Building Fitness Habits Through Personalization and Positive Reinforcement

Introduction

For many Indonesian teens and young adults, exercise isn’t part of their routine — not because they’re lazy, but because it often feels intimidating, boring, or disconnected from their lifestyle.

SoFit was designed to change that.

Created as part of the Generation Girl Summer Club Explorer 2024, this project brought together two teams: one focusing on UX research, and ours — on UI design. Together, we aimed to build a digital experience that helps users stay active through community-driven features, positive reinforcement, and personalized recommendations.

The Problem

A study by UNIKOM found that only 26.5% of Indonesian teens enjoy exercising, leaving 73.5% uninterested or disengaged from fitness. The reasons?

• Lack of awareness about what kind of physical activity suits them

• Little motivation or support

• No access to relatable, fun platforms to guide their journey

The challenge was clear:

How might we increase teens’ interest in exercise by making it feel more enjoyable, personal, and socially connected?

UX Research Summary (Conducted by Team 9)

To understand users better, the UX team conducted interviews with Indonesian youth aged 18–24. The key findings shaped the foundation of the app:

• Most teens didn’t understand how much or what type of physical activity they needed

• They wanted fitness to be fun, not a chore

• Having a community and reminders would help them stay consistent

• Progress tracking and encouragement were strong motivators

Our Solution: SoFit

SoFit is a mobile app that supports users in building consistent, healthy habits through a fun, guided experience. The app combines personalized fitness suggestions, motivational nudges, and community interaction — all in one intuitive platform.

My Role: UI Designer

As part of the UI Design Team, I was responsible for:

• Designing the app's visual identity, layout, and user interface

• Translating UX research insights into engaging, approachable screens

• Ensuring accessibility, clarity, and emotional appeal through design

Core Features (Designed Collaboratively)

1. Reminders

   • Gentle nudges like:
     “Sudahkah kamu berolahraga hari ini?”
     “Kamu sudah 4800 langkah. Ayo, sedikit lagi 5000 langkah!”

2. Activity Tracker

   • Track by type of sport, mood, and frequency

3. Community Features

   • Discover and join fitness communities

   • Weekly & monthly leaderboards

   • Community Day events every 3 months

4. Smart Recommendations

   • Suggest sports or activities based on user input and preferences

Visual Style

We wanted the visual design to feel dynamic yet friendly, matching the energy of our audience.

Color Palette

• Vibrant Purple (#691A71) to energize

• Bold Blue (#0B1878) for strength

• Playful Orange (#FF9B00) for excitement

• Black & White base for clarity and balance

Typography

Poppins — clean, modern, and readable for mobile-first design

Iconography & Visuals

A mix of 3D illustrations and minimalist icons to keep the interface engaging but not overwhelming

Design Flow

We created a clear and welcoming user journey:

Splash & Login

1. Onboarding Quiz – to personalize the experience

2. Homepage – quick access to tracking, reminders, and community

3. Recommendations – sports and communities

4. Reminder Screen – motivational progress feedback

5. Community Page – interact, join, and explore fitness circles

UI Screens (Prototype Highlights)

• Splash & Login Pages

• Onboarding with user preferences

• Dynamic Homepage with tracking widgets

• Reminder Page with encouraging messages

• Community Feed with leaderboard integration

Prototype

What I Learned

Working on SoFit gave me the opportunity to translate research-driven UX insights into visual experiences that support user motivation and habit-building. Here’s what I took away:

• Empathy matters — especially when designing for users who feel discouraged or disconnected

• Tone and visuals influence behavior — the right colors, illustrations, and feedback can build confidence

• Collaboration with UX teams elevates the product — turning insights into action made our design stronger and more aligned with real needs

Next Steps

With more time and iteration, I’d love to:

• Refine motion/animation for motivation feedback

• Add accessibility options like dark mode or voice prompts

• Expand community features with user-generated content

• Test gamification models for streaks, badges, and rewards