Product design: the Bitgym app
About the product
Bitgym is an innovative app that enables users to experience virtual tours all around the world from their choice of cardio machines. The tour videos are speed interactive, and it allows users to connect to their health tracking devices. It’s also the first fitness app that started subscription business model. Since its first release of 2010, it has gone through several product direction changes. With its big library of tours, high quality content and reliable technology, it has gained many followers and subscribers over the years. There was only 5 employees at the moment when I started the project.
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In the past, the app has been evolving organically without an overall brand strategy. It’s unclear what their target audience are and whether it wants to be a goal oriented fitness app or a leisure app about exploring and experiences different places.
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BitGym originally focused solely on motion-tracking technology, sourcing all their tour video content from third-party vendors. But as the company evolved, they began producing their own in-house videos. Now, with a growing and mixed library of content—the challenge is to unify everything under a single, consistent taxonomy that makes content easy to organize, search, and enjoy.
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Bitgym allows speed interactivity with any device camera. Even there is step-by-step instruction, the company still receives a lot of support tickets about why their camera tracking is not working.
Our approach
We very quickly identified that, not knowing our users is why we are having a lot of the problems. We believe that using a series of user research will help us unlock the questions and guide us along the design process.
My role
I was the sole designer on this project. I worked directly with the company’s co-founders and engineers. I acted as the brand strategist, visual designer, researcher, product architect, UX and UI designer.
Interview with current and targeted users
We sent out surveys to 1000 current Bitgym users and picked 22 of them for in-depth interviews. We also leveraged online research tools to talk to folks use exercise equipments at home to get a better idea of the total home fitness market. We then created research learnings and 4 key personas.
They decide to make cardio part of their lives. Using a home exercise machine is one of their best options. It helps to keep their workout routine consistent.
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They know they will hate to use the exercise machine—it’s boring and mindless. They know they need something to make it better.
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Bitgym was found because they want cardio to be LESS boring. Working out with Bitgym transforms their experience of being on the machine. Time flies by. It feels like they are really outdoors exploring real places.
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A good workout experience is that it’s over before they know it. They are able to look back and feel good and accomplished about the fitness thing they’ve done.
Product direction
Our mission:
To transform cardio exercise into an immersive and engaging experience with the interactive virtual tours, making workouts more enjoyable and motivating for users worldwide.
Where exploration meets mindfulness
Explore the world from your home, revisit where you’ve been and where you want to visit. We want to tap in emotions and aspiration by using inspiring language and visuals.
Speed interactivity is good, but not a must
The app has been putting a lot of emphasis on its speed interactivity feature. However we find out many of the users actually use it without it, but it does make them frustrated when not working properly.
Simplicity wins
The current setup requires users to go through several steps—selecting a tour type, choosing their exercise machine, setting up camera tracking—which can make their first experience with the app feel overwhelming. We aim to streamline this process to ensure users can enjoy at least one smooth, delightful tour right from the start.
Better you, not better than
People choose Bitgym to relax and indulge in the beautiful scenes, not to compete with others. It’s more important for people like Dan and Wendy to be their better self than to rank amongst the others. Use data visualization to show progress tracking