UX Case Study:
Thrive Fitness
December 2025
Scope
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6-week mobile-first UX capstone
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Industry Project Design (Springboard)
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Role: UX Designer (team of 3)
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Focus: Research + landing page
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Research → design → high-fidelity prototype​
The Problem
How might we create an app that allows older people to improve their lifestyle and health?
The Solution
User interviews and prototyping revealed that users wanted clear guidance and easy access to centralized trackers, including fitness, health, and direct access to their personal trainers.
My Role
I was part of a three-person UX team designing an app to address this user need. I led the User Research phase and created the final landing page mockup, translating research insights into a clear, user-focused visual solution.
The Problem
Our client is a fitness coach seeking an app that would allow him to better connect with his primary demographic—older adults. He specializes in fitness, recovery, and nutrition, but struggled to find a platform that supported all three in one cohesive experience.
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Many fitness apps currently on the market are geared toward younger audiences focused on bulking or cutting to improve outward appearance. There is a gap in the market for lifestyle-based fitness solutions designed for everyday users who want to improve overall health rather than aesthetics. Fitness can be intimidating for many users, especially older adults, who often need a more holistic health plan that integrates fitness, recovery, and nutrition—areas that most existing programs fail to fully support.
How can we help older people improve their lifestyle and health via an app?
Competitor Analysis
I investigated successful fitness apps to understand common interface patterns and user expectations within the fitness space. Although our product was not intended to be a traditional fitness app, I recognized that many users would approach it with expectations shaped by existing fitness platforms.
Because our app focused more on lifestyle-based health, competitor analysis provided a strong foundation for identifying what works—and what doesn’t—for users engaging with fitness-related tools.
Surprise! Many Fitness apps are confusing to use.
​​I examined very successful apps in the fitness market, including Gymverse, Fitbod, and Nike Training Club. ​
Homepages
GYMVERSE
GYMVERSE
FitBod
NTC
NTC
Recover
GYMVERSE
FitBod
FitBod
Nutrition
GYMVERSE
Scheduling
Calendly
Calendly
Screens we implemented
We observed that many fitness apps place the burden on users to decide what to do next, which often creates confusion and makes it difficult to get started.
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To reduce this friction, we examined apps that provided clear direction. Platforms such as Gymverse guided users immediately from the homepage by telling them what to do next, resulting in a more intuitive and approachable experience.
After reviewing several products, we focused our comparison on three key competitors: Gymverse, Fitbod, and Nike Training Club. Each offered strengths that informed our design decisions:
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Gymverse: Clear, directive dashboard that reduces decision fatigue
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Fitbod: Body scan feature that personalizes the experience
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Nike Training Club: Well-organized workout structure and content hierarchy
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Calendly: Easy use for scheduling
Our solution combined these successful elements to create a more guided, low-friction experience tailored to our target users.
GymVerse
FitBod
NTC
Calendly
Wire Frames
We translated our research and competitor analysis into wireframes, focusing on clearly separating Lifestyle, Fitness, and Trainer sections to reduce cognitive load and improve navigation.
During this phase, we also uncovered an additional stakeholder need: the trainer required a simple way to schedule and book sessions with clients, which influenced the structure and functionality of the Trainer section.
Prototyping
Through usability testing and prototyping, we discovered that users were confused by the label “Connect,” often assuming it referred to connecting with a trainer rather than other users. To reduce this confusion, we renamed the section to “Community,” making its purpose immediately clear.
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We also replaced “Schedule” with “Trainer” to more clearly communicate that this section was dedicated to trainer-related features, including scheduling and client interaction.
Style Guide
Since the client wanted users to engage with the app first thing in the morning to set a positive tone for the day, we recommended a sunrise-inspired color palette. The colors were chosen to be inviting and approachable, appealing even to users who may be skeptical about fitness.
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High Fidelity Designs
We applied the style guide to our high-fidelity mockups, translating our wireframes and user research insights into a polished, visually cohesive interface. The designs reflect our sunrise-inspired color palette, clear separation of Lifestyle, Fitness, and Trainer sections, and intuitive navigation informed by prototyping feedback.
Web Landing Page
The client wanted a central place for users to discover the app online, build credibility, and showcase success stories from clients in their target demographic. To support this, we incorporated a Testimonials section to highlight real user experiences.
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I was responsible for the copywriting and slogan creation. The slogan, “Exercise, Restore, and Thrive at Any Age,” is animated to add visual appeal and emphasize the app’s core message.
Final Result
We successfully designed an app that the client plans to develop into a fully functional product. The solution integrates lifestyle, fitness, and trainer-focused features, providing a guided and approachable experience for the target demographic.
Big Takeaways
Start from the user’s perspective: Understanding user expectations and familiar interfaces helps ensure that your product aligns with their mental models and reduces friction.
Guidance matters: Users often prefer clear direction over unlimited choice. Providing structured guidance can improve usability and engagement, particularly for audiences who are less experienced with fitness apps.
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