buddi
buddi
buddi
Sparking student fitness and fun with friendly competition during lockdown
Sparking student fitness and fun with friendly competition during lockdown
Sparking student fitness and fun with friendly competition during lockdown
Role
SERVICE DESIGNER
SERVICE
DESIGNER
SERVICE DESIGNER
Timescale
6 MONTHS
6 MONTHS
Project
MSc DESIGN FOR INTERACTION
MSc DESIGN FOR INTERACTION
Area
SERVICE
DESIGN
WHAT IS BUDDI?
Buddi is a dynamic digital-service system designed to keep students active and connected during lockdown. With Buddi, users can easily form teams and set collective fitness goals. The app tracks each member's runs, contributing to the team's overall progress.
But Buddi doesn’t stop there! It also includes a sleek, attachable device for your phone or laptop that keeps you in the loop. This compact gadget lights up with an LED progress bar to show your team's achievements and sends notifications whenever a teammate completes a run, fostering motivation and friendly competition.
Buddi is a dynamic digital-service system designed to keep students active and connected during lockdown. With Buddi, users can easily form teams and set collective fitness goals. The app tracks each member's runs, contributing to the team's overall progress.
But Buddi doesn’t stop there! It also includes a sleek, attachable device for your phone or laptop that keeps you in the loop. This compact gadget lights up with an LED progress bar to show your team's achievements and sends notifications whenever a teammate completes a run, fostering motivation and friendly competition.
THE PROBLEM
During COVID, I noticed a common challenge: students were struggling to stay motivated to exercise, whether due to the lack of a routine or because everything was closed. This sparked an idea—to boost social interaction while exercising to enhance motivation. I decided to focus on three key areas: motivating, connecting, and informing students.
During COVID, I noticed a common challenge: students were struggling to stay motivated to exercise, whether due to the lack of a routine or because everything was closed. This sparked an idea—to boost social interaction while exercising to enhance motivation. I decided to focus on three key areas: motivating, connecting, and informing students.
RESEARCH GOAL
Interviews revealed that competition is a key motivator, not just during COVID but in general. Whether it's friendly rivalry or collaborative efforts, people love having a goal to work towards, either with or against others. The idea of striving towards a shared objective also encourages people to get active and socialise, making exercise more engaging and enjoyable.
Interviews revealed that competition is a key motivator, not just during COVID but in general. Whether it's friendly rivalry or collaborative efforts, people love having a goal to work towards, either with or against others. The idea of striving towards a shared objective also encourages people to get active and socialise, making exercise more engaging and enjoyable.
There is nothing fun about exercising alone, however with no end date to this COVID crisis, it looked as if I’ll have to find a way to make it so.
There is nothing fun about exercising alone, however with no end date to this COVID crisis, it looked as if I’ll have to find a way to make it so.
There is nothing fun about exercising alone, however with no end date to this COVID crisis, it looked as if I’ll have to find a way to make it so.
Disgruntled runner
DIRECTION
Initial research and interviews revealed a clear direction for the project: to encourage students to safely exercise outdoors during COVID while enhancing social interactions. The poster below illustrates the scenario and design goals.
Initial research and interviews revealed a clear direction for the project: to encourage students to safely exercise outdoors during COVID while enhancing social interactions. The poster below illustrates the scenario and design goals.
IDEATION
With a clear direction established, ideation began through sketching and evaluation methods like speed dating and user testing, focusing on the top six ideas. Feedback indicated a preference for a service over a physical product, though users also valued a physical indicator for time or distance.
With a clear direction established, ideation began through sketching and evaluation methods like speed dating and user testing, focusing on the top six ideas. Feedback indicated a preference for a service over a physical product, though users also valued a physical indicator for time or distance.
TESTING
Research and ideation made it clear that users appreciated having a physical element to reduce dependence on their phones during exercise. To address this, I explored a range of small, portable items that could be carried effortlessly, serving as a subtle reminder and providing a quick view of progress. Through testing with various user groups, I evaluated both the form and functionality of these items, along with user preferences on the ideal frequency of reminders (if desired at all).
Research and ideation made it clear that users appreciated having a physical element to reduce dependence on their phones during exercise. To address this, I explored a range of small, portable items that could be carried effortlessly, serving as a subtle reminder and providing a quick view of progress. Through testing with various user groups, I evaluated both the form and functionality of these items, along with user preferences on the ideal frequency of reminders (if desired at all).
FINAL DESIGN
The final concept is a digital-service system designed to motivate students to stay active and foster teamwork during lockdown. Through the app, users can form teams and set shared fitness goals, with the app tracking and logging each member’s runs to contribute to the team’s overall progress. For an added layer of engagement, teams can compete against other groups with similar goals, introducing a friendly, motivating element of competition.
Complementing the app is a small, attachable physical device that can be placed on the back of a phone or laptop.
This device offers real-time notifications whenever a teammate completes a run, keeping users connected to their team’s progress. Additionally, an LED progress bar on the device provides a subtle, visual indicator of how close the team is to reaching their goal, making progress tracking both tangible and engaging.
The final concept is a digital-service system designed to motivate students to stay active and foster teamwork during lockdown. Through the app, users can form teams and set shared fitness goals, with the app tracking and logging each member’s runs to contribute to the team’s overall progress. For an added layer of engagement, teams can compete against other groups with similar goals, introducing a friendly, motivating element of competition.
Complementing the app is a small, attachable physical device that can be placed on the back of a phone or laptop.
This device offers real-time notifications whenever a teammate completes a run, keeping users connected to their team’s progress. Additionally, an LED progress bar on the device provides a subtle, visual indicator of how close the team is to reaching their goal, making progress tracking both tangible and engaging.
