Iterative UX Exploration & Refinement
Google Fitbit
Celebrating premium users' workout achievements within the Fitbit Ecosystem.
Role
UX Design Intern
Timeline
3 Months
Team
Fitbit Service UX Team
Tools
Figma, internal metrics tools
DISCOVERY
Understanding the User
Sue
Fitbit Premium User
"I want to improve my health, not study a spreadsheet. I need motivation, not just math."
Goals
- •Wants to stay motivated but gets overwhelmed by raw data.
- •Needs clear progress tracking without cognitive load.
AS a First-time user
Needs to understand how the feature works before engaging.
AS a return user
Needs to see weekly progress details
The design needed to cater to both discovery (learning) and retention (monitoring) phases.
THE CHALLENGE
Logic vs. Emotion
Fitbit collects millions of data points, but raw numbers feel cold. The design challenge was to transform 'quantification' into 'celebration' without breaking the medical trust of the brand.
Users engage with fitness data logically, but they stay for the emotional reward. We lacked the 'spark' of celebration.
DATA
REWARD
IDEATION
Exploring Engagement Models
To solve Sue's motivation problem, I didn't start with one solution. I brainstormed 4 distinct engagement models to test different hypotheses.
Daily Plan
Too prescriptive. Users reported feeling anxious about 'failing' daily tasks.
Emotional Feedback
Too subjective. Lacked the actionable, hard data insights users came for.
Gamification
Fun but too casual. Diluted Fitbit's professional authority as a health coach.
Insight Card
The sweet spot. Combines data accuracy with professional guidance.
Daily Plan
Too prescriptive. Users reported feeling anxious about 'failing' daily tasks.
Emotional Feedback
Too subjective. Lacked the actionable, hard data insights users came for.
Gamification
Fun but too casual. Diluted Fitbit's professional authority as a health coach.
Insight Card
The sweet spot. Combines data accuracy with professional guidance.
THE PIVOT
The Data Challenge
Choosing the Insight Card was just the start. But a card is just a container. To design a truly data-driven feature, I needed to understand the logic behind the data.
To decode this black box, I turned to the experts.
RESEARCH
Decoding the Science with Fitbit Coaches
To move beyond basic metrics, I conducted interviews with internal Fitbit Coaches. I learned that a holistic workout isn't just about duration—it's about balancing three physiological pillars.
"Most users focus on cardio, but true fitness requires balancing strength training with high-intensity intervals to trigger metabolic change."
— Head Coach, Fitbit
The workout triad defined during the expert interviews.
REFINEMENT
Polishing the Final Experience
Moving from broad concepts to a production-ready interface that aligns with the Fitbit Design System.
Progressive Disclosure
Designed a glanceable 'Insight Card' as the entry point, providing a high-level summary before revealing deep-dive metrics. This prevents data overwhelm.
Intuitive Visualization
Created a custom radar chart component that transforms abstract 'balance' data into a clear geometric shape, allowing users to spot gaps in their routine instantly.
Native System Alignment
Applied Google Material Design tokens (typography, spacing, and chip components) to ensure the feature felt like a native, seamless part of the Android ecosystem.
VALIDATION
Validating with 8 Fitbit Users
I worked with UXR to walk participants through the new flow. The concept scored an 8/10 in desirability.
User Quotes
"The well rounded approach to fitness is definitely a goal for me..."
FL, Teacher, 35-44
"Duration is a helpful qualifying metric... but what else speaks to quality?"
MM, Doctor, 60+
"Long term views are a strong desire for many of us long term Fitbit users. I have a database of my 6 year trends pulled outside of Fitbit."
TT, Runner, 35-44
Key Findings
Motivation
4 out of 7 users found the balance concept organically motivating.
Clarity
Scores improved significantly from first-time view to return-user view.
Desire for Trends
Users expressed a strong desire for long-term (monthly/quarterly) views to see progress.
OUTCOME
From Intern Project to Design System Asset
50%
Reduction
Reduction in turnaround time for similar features.
System
Adoption
The design pattern was adopted by the Pixel Watch team.
Handoff
Execution
Delivered pixel-perfect specs and motion assets, ready for engineering implementation.
My amazing mentors and me at the Fitbit SF office.
Growing at Google
The biggest takeaway wasn't just about pixel perfection, but understanding how to advocate for 'delight' in a system prioritizing 'efficiency'. I learned to treat the Design System not as a constraint, but as a language to speak fluently.
This internship wasn't just about pixels; it was about learning to advocate for user delight within a massive engineering culture.
Next Project
Leah — AI-Powered Experience Design