accidental taps, and difficulty adjusting routes mid-trip.
Peloton
Peloton offers a premium workout experience with live and on-demand classes, leaderboards, and social features. While the sleek UI motivates fitness enthusiasts, its fast-paced design and content-heavy layout can be overwhelming for seniors. The app relies on touch navigation, which may be challenging for those less familiar with technology.
Elder-Friendly Features: Large, high-contrast visuals, guided workout instructions, and an option for lower-intensity classes.
Challenges: Subscription costs, small text, and a complex UI filled with interactive elements.
How will Everfit be better?
Everfit can stand out by offering a straightforward, senior-friendly design with clear navigation and easy-to-read features.
Unlike apps like Peloton or Life360, which are more complex and packed with options, Everfit would keep things simple and focused on what seniors really need: easy access to exercises, progress tracking, and safety alerts.
DEFINING STAGE
THE AUDIENCE
What is the focus?
After the discovery stage, defining the target users and key problem is important to ensuring the solution aligns with community’s needs.
Problem Statement
Older adults aiming to stay active, connected, and independent often find map and fitness apps challenging. These apps are rarely tailored to their needs, making them difficult to navigate, less secure, and not user-friendly.
Who are the target users?
Target Demographics
Age: 60+ years old
Location: Primarily Urban and Suburban
Digital Behavior
Prefers simple intuitive apps with clear navigation and large fonts
Low tolerance for overly complex features
Limited app exploration; rely heavily on family or friends
Psychographics
Health-conscious and interested in staying active to maintain independence
Safety-focused, valuing peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones.
Prefer routines and solutions that are predictable and reliable.
USER PERSONAS
To support the ideation process, I developed three target personas as user references.
Frank Li - Determined Learner
Has partial vision loss and struggles with English. While he’s eager to stay active and independent, he often feels lost in America.
Age: 87
Location: Cary, NC
Occupation: Retired accountant
Personality: Cautious, family-oriented, and determined
Needs
Easy-to-understand, multilingual support.
Clear, simple instructions for using the app and its features.
Notifications and alerts that are accessible without relying on sight.
Frustrations
Difficulty using apps that don’t support his native language.
Confusion with tech features and navigation due to language barriers and vision impairment.
Feeling disconnected because of his limited English and reliance on others for help.
Margaret Dawson - Anxious Walker
Relies on her family for travel but wants to feel confident exploring independently. She enjoys short walks but worries about safety and getting lost.
Age: 61
Location: Washington, DC
Occupation: Retired business owner
Personality: Cautious, family-oriented, and determined
Needs
A way to explore safely without constantly needing her family’s assistance.
Peace of mind through features that allow her family to know her location.
Simple tools to help her plan and navigate routes confidently.
Frustrations
Anxiety about traveling alone due to the risk of getting lost or being unable to reach help.
Feeling like a burden on her family when asking for assistance.
Most navigation tools are too complex and not tailored to her needs.
Evelyn Morales - Extroverted Planner
She loves visiting friends and attending local community events but often struggles to find routes that accommodate her limitations due to her arthritis.
Age: 74
Location: New York, NY
Occupation: Former nurse
Personality: Resilient, practical, and socially active
Needs
Access to low impact workouts to do when unable to leave home.
Clear information about nearby ramps, elevators, and rest areas.
Notifications for when a planned route may be inaccessible.
Frustrations
Difficulty finding apps that account for mobility restrictions.
Frustration when routes include stairs, uneven terrain, or inaccessible public transport.
Spending too much time researching accessible paths before every trip.
USER JOURNEY MAPS
To further relate and understand the target users, I created user journey maps to follow their challenges of using common competitors apps.
What did I learn?
Through exploring personas, there was the most disconnect in the personalization and engagement phase of app usage.
By honing in on these areas, the most effective solutions can be developed.
IDEATION STAGE
THE CONCEPT
How do I create a solution?
The ideation stage is where creative solutions begin to take shape. Based on the insights gathered from research, I focused on brainstorming different approaches to address the identified challenges.
Using the HMW (How Might We) approach, I organized the challenges faced by each persona and identified the most crucial problem and possible solutions.
Frank’s Problem
Struggles to keep his mobility and independence due to his partial vision loss and language barrier.
Possible Solutions
Simplified voice navigation provides step-by-step directions to reduce reliance on visuals.
A multilingual interface allows him to switch between languages for better comprehension.
Accessibility features like high-contrast text and larger fonts help with his vision challenges.
Margaret’s Problem
Margaret wants to travel independently but fears getting lost or being unable to contact her family in emergencies.
Possible Solutions
Live location sharing lets her family track her real-time whereabouts for reassurance.
Emergency alerts automatically notify her family if she strays off route or requires assistance.
Safe walking routes recommend well-lit, low-traffic paths to reduce risks.
Evelyn’s Problem
Evelyn finds it challenging to plan routes and stay active due to mobility issues and inaccessible pathways.
Possible Solutions
Guided stretches suggest low-impact exercises tailored to her mobility needs, helping her stay active.
Accessible route planning maps out smooth terrain with ramps and elevators for easier travel.
Custom alerts warn her of route obstacles or detours before starting her journey.
Afterwards, I created low-fidelity wireframes to define new feature structures and design.
How did I better the designs?
After creating the wireframes, I iterated and tested multiple possible users.
Here are a few significant changes.
The homepage’s information hierarchy was too cramped for those who struggled with visual problems. Also, seniors in testing would often skip over the different headings.
The ‘Search’ feature was too simple and did not look inviting, leading to many users
ignoring the feature.
The ‘Navigation’ feature was lacking in content, and did not have the
important buttons to allow for accessibility.
Iterations of design were key to creating the best product. By focusing on refinement, the process ensured that the final direction would addressed key challenges with the overall reading experience.
DESIGN STAGE
THE SOLUTION
What is the final solution?
Everfit makes staying active simple and stress-free for seniors. With easy-to-follow exercises, larger text, and a clean layout, it’s designed for comfort and confidence. Unlike other fitness apps that feel overwhelming, Everfit keeps things straightforward—personalized workouts, voice guidance, and a focus on mobility and balance.
CONCLUSION
TAKEAWAYS
Designing for elderly users requires continuous refinement and testing for accessibility.
The process is iterative, with features adjusted based on user feedback.
Balancing simplicity and engagement is key to creating a functional, user-friendly experience.
Focus on accessibility ensures the final product is intuitive and empowering for elderly.
Want to see more?
Take a look at this project!
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