The RunBuddy Design Challenge was a 5-day self-paced online course provided by Bitesize UX.
Project Overview
RunBuddy is an iOS app that helps city-dwellers find routes for their runs. Runners can rate and share their routes with others who live nearby and who may want to try new or different routes.
THE CHALLENGE:
REDESIGN THE RATING SCREEN
The current version uses a 5-star rating system that is quick but does not give the user any option to provide details on why they gave a specific route that rating.
Even though the user is encouraged to add a rating in order to "help other runners find a great route", there is no area in the app that allows for additional context to support the said rating.
RESEARCH + INSIGHTS
I asked a group of RunBuddy users the following question in order to learn more about the criteria they use to choose and rate a route to run:
“What factors do you consider when deciding where you’re going to run?"
After synthesizing the responses, I found these to be the biggest themes that I would need to design for:
safety, difficulty of run, vehicular and foot traffic.
33%
of runners interviewed have safety as their first priority
25%
think of difficulty when picking a route
42%
of the runners prefer routes that have minimal traffic and crowds
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Competitive Analysis 1: Pacifica
Pacifica is a wellness app that is geared to help release stress and anxiety by using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.
Pacifica's rate wheel is a quick, clear way for the user to record how the user feels.
Also, the "+ Feelings" button expands to several different lists of emotions the user can add to specify why they are feeling a certain way.
While the rate wheel is easy and interactive, the additional option also provides specific feedback that is helpful and trackable for future use.
Competitive Analysis 2: Runkeeper
Runkeeper is a digital running journal that helps the user track routes, progress and set fitness goals.
Runkeeper's review screen gives the user the option to leave information about and categorize their run for future reference.
There is also an option to add a picture of the route, which is helpful for other runners who rely on visuals to help them decide whether to try a route or not.
Competitive Analysis 3: MindBody
The MindBody app is a one-stop shop for finding and booking fitness, wellness and beauty sessions around your city.
After the user rates a class or beauty service on the app,
they receive a pop up with a text box where they can add more details or opinions about the experience.
These results are then posted to the class/service's information page, making it available for other users to gauge whether they want to try the service for themselves.
CONCEPTS + SOLUTIONS
Crazy 8's Concept Sketches
To start generating some ideas on how to improve RunBuddy's rating system, I did Crazy 8's - a simple way to quickly sketch out 8 ideas in 8 minutes.
Some ideas that came out of my sketches:
- Sliders are a quick and space-saving way to rate different criteria the runners called out as important factors to their run.
- A choice of one-word boxes to describe how the run/route was fun or not might be a better option than having a text box to type in additional comments, which can be time and space consuming even though it is useful information.
- Having the option to upload a photo of the route can give other users a clear visual of how the route is as far as difficulty, safety or crowd control at certain times.
![DOC100818[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d1688c_4579d3fa20ed49c7ad23706d70a382e8~mv2_d_3289_2539_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_94,h_73,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/DOC100818%5B1%5D.jpg)
Detailed Sketch Solutions
I condensed some ideas from my Crazy 8's with better detail on these sketches. A few highlights from my design:
- The scroll bars are an easy and space-saving way to rate the most important details about the run.
- The time stamp on the top of the screen can remove the guesswork for other users on when a route is good or bad as far as safety, traffic or crowds.
- Adding an option to upload a photo of the route is a great tool for runners who rely on visuals to determine whether they want to take on a route or not; runners can also take a clear picture of an issue, like a fallen tree along the way.
- The optional "more" pop up screen enables the user to add more specific details about the route by choosing pre-loaded words instead of having to type up details about the route they took.
FINAL DESIGN
Three key concepts made it to my final design:
Scroll bars
space savers, quick way to record key details of the run especially when the user is tired post-workout
Top final stats bar
gives other runners an idea of the location's quality based on the time of a run
Optional "more" pop up screen
allows the runner to add and share supporting criteria to the initial ratings they gave to their run
