Tonal

The World’s Smartest Home Gym Machine For Strength & Fitness

Personal Project | Case Study | Product Design

My Role

Product Design
User Research
Product Thinking

Tools

Figma
G-Suite

Timeline

May - July 2024

Project

Redesigning the Tonal app to improve usability, enhance the overall user experience, and make the app more intuitive and efficient.

I have been a Tonal user since January 2023, lifted over 2.6 million lbs, and improved my total strength score from 360 in January 2023 to 721 in July 2024.

I always wanted to get into the gym and focus on self-care workouts to prioritize my health, but

  • I did not have enough experience in weightlifting or workout knowledge for a beginner mindset.

  • I did not want to wake up at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m. after work hours and drive to the gym, hoping I would have access to my needs.

  • I did not want to work in the crowded gym and wait countless hours to access the equipment.

  • The fear of not having trendy wear is just a different level of anxiety I wanted to avoid.

  • I want to find a personal trainer or have a gym buddy to ensure my workout is safe and get feedback to improve.

Tonal solved all the above issues by ensuring I only had to look at my house wall and show up for myself. Press the button, and the entire gym is available in my safe environment whenever and however I want.

As a personal project, I redesigned the Tonal app to enhance its usability, especially the onboarding experience and personalized home screen. This redesign project helped refine my design skills and create a more user-friendly experience.

This project is not affiliated with the Tonal. It is just for practice.

Problem

  • The onboarding process is not personalized or relevant to the user’s needs and preferences.

  • Users receive little to no feedback on their actions during onboarding, leading to uncertainty about their progress.

  • Depending on various social media platforms, such as Facebook groups and Instagram, to connect and learn more about the Tonal community, users lack a sense of community and belonging.

  • Different user policies and terms of service between Tonal and various social media apps can create confusion and legal concerns.

Goal

  • Enhance the Tonal app by redesigning the onboarding experience to make it more intuitive and personalized.

  • Provide tailored recommendations based on user needs and preferences.

  • To improve overall usability and engagement, create new features that allow users to connect, share their fitness journeys, and foster a sense of community within the app.

Solution

Tonal: The World’s Smartest Home Gym

  • Redesign the onboarding experience for the new users.

  • Redesign personalized home screens based on the user's goals.

  • Design new Forgot email feature currently does not exist in the Tonal app.

  • Design a new Community feature, which currently does not exist in the Tonal app.

Design Process

Double Diamond Framework

Design Principles

Using the double-diamond framework, I expanded my research to explore various issues. After this exploration, I honed in to define our specific "How Might We" question and the desired outcomes.

  1. User-Centric Customization: Offer personalized workout plans and adaptive resistance that evolve with the user’s progress and preferences.

  2. Empowerment Through Data: Equip users with detailed progress tracking and insights, fostering motivation and informed decision-making.

  3. Inclusive Community Features: Build features that promote interaction and support within the Tonal community, enhancing the overall user experience.

User Research

I conducted secondary research through the official Tonal Facebook group and a private Tonal group made by members, the Tonal website blog, content shared by Tonal members via various sources and Instagram, incorporating community feedback and user-generated content to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Tonal and its user experience to validate some of my assumptions:

Assumptions: Tonal users are fitness enthusiasts who seek a convenient and effective at-home workout solution but may face challenges with technology adoption and maintaining consistent motivation.
Findings: The Tonal community is highly engaged, with users frequently sharing experiences and stories across social media platforms.

Despite the convenience and effectiveness of Tonal’s features, some users encounter technical issues and express a desire for more diverse workout programs and enhanced customer support. The strong sense of community and brand loyalty among users highlights the importance of social proof and testimonials in attracting new members and maintaining user satisfaction.

Primary Research

“60% follow structured fitness routines, using traditional equipment, and 30% use smart devices. 50% exercise at home. 80% find guided workouts crucial, and Design matters to 70%. 70% rely on reviews and would invest in premium equipment if it meets their needs.”

I conducted in-person user interviews with 5 participants, all of whom had never heard of Tonal.

Assumptions/Unknown: Potential users have varying levels of fitness routines and face challenges in maintaining consistent fitness habits. They may also have mixed awareness and perceptions about smart fitness equipment.

Findings: Users, driven by the desire for convenience and effective workouts, heavily value smart fitness equipment that offers guided workouts, detailed progress tracking, and a user-friendly interface, all while maintaining a compact and aesthetically pleasing design.

One of the hardest parts for users is maintaining consistency and motivation in their fitness routines and navigating the complexity of smart equipment and potential technical issues.

Key pain points include finding time to exercise, staying motivated, ensuring ease of use, and balancing cost with desired features.

Competitive Analysis

Key Takeaways:

1. Technology and Innovation:
- Competitors leverage advanced technologies such as real-time performance tracking, 3D sensors, and immersive displays to enhance user engagement and workout effectiveness.

2. Diverse Offerings:
- Brands like Peloton, Mirror, and Echelon Reflect provide various workout options, including strength training, cardio, yoga, and more, catering to varied fitness preferences.

3. Cost and Space Challenges:
- High equipment, subscription costs, and significant space requirements are common barriers limiting market accessibility and customer adoption.

4. Personalization and Community:
- Personalized workout plans, AI-driven recommendations, and strong community features (e.g., leaderboards, live classes) are key strengths that enhance user loyalty and engagement.

5. Market Competition and Economic Factors:
- The smart fitness market faces intense competition and potential economic downturns, impacting consumer spending on high-cost fitness solutions and subscriptions.

User Persona

Design Foundation

Onboarding Iteration 1

I interviewed 4 participants for feedback on the sign-up flow, Forgot email user flow, and overall impression for design iteration 1.

Two are active Tonal users, and the other two are not.

They first went through the Tonal app onboarding and later redesigned iteration 1.

  • On average, 90% of users found the progression indicator valuable while completing the sign-up information.

  • All participants felt multi-field forms were better for error correction and less cognitive load.

  • All participants felt having forgot email userflow and community in the app was helpful.

  • On average, 70% of users wanted the onboarding flow shorter.

Onboarding Iteration 2

After conducting user interviews and gathering valuable feedback, I focused on enhancing the user experience. The goal was to make the fitness journey more accessible and engaging while ensuring the design was intuitive and user-friendly.

This involved addressing the key pain points identified during the interviews, simplifying the interface, and incorporating features that motivate and support users in starting and maintaining a consistent workout routine.

Final Design

In the final design iteration, I further enhanced the user experience by streamlining the process and reducing additional steps. The aim was to motivate users to engage with Tonal and foster connections with like-minded individuals, ultimately building a strong Tonal community.

Key Features

Improved Onboarding

Get tailored workout plans just for you! Enjoy a customized fitness experience with recommendations based on your goals, preferences, and progress.

Forgot Email Userflow

This feature is currently unavailable in the Tonal app.

Quickly retrieve your email! Effortlessly recover your account details and get back on track with your fitness goals.

Personalized Recommendation

Personalize your fitness journey! Experience a seamless, intuitive onboarding process tailored to your goals and preferences.

Community

This feature is currently unavailable in the Tonal app.

Connect and thrive together! Engage with fellow fitness enthusiasts, share your journey, and find motivation within the Tonal community.

So, What went well?

  • User-Centered Approach: The design process began by understanding the user's needs and pain points through research, interviews, and competitive analysis, ensuring a user-centric approach.

  • Iterative Design: The design underwent multiple iterations based on user feedback, showcasing flexibility and responsiveness to user needs and preferences.

That's nice, but what would I do differently if I had more time?

  1. Deepen User Research: Conduct a broader range of user interviews and surveys, targeting a more extensive and diverse user base. This would provide deeper insights into user personas, pain points, and preferences, leading to more tailored design solutions.

  2. Enhanced Personalization: Develop advanced algorithms for personalizing the onboarding experience and home screen based on user data. This would involve integrating machine learning to provide more accurate and relevant recommendations for workouts and content.

  3. Community Features: Expand on the community feature by incorporating more interactive elements such as live workout sessions, user challenges, and social media integration. This would foster a stronger sense of community and engagement within the app.

  4. Content Diversification: Work on diversifying the workout programs and content offered within the app. This could include adding more niche workout categories, expert-led sessions, and customizable workout plans to cater to a broader range of fitness levels and preferences.

  5. Accessibility Improvements: To ensure the app is accessible to users with disabilities, incorporate features such as voice commands, adjustable text sizes, and screen reader compatibility.

  6. Marketing and Awareness: Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to raise awareness about the app's new features and improvements. This could involve collaborating with influencers, creating promotional videos, and leveraging social media platforms.

These additional elements would enhance the user experience and expand the app's value proposition, making it a comprehensive platform for fitness enthusiasts.