Michigan Rec Sports

Rec Sports fosters a culture of health and fitness through engaging activities, leadership opportunities, and accessible facilities, empowering U-M students to play, stay fit, and thrive on campus.

THE INTRODUCTION

Recreational Sports at the University of Michigan (UM Rec Sports) is committed to fostering a vibrant community where students can engage in physical fitness, adventure, and sports experiences while feeling a sense of belonging. Despite the pivotal role of its physical facilities, UM Rec Sports recognizes the growing importance of its digital presence. UM Rec Sports believes that many students are unaware of their extensive programs and offerings due to the poor usability of their current app, which relies on Fusion, a third-party management software, posing significant limitations.

UM Rec Sports is determined to address these challenges by developing its own personalized app tailored specifically to the needs and preferences of the University of Michigan community. This new app will not only enhance the digital experience but also better reflect UM Rec Sports’ core values and offerings, empowering students to fully explore and participate in the wide range of programs and experiences available.

Essentially, UM Rec Sports wants to

revamp their mobile app to improve user experience, strengthen brand identity, and foster greater connectivity with the student community.

BACKGROUND

Sneha Yedulla, Alex Chuang, Marlee Hooberman, Oresti Dine
September 2023 - May 2024
Figma, Miro

RESEARCH

Goals & Questions

UM Rec Sports wants to upgrade its mobile app to enhance user experience and increase engagement within the student community. To achieve this goal, our team crafted a set of research questions designed to uncover key insights informing the app redesign process. These questions were devised to gain deeper insights into user behaviors, preferences, and challenges:

What are the key demographics of the current app users?
What do the target audience value in an app for Rec Sports?
Why do users currently engage with the app?
What are the challenges or frustrations that users face within the app?
How consistent is the user experience between the app and the website?
How intuitive do users find the current app interface for accomplishing tasks?
What additional features would current users like to see in future updates of the app?
What are the potential opportunities for expanding or enhancing the app's features based on user feedback?

Results

We gathered data on our research questions through conducting usability tests and surveys with 80+ students. We then analyzed the data.

5 User Interviews

Affinity Diagram

We also conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of similar apps in the market and completed a heuristic analysis to further identify design opportunities.

Competitive Analysis

Heuristic Analysis

Key Discoveries

Primary reasons users use the app:

01

Member ID Sign-In

02

Group-X Classes

03

Checking Facility Hours

04

Intramural Sports

05

Court Reservations

Biggest challenges encountered while using the app:

01

Tedious sign-in and registration

02

Layout lacks clarity and intuitiveness

03

Slow loading times

04

Frequent page failures

05

Lack of filtering options

Users feel frustrated and overwhelmed when using the U-M Rec Sports app, hindering their ability to efficiently access key features and services and sometimes leading them to abandon the app altogether.

Empathizing

U-M Rec Sports users encounter various challenges, from checking into the gym to signing up for classes efficiently. To grasp their experiences comprehensively, user personas and a journey map were created, mapping out their interactions and emotions across key stages for design optimization. This approach aligns with U-M Rec Sports’ goal of ensuring a seamless user experience.

Personas

Journey Map

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

From the journey mapping, key areas for design improvements and opportunities were identified. The ideation process began by generating all ideas through creative brainstorming to address users’ frustrations. Due to our strict timeline in working with our client, prioritization of key features was determined based on the primary purposes for using the app and the stages where users encounter the greatest pain points.

DESIGN PHASE

Low-Fidelity

We opted for five main pages in the app's navigation bar, sketching them initially to visualize design solutions.

Mid-Fidelity

We proceeded to create mid-fidelity wireframes for the 5 main screens and for additional screens for interactions within each of the main screens. Below, you'll find the mid-fidelity wireframes for the 5 main screens.

We then transitioned to the high-fidelity stage, adhering closely to the Rec Sports style guide for color choices to maintain consistency and reinforce brand identity. Below are the high fidelity wireframes for the 5 main screens.

High-Fidelity

Overall, the process involved multiple iterations, with user testing conducted on versions throughout prototyping to ensure we were on the right track. Below are some usability test insights gathered when we tested our prototype with users.

Rationale

HERE’S THE

FINAL DESIGN

Passcode option for easier future logins by eliminating the need for repeated sign-ins

Registration

Search bar and a quick links section for popular functions
Bottom navigation bar instead of icons across screen

Home Page

Convenient barcode access with one click for facility entry, eliminating the need for logging in repeatedly

Member ID Sign-In

Strategic use of color to highlight important elements, such as calls-to-action
Clear visual hierarchy directing attention to critical information

Group-X

Created a functional page for users to register
Improved text for better understanding of IM pass purpose

Intramural Sports

PROTOTYPE

IN RETROSPECT

01

Good team communication is crucial for crafting a unified design system and ensuring brand alignment.

02

Design work is always changing, so adaptability becomes increasingly important.

Our team presenting our work at the university’s design exposition!