UX/UI Design • iOS Development

Gym Sloth

A workout tracking app designed to make fitness feel kind, simple, and achievable for everyone—from complete beginners to experienced lifters.

3.5 mo

Duration

4.6/5

Rating

72%

Retention

25+

Beta Users

My Role

End-to-end product design and development: user research, UX/UI design, iOS development, and testing.

Timeline

3.5 months from concept to beta launch on TestFlight (ongoing development and iteration).

Tech Stack

SwiftSwiftUICore DataHealthKit

The Challenge

Existing fitness apps fall into two extremes: either overly technical and intimidating for beginners, or too simplistic for experienced users. This creates a gap where most people feel either overwhelmed or under-served.

“

I started going to the gym regularly a few years ago, and every fitness app I tried made me feel either stupid or stressed. Apps designed for beginners felt patronizing and limited, while apps for serious lifters overwhelmed me with metrics I didn't understand.

Design Process

How I approached solving the problem

Research

User interviews and competitive analysis

Insights

Identifying pain points and opportunities

Ideation

Sketching solutions and concepts

Design

Creating wireframes and prototypes

Implementation

Building and testing the app

Research & Insights

Through user interviews, observational studies at gyms, competitive analysis, and app store review mining, I uncovered key insights.

73%

Intimidation Factor

of beginners abandon fitness apps within the first week because they feel intimidated by complex features and pressure to perform perfectly.

60%

Consistency Over Perfection

better retention with gentle, supportive language versus aggressive motivation ("No excuses!").

100%

One-Handed Use Critical

of gym users need to interact with phones while holding weights or equipment.

+40%

Visual Progress Motivates

increase in retention when users see visual representations of progress versus raw numbers.

Paywall Frustration

reason for 1-star ratings was essential features locked behind paywalls.

Gentle Encouragement

more likely to continue using apps with supportive tone versus pressure-based motivation.

Key Features

What makes this project special

Workout plans by difficulty, focus, and goals

Auto rest timers with customizable duration

Unlockables: backgrounds, avatars, and themes

One-handed usability at the gym

Visual progression via stats & XP system

Custom routine builder

Design Principles

Encourage, Don't Pressure

Use supportive language that celebrates small wins. Never make users feel guilty for imperfection or missed workouts.

One-Handed First

Every interaction must be achievable with a thumb while holding weights. No tiny tap targets or complex gestures required.

Simple by Default, Powerful When Needed

Hide complexity until users need it. Beginners see a clean interface; advanced users can access detailed metrics.

Offline & Fast

Gyms often have poor connectivity. The app must work perfectly offline and sync seamlessly when online.

Progress Should Feel Good

Visualize improvements in ways that feel rewarding, not overwhelming. Use color, animation, and gamification thoughtfully.

No Paywalls for Core Features

Everyone deserves access to basic workout tracking. Premium features are additive, not restrictive.

Inspiration & Benchmarks

Learning from the best in the fitness app space

Strong

Fitness Tracking Excellence

Strong nails the core workout tracking experience. Their clean, minimalist interface and focus on essential features showed me that simplicity doesn't mean sacrificing functionality.

What I Learned:

One-tap logging is crucial during workouts
Visual progress indicators motivate users
Clean UI reduces cognitive load

Clear

Gamification Done Right

Clear transformed a simple to-do list into an engaging experience through unlockables and customization. They proved that utility apps can be both functional and delightful.

What I Learned:

Unlockables create emotional investment
Personalization increases retention
Small rewards keep users engaged

Key Takeaway

The best fitness apps excel at either simplicity or power, but rarely both. Gym Sloth aims to be simple by default while offering advanced features for those who want them — without paywalls or pressure.

Ideation & Concepts

Exploring solutions through sketching and brainstorming

Brainstorming Process

After gathering insights from research, I moved into ideation mode. The goal was to explore different approaches to motivation, progress tracking, and user engagement without overwhelming newcomers.

Core Concepts

Gamification without pressure, progressive disclosure, one-handed usability

Sketching

Low-fidelity wireframes focusing on user flow and core interactions

Validation

Testing concepts with potential users to refine the approach

Key Ideas & Insights

Drag the post-its around to explore ideas

Make progress visible but not intimidating

Dark mode for late workouts

Social features without pressure

One-tap logging during workouts

XP system instead of calories burned

Sloth = slow eady wins

Focus on consistency over intensity

Customizable avatar rewards

Quick workout templates

No guilt, only encouragement

Progressive disclosure

Thumb-friendly button placement

Motivating micro-animations

Beginner-friendly onboarding

Wireframes & Design

Low-fidelity wireframes exploring the core user flows and interface layout

Design Principles

I wanted to build something that felt approachable for beginners but powerful enough for experienced lifters. The key was simplicity without sacrificing functionality.