Nuyu: A User-Centered Approach to Health
& Fitness
Nuyu: A
User-Centered Approach to Health & Fitness
Nuyu: A User-Centered Approach to Health
& Fitness
Most fitness apps aren’t designed for real people—they’re rigid, overwhelming, and hard to stick with. I created Nuyu to make health habits personal, adaptable, and motivating—because fitness should fit your life, not the other way around.
Most fitness apps aren’t designed for real people—they’re rigid, overwhelming, and hard to stick with. I created Nuyu to make health habits personal, adaptable, and motivating—because fitness should fit your life, not the other way around.
Most fitness apps aren’t designed for real people—they’re rigid, overwhelming, and hard to stick with. I created Nuyu to make health habits personal, adaptable, and motivating—because fitness should fit your life, not the other way around.
Why Do People Struggle with Fitness?
Why Do People Struggle
with Fitness?
People want to be healthier, but consistency is tough. Lack of time, motivation, and guidance often get in the way. To design a solution that truly helps, I conducted surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis to understand real user struggles.
People want to be healthier, but consistency is tough. Lack of time, motivation, and guidance often get in the way. To design a solution that truly helps, I conducted surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis to understand real user struggles.
Unpacking User Struggles: What the Research Revealed
Understanding the Problem: What Needed to Change?
Understanding the Problem: What
Needed to Change?
To get real answers, I conducted a 12-question survey with 24 participants and followed up with 10 participants for in-depth interviews.
Key Findings:
• Most people exercise 1-4 times a week but struggle with consistency.
• Time, goals, and enjoyment shape workout choices.
• Cardio, strength training, and sports are the most common exercises.
• Diet challenges—meal prep takes time, cravings are hard to resist, and people run out of recipe ideas.
• Tracking isn’t common—most users don’t track fitness or nutrition unless they use a wearable or app.
• Motivation varies—some focus on health benefits, others rely on social influence or personal confidence.
• Barriers to consistency include lack of time, mental health struggles, and social settings.
• Users want: personalized plans, motivation, community, and gamification to keep them engaged.
What This Means:
People don’t just need another fitness tracker. They need a flexible, engaging, and supportive tool that helps them stay on track without pressure or guilt.
To get real answers, I conducted a 12-question survey with 24 participants and followed up with 10 participants for in-depth interviews.
Key Findings:
• Most people exercise 1-4 times a week but struggle with consistency.
• Time, goals, and enjoyment shape workout choices.
• Cardio, strength training, and sports are the most common exercises.
• Diet challenges—meal prep takes time, cravings are hard to resist, and people run out of recipe ideas.
• Tracking isn’t common—most users don’t track fitness or nutrition unless they use a wearable or app.
• Motivation varies—some focus on health benefits, others rely on social influence or personal confidence.
• Barriers to consistency include lack of time, mental health struggles, and social settings.
• Users want: personalized plans, motivation, community, and gamification to keep them engaged.
What This Means:
People don’t just need another fitness tracker. They need a flexible, engaging, and supportive tool that helps them stay on track without pressure or guilt.
What’s Missing in Fitness Apps? Learning from the Competition
What’s Missing in Fitness Apps? Learning from the Competition
What’s Missing in Fitness Apps? Learning
from the Competition
I analyzed five fitness apps to identify gaps:
I analyzed five fitness apps to identify gaps:
Key Takeaways:
Goal-setting is essential, but apps vary in execution.
Tracking should be simple & engaging.
Personalization matters—generic plans don’t work for everyone.
Most apps lack social & motivation features, leaving room for innovation.
What This Means:
A holistic approach—fitness, nutrition, and motivation in one place—is key to long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
Goal-setting is essential, but apps vary in execution.
Tracking should be simple & engaging.
Personalization matters—generic plans don’t work for everyone.
Most apps lack social & motivation features, leaving room for innovation.
What This Means:
A holistic approach—fitness, nutrition, and motivation in one place—is key to long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
Goal-setting is essential, but apps vary in execution.
Tracking should be simple & engaging.
Personalization matters—generic plans don’t work for everyone.
Most apps lack social & motivation features, leaving room for innovation.
What This Means:
A holistic approach—fitness, nutrition, and motivation in one place—is key to long-term success.
Expert Advice: What a Health Coach Had to Say
Expert Advice: What a Health Coach Had to Say
To go beyond app design and into real behavior change, I interviewed a certified health coach.
Key Insights:
• People need flexibility, not pressure—strict plans often lead to burnout.
• Mental & emotional health matter—stress, time, and self-doubt impact fitness goals.
• Accountability is a game-changer—having support keeps people consistent.
What This Means:
A fitness app shouldn’t just track workouts—it should support long-term behavior change with motivation, flexibility, and a sense of community.
To go beyond app design and into real behavior change, I interviewed a certified health coach.
Key Insights:
• People need flexibility, not pressure—strict plans often lead to burnout.
• Mental & emotional health matter—stress, time, and self-doubt impact fitness goals.
• Accountability is a game-changer—having support keeps people consistent.
What This Means:
A fitness app shouldn’t just track workouts—it should support long-term behavior change with motivation, flexibility, and a sense of community.
So, What’s the problem?
So, What’s the problem?
Brainstorming the Solution: Where Ideas Took Shape
Brainstorming the Solution: Where Ideas Took Shape
Brainstorming the Solution: Where Ideas
Took Shape
To translate insights into tangible app features, I used several ideation techniques:
🧠 Mind Maps – Explored how different health & fitness elements connect.
To translate insights into tangible app features, I used several ideation techniques:
🧠 Mind Maps – Explored how different health & fitness elements connect.
💡 How Might We Questions – Turned pain points into design opportunities.
💡 How Might We Questions – Turned pain points into design opportunities.
🎬 Storyboarding – Mapped out user interactions to visualize real-world use.
🎬 Storyboarding – Mapped out user interactions to visualize real-world use.
🎨 Mood Board – Defined the visual and emotional tone of Nuyu.
🎨 Mood Board – Defined the visual and emotional tone of Nuyu.
Structuring the App: Organizing the Experience
Structuring the App: Organizing the Experience
Structuring the App: Organizing the
Experience
To make navigation intuitive, I tested card sorting with two participants.
To make navigation intuitive, I tested card sorting with two participants.
Key Findings:
✅ Users were uncertain about whether “Timeline of the Day” should be in “My Profile” or “Calendar”.
✅ Other categories—Goals, Community, Nutrition, and Workout—remained clear and well-defined.
✅ A sitemap was developed based on these insights, ensuring a smooth user experience.
With the structure in place, I moved on to prototyping and testing.
Key Findings:
✅ Users were uncertain about whether “Timeline of the Day” should be in “My Profile” or “Calendar”.
✅ Other categories—Goals, Community, Nutrition, and Workout—remained clear and well-defined.
✅ A sitemap was developed based on these insights, ensuring a smooth user experience.
With the structure in place, I moved on to prototyping and testing.
Building & Refining Nuyu: The Prototype Journey
Building & Refining Nuyu: The Prototype Journey
Low-Fidelity Prototype: Quick Testing, Fast Learning
I created paper prototypes and tested them with 5 users to get early feedback before investing time into high-fidelity designs.
Low-Fidelity Prototype: Quick Testing, Fast Learning
I created paper prototypes and tested them with 5 users to get early feedback before investing time into high-fidelity designs.
Key Takeaways:
Users appreciated in-depth onboarding questions but wanted an option to skip long-term goals.
Daily progress tracking was preferred over weekly tracking.
Graph-based insights needed to be simplified for better clarity.
More personalization was needed for workout recommendations.
Key Takeaways:
Users appreciated in-depth onboarding questions but wanted an option to skip long-term goals.
Daily progress tracking was preferred over weekly tracking.
Graph-based insights needed to be simplified for better clarity.
More personalization was needed for workout recommendations.
High-Fidelity Prototype: Testing a Realistic Experience
I refined the prototype based on initial feedback and tested it again with 10 users.
Below are the key screens -
High-Fidelity Prototype: Testing a Realistic Experience
I refined the prototype based on initial feedback and tested it again with 10 users.
Below are the key screens -
High-Fidelity Prototype: Testing a Realistic Experience
I refined the prototype based on initial feedback and tested it again with 10 users.
Below are the key screens -
Key Usability Insights:
80% found meal plans aligned with goals, but some wanted better customization.
50% felt goal tracking was effective, but others wanted more tailored insights.
100% found meal tracking and recipe discovery intuitive.
60% wanted stronger motivation tools and an accountability system.
70% were very likely to recommend the app, indicating strong user interest.
Key Usability Insights:
80% found meal plans aligned with goals, but some wanted better customization.
50% felt goal tracking was effective, but others wanted more tailored insights.
100% found meal tracking and recipe discovery intuitive.
60% wanted stronger motivation tools and an accountability system.
70% were very likely to recommend the app, indicating strong user interest.
What I Learned
What I Learned
Building Nuyu taught me a lot about designing for real behaviour change. Here are the biggest takeaways:
✨ Simplicity drives engagement—users don’t want complexity, they want clarity.
✨ Flexibility matters—strict routines don’t work for everyone.
✨ Community enhances commitment—people stick with fitness when they feel supported.
✨ Small details make a big difference—intuitive UI and positive reinforcement shape long-term habits.
Building Nuyu taught me a lot about designing for real behaviour change. Here are the biggest takeaways:
✨ Simplicity drives engagement—users don’t want complexity, they want clarity.
✨ Flexibility matters—strict routines don’t work for everyone.
✨ Community enhances commitment—people stick with fitness when they feel supported.
✨ Small details make a big difference—intuitive UI and positive reinforcement shape long-term habits.
What’s Next for Nuyu? The Future of the App
What’s Next for Nuyu? The Future of the App
🚀 Integrating wearables & fitness trackers for seamless data collection.
🥗 Collaborating with nutritionists & trainers for expert-backed recommendations.
🏆 Introducing accountability partners & gamification to boost motivation.
🎨 Further UI refinements based on continued user feedback.
By continuously iterating, Nuyu will evolve into a true wellness companion—one that makes fitness and nutrition feel effortless, enjoyable, and sustainable.
🚀 Integrating wearables & fitness trackers for seamless data collection.
🥗 Collaborating with nutritionists & trainers for expert-backed recommendations.
🏆 Introducing accountability partners & gamification to boost motivation.
🎨 Further UI refinements based on continued user feedback.
By continuously iterating, Nuyu will evolve into a true wellness companion—one that makes fitness and nutrition feel effortless, enjoyable, and sustainable.
Have thoughts on this project? Let's talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
Have thoughts on this project? Let's talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
Have thoughts on this project? Let's talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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