Body Dysmorphia in Gym Goers
Type of Work
UX Research, UI Design
Client
University of the Arts London
Date
2024
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Helping gym-goers nurture comparison
This case study looks at body dysmorphia within gym-goers and switches the comparison narrative from others to yourself. This creative approach allows you to take pictures of yourself throughout your fitness journey to see real physical change. The simple UI lets the user focus solely on their progress without adding distractions.
Initial Research
My journey started by visiting the Wellcome Collection's "Being Human" Exhibition. A transparent body sculpture made me question what a normal body looks like. From there I identified that social media platforms portrayed unrealistic body standards - a wicked problem. Niching down on gym-goers gave me the opportunity to find an actionable solution: "How might we reduce body dysmorphia within gym-goers?"
Mindmap & User Insights
Key insights emerged from my research. Comparison is the main factor that leads to dissatisfaction with one's body. Social media fuels body dysmorphia by promoting unrealistic content through its algorithm. I mapped these themes across steroids, mental health, dieting, social media, and genetics.
Storyboarding
Using those insights I created a storyboard of Jamie, a teenager developing body dysmorphia as he feels his gym progress is weak compared to others. This helped me better understand my audience and led to the HMW question: how might we use comparison to support gym goers in their journey?
Ideation
Using 8 ideas in 8 minutes I explored concepts from mirror-free gyms to social media filters. The winning idea: an app where users photograph themselves regularly and build a personal progress timeline. This concepts flips the narrative from comparing others to using it as a tool for real physical development.
Selection of Ideas
From then on, I started picking sketches that prioritised simplicity. I didn't want the user to feel overwhelmed as the app is meant to be an intermediary between the gym and the user. The colour blue was also chosen based on theory, giving a sense of security and calmness.
Main Features
3 main features were conceptualised. A timeline showing all photos chronologically, an add picture screen to upload or take a photo with optional notes and finally a compare feature where you hold the screen to slowly reveal a more recent photo over an older one, with dates shown.
