Empaura AI. Designing for AI features to assist fitness and workout planning.
Empaura AI. Designing for AI features to assist fitness and workout planning.
Empaura AI. Designing for AI features to assist fitness and workout planning.
Team
Team
Team
1 Product Manager
1 Product Manager
1 Product Manager
2 Engineers
2 Engineers
2 Engineers
My Role
My Role
My Role
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designer
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
6 Weeks
6 Weeks
6 Weeks
TL;DR
TL;DR
TL;DR
Empaura AI is a stealth-mode platform that uses powerful AI to turn any input into a fitness plan.
I joined the team as the founding designer to build and design the MVP. My role was to define the experience from the ground up.
Empaura AI is a stealth-mode platform that uses powerful AI to turn any input into a fitness plan.
I joined the team as the founding designer to build and design the MVP. My role was to define the experience from the ground up.
Empaura AI is a stealth-mode platform that uses powerful AI to turn any input into a fitness plan.
I joined the team as the founding designer to build and design the MVP. My role was to define the experience from the ground up.
What I Did
At Empaura AI, I acted as the bridge between a complex AI capability and real user needs.
At Empaura AI, I acted as the bridge between a complex AI capability and real user needs.
At Empaura AI, I acted as the bridge between a complex AI capability and real user needs.
I conducted deep research with fitness enthusiasts and coaches, distilled our findings into archetypes and user journeys, defined the app’s core flows, and designed its visual system.
I conducted deep research with fitness enthusiasts and coaches, distilled our findings into archetypes and user journeys, defined the app’s core flows, and designed its visual system.
I conducted deep research with fitness enthusiasts and coaches, distilled our findings into archetypes and user journeys, defined the app’s core flows, and designed its visual system.
Research
Research
Research
UX / IA
UX / IA
UX / IA
Visual Design
Visual Design
Visual Design
Product Strategy
Product Strategy
Product Strategy
Research Overview
Since I was allowed agency, there were some key questions that I wanted answers for before we set out to design and develop the MVP.
Since I was allowed agency, there were some key questions that I wanted answers for before we set out to design and develop the MVP.
Since I was allowed agency, there were some key questions that I wanted answers for before we set out to design and develop the MVP.
Initial research questions…
Initial research questions…
Initial research questions…
Who are we designing this for?
Who are we designing this for?
Who are we designing this for?
How does their day look like?
How does their day look like?
How does their day look like?
What is already familiar to them?
What is already familiar to them?
What is already familiar to them?
What opportunities can we exploit?
What opportunities can we exploit?
What opportunities can we exploit?
How do we answer these?
How do we answer these?
How do we answer these?
Archetype Mapping
User Personas
Archetype Mapping
User Personas
Archetype Mapping
User Personas
Journey Mapping
Empathy Mapping
Journey Mapping
Empathy Mapping
Journey Mapping
Empathy Mapping
UX Patterns
UI Patterns
User Flows
UX Patterns
UI Patterns
User Flows
UX Patterns
UI Patterns
User Flows
Competitor Analysis
Market Research
Shadowing
Competitor Analysis
Market Research
Shadowing
Competitor Analysis
Market Research
Shadowing
Archetypes.
Archetypes.
Archetypes.
“I don’t have time to overthink workouts, I just want good plans.”
“I don’t have time to overthink workouts, I just want good plans.”
“I don’t have time to overthink workouts, I just want good plans.”
The Consistency-Seeker
The Consistency-Seeker
The Consistency-Seeker
They’re someone who values long-term health over short-term gains. They occasionally try fitness apps, but rely on a good all round routine for their wellbeing. Their goal is to stay active without turning exercise into another stressor.
They’re someone who values long-term health over short-term gains. They occasionally try fitness apps, but rely on a good all round routine for their wellbeing. Their goal is to stay active without turning exercise into another stressor.
They’re someone who values long-term health over short-term gains. They occasionally try fitness apps, but rely on a good all round routine for their wellbeing. Their goal is to stay active without turning exercise into another stressor.
“I need to visualise my progress if I’m going to work out consistently.”
“I need to visualise my progress if I’m going to work out consistently.”
“I need to visualise my progress if I’m going to work out consistently.”
The Self-Improver
The Self-Improver
The Self-Improver
They’re highly self-motivated and set clear targets. They thrive on measurable outcomes, be it reps, streaks, or habit logs. They’re the ones who set the workout plan, track macros, and check their smartwatch every morning.
They’re highly self-motivated and set clear targets. They thrive on measurable outcomes, be it reps, streaks, or habit logs. They’re the ones who set the workout plan, track macros, and check their smartwatch every morning.
They’re highly self-motivated and set clear targets. They thrive on measurable outcomes, be it reps, streaks, or habit logs. They’re the ones who set the workout plan, track macros, and check their smartwatch every morning.
“I’ve saved a ton of workout plans, but don’t know which to pick.”
“I’ve saved a ton of workout plans, but don’t know which to pick.”
“I’ve saved a ton of workout plans, but don’t know which to pick.”
The Plans Hoarder
The Plans Hoarder
The Plans Hoarder
They’re constantly bookmarking workouts, saving recipes, and following fitness influencers. They saver every plan they find, comment ‘Send’ under every post about fitness, and look for videos of fitness journeys everywhere.
They’re constantly bookmarking workouts, saving recipes, and following fitness influencers. They saver every plan they find, comment ‘Send’ under every post about fitness, and look for videos of fitness journeys everywhere.
They’re constantly bookmarking workouts, saving recipes, and following fitness influencers. They saver every plan they find, comment ‘Send’ under every post about fitness, and look for videos of fitness journeys everywhere.
So…?
So…?
So…?
Since we were focused on building an MVP quickly, we decided to zero in on just one archetype to help focus our efforts: The Plans Hoarder.
This was because:
Opportunity: Through our research, we saw an opportunity to convert plans to trackable workouts using AI.
Faster Validation: Unlike The Consistency Seeker who prefers steady habits, or The Self Improver who already uses many tools, The Plans Hoarder represents a clearer and tangible problem.
Since we were focused on building an MVP quickly, we decided to zero in on just one archetype to help focus our efforts: The Plans Hoarder.
This was because:
Opportunity: Through our research, we saw an opportunity to convert plans to trackable workouts using AI.
Faster Validation: Unlike The Consistency Seeker who prefers steady habits, or The Self Improver who already uses many tools, The Plans Hoarder represents a clearer and tangible problem.
Since we were focused on building an MVP quickly, we decided to zero in on just one archetype to help focus our efforts: The Plans Hoarder.
This was because:
Opportunity: Through our research, we saw an opportunity to convert plans to trackable workouts using AI.
Faster Validation: Unlike The Consistency Seeker who prefers steady habits, or The Self Improver who already uses many tools, The Plans Hoarder represents a clearer and tangible problem.
Journeys.
Journeys.
Journeys.
Highlighting the core actions that the chosen archetype takes within the app. Each journey represents a distinct interaction that directly addresses a key pain point.
Highlighting the core actions that the chosen archetype takes within the app. Each journey represents a distinct interaction that directly addresses a key pain point.
Highlighting the core actions that the chosen archetype takes within the app. Each journey represents a distinct interaction that directly addresses a key pain point.
Plan Hoarder
Plan Hoarder
Plan Hoarder
Selecting a predefined workout
Selecting a predefined workout
Selecting a predefined workout
Journey 1
Journey 1
Journey 1
Plan Hoarder
Active workout logging (real-time session)
Journey 2
Plan Hoarder
Active workout logging (real-time session)
Journey 2
Plan Hoarder
Active workout logging (real-time session)
Journey 2
Plan Hoarder
Plan Hoarder
Plan Hoarder
Creating a custom workout routine from scratch
Creating a custom workout routine from scratch
Creating a custom workout routine from scratch
Journey 3
Journey 3
Journey 3
Journey 1
Journey 1
Journey 1
Journey 2
Journey 2
Journey 2
Journey 3
Journey 3
Journey 3
Reflects how the app helps users quickly access relevant workout routines.
Reflects how the app helps users quickly access relevant workout routines.
Reflects how the app helps users quickly access relevant workout routines.
Allows users to log their sessions seamlessly while actively working out.
Allows users to log their sessions seamlessly while actively working out.
Allows users to log their sessions seamlessly while actively working out.
Highlighting the app’s ease of customization and flexibility to adapt to individual goals.
Highlighting the app’s ease of customization and flexibility to adapt to individual goals.
Highlighting the app’s ease of customization and flexibility to adapt to individual goals.
All this research boiled down to focusing on designing an experience that moves users from saved plans to active sessions. That became the north star for the MVP.
All this research boiled down to focusing on designing an experience that moves users from saved plans to active sessions. That became the north star for the MVP.
All this research boiled down to focusing on designing an experience that moves users from saved plans to active sessions. That became the north star for the MVP.
Here’s a peek at how these insights shaped the design of the application.
Here’s a peek at how these insights shaped the design of the application.
Here’s a peek at how these insights shaped the design of the application.
Design Language
Reusable patterns that shaped the product’s experience.
Reusable patterns that shaped the product’s experience.
Reusable patterns that shaped the product’s experience.
Making 'atom' blocks of a cohesive design system: color and typography.
Making 'atom' blocks of a cohesive design system: color and typography.
Making 'atom' blocks of a cohesive design system: color and typography.
Crafting 'molecules': Buttons as part of a scalable and accessible design system.
Crafting 'molecules': Buttons as part of a scalable and accessible design system.
Crafting 'molecules': Buttons as part of a scalable and accessible design system.
Building ‘organisms’: Cards as dynamic containers for content, interaction, and hierarchy.
Building ‘organisms’: Cards as dynamic containers for content, interaction, and hierarchy.
Building ‘organisms’: Cards as dynamic containers for content, interaction, and hierarchy.
Showcase
Because Empaura AI is in stealth, here are select snapshots instead of full flows.
Because Empaura AI is in stealth, here are select snapshots instead of full flows.
Because Empaura AI is in stealth, here are select snapshots instead of full flows.
Impact!?!?
Even though this project remained in stealth and was ultimately paused, it gave us early signals about user behaviour and design feasibility.
Even though this project remained in stealth and was ultimately paused, it gave us early signals about user behaviour and design feasibility.
Even though this project remained in stealth and was ultimately paused, it gave us early signals about user behaviour and design feasibility.
Reflections & Growth
This project gave me invaluable insights into designing under constraints and shaping products into MVPs.
This project gave me invaluable insights into designing under constraints and shaping products into MVPs.
This project gave me invaluable insights into designing under constraints and shaping products into MVPs.
Product Decision Making
I learnt to rely on my own intuitions for decisions since I had ownership
Product Decision Making
I learnt to rely on my own intuitions for decisions since I had ownership
Product Decision Making
I learnt to rely on my own intuitions for decisions since I had ownership
Letting Go of “Sunk Costs”
Seeing a pause on the project reinforced the value of actual learning over tangible outputs
Letting Go of “Sunk Costs”
Seeing a pause on the project reinforced the value of actual learning over tangible outputs
Letting Go of “Sunk Costs”
Seeing a pause on the project reinforced the value of actual learning over tangible outputs