FittGrad
A fitness app designed around the unpredictable schedules of graduate students — adaptive, low-friction, and built for real academic life.
Type
Class Project
Timeline
Jan 2025 – Apr 2025
Role
UI/UX Designer, Researcher
Tools
Figma, Julius AI
Problem
Graduate students want to stay consistent with fitness, but existing apps assume fixed routines and free time. For grad students juggling classes, research, and unpredictable schedules, most fitness apps feel built for someone else.
Key Insights
Schedule is the #1 Barrier
Every participant cited timing and schedule conflicts as the primary obstacle to consistent exercise.
Cardio & Strength Dominate
7 of 9 participants preferred cardio; strength training was a close second. Workouts need to reflect these preferences.
88.9% Want Adaptive Workouts
Nearly all participants wanted the app to suggest workouts based on available time and energy levels.
Design Solution
SCHEDULING
Adaptive Scheduling
A weekly calendar that slots workouts around classes and deadlines — no manual planning needed.
DISCOVERY
Workout Discovery
Rated exercises with video previews — browse by type, duration, or intensity to find what fits your available time.
ACTIVE WORKOUT
In-Workout Experience
Video-guided exercises with play/pause and a clear end-workout action — minimal friction when you're mid-rep.
TRACKING
Progress Tracking
A workout history log with dates, duration, and intensity — so consistency becomes visible over time.
Key Takeaways
Flexibility over Structure
Grad students don’t need more discipline tools — they need apps that bend around their lives.
Research Shapes Design
Every feature maps directly to a survey finding — nothing was assumed.
Low Friction Wins
The fewer decisions a tired grad student has to make, the more likely they are to actually work out.