Sprint 8 Workout Redesign
We redesigned Sprint8’s workout interface to be more immersive and increase user engagement. As the senior UX designer of this project, I was responsible with creating this experience (from concept to animated prototype).
Background
Sprint 8 is in the top 3 most-used programs on Matrix’s cardio equipment. It doesn’t matter if you are using an 8,000 or 8.3 million pixel-dense display, Phil Campbell’s program is used on that product. This is a great feat, but also leads into the problem at hand.
Upon release, the Sprint 8 program was designed with simplicity in mind. The person exercising would sprint for thirty seconds, they watch as that time counts down and their [sweat] score counts up. They rest for 1.5 minutes and then repeat this interval 7 more times.
This, realistically, could be accomplished with only two loading bar graphics… Which is essentially what was designed prior to this. That simple design helped push the program onto all Matrix Fitness touchscreen interfaces, as well as the PLED (a charming 16-bit inspired console).
The Problem...
There is an overarching problem/difficulty when it comes to digital experiences on indoor cardio machines… engagement. In the field of UX design, this is a certified, “well, yeah duh,” moment. Although, this type of engagement problem is a very different one to tackle.
There is one major competitor to stationary cardio equipment as a whole, and the hardest part is that this competitor solves our engagement problem with ease… That competitor is of course the classic, “Going Outside™. ️"
Across all of my user interviews and usability testing, here at Johnson Health Tech, the hardest persona to please is the outdoor cardio exerciser. They open up their door, start an ‘outdoor run’ workout on their smart watch (optional) and just GO. There is this beautiful experience described to me by these specific users, in which I can only call it some sort of time paradox.
Due to the constant stimulation from being outdoors during a workout, the time in which it takes them to accomplish a Herculean feat of running 2+ miles seems shorter to them mentally than it actually is. When we have those same users testing inside, on our machines, that is when they really come to terms with how long the passage of time is. They quick-start a workout and then stare out the window of the Matrix showroom, not selecting/changing anything on the touchscreen interface and comment about how long 30 seconds really can be.
No amount of infographics, loading bars or timers will make this product enter that time paradox that I described earlier, which leads this sizable user-base writing our product off as boring.
