Fellow

Staying physically active can be challenging, as people often struggle with motivation due to limited time and the demands of a fast-paced work life.

Our goal was to reimagine and create an activity experience—one that is interactive, offers a flexible, playful way to stay active. This approach aims to make physical activity more accessible and engaging, ultimately improving individual well-being.

Exercise—the word alone can feel overwhelming, bringing pressure and impossible standards. But what if movement was simply about feeling good? Let’s redefine movement to be empowering and playful not intimidating.

Persona

This is the journey of Maria, a young professional seeking accesible ways to stay active.

Details

  • 26 years old

  • Has a remote job

  • Has free time after work and on weekends

  • Feels insecure about her body

Goals & Needs

  • Wants to be active and feel healthier

  • Prefers an environment that feels comfortable for exercising

  • Seeks time for herself to relax

Pain Points

  • Spends long hours at home

  • Feels unsure about how to start or structure exercise routines

  • Avoids high-intensity interval training (HIIT) due to its intensity

"The idea of doing exercise feels more challenging each passing day."

Maria, 26

Inspiration & Strategy

We conducted research and sketched ideas to create a concept that keeps our persona active without the feel of traditional exercise. To keep the product-user interaction dynamic, we focused on a modular activity kit that allows people to stay active at home. Drawing inspiration from the game “Twister,” we designed interactions and layouts to make movement playful and engaging.

Self Determination Theory (SDT)

SDT proposes that the most powerful intrinsic motivations arise when our environment fulfills three core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Meeting these needs fuels motivations that promote personal growth and, ultimately, enhance well-being.

Based on this research, we decided to incorporate SDT into our project to create an experience that supports these fundamental needs and fosters lasting engagement.

SDT proposes that the most powerful intrinsic motivations arise when our environment fulfills three core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Meeting these needs fuels motivations that promote personal growth and, ultimately, enhance well-being.

Based on this research, we decided to incorporate SDT into our project to create an experience that supports these fundamental needs and fosters lasting engagement.

SDT proposes that the most powerful intrinsic motivations arise when our environment fulfills three core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Meeting these needs fuels motivations that promote personal growth and, ultimately, enhance well-being.

Based on this research, we decided to incorporate SDT into our project to create an experience that supports these fundamental needs and fosters lasting engagement.

Final Concept

The final concept is an interactive mat with three distinct modes—Focus, Relax, and Party—designed to provide a guided activity experience through a companion app. Through these modes, the mat and app work together to create a flexible and playful way for users to stay active.

Focus Mode: Built around balance exercises, encouraging users to explore body control and presence. With Focus Mode, users can discover their body's capabilities and concentrate on staying in the moment.

Focus Mode: Built around balance exercises, encouraging users to explore body control and presence. With Focus Mode, users can discover their body's capabilities and concentrate on staying in the moment.

Focus Mode: Built around balance exercises, encouraging users to explore body control and presence. With Focus Mode, users can discover their body's capabilities and concentrate on staying in the moment.

Relax Mode: Centered on stretching exercises, Relax Mode allows users to engage in mindful movement and observe their body’s progress over time. It provides a gentle way to feel and appreciate physical movement.

Relax Mode: Centered on stretching exercises, Relax Mode allows users to engage in mindful movement and observe their body’s progress over time. It provides a gentle way to feel and appreciate physical movement.

Relax Mode: Centered on stretching exercises, Relax Mode allows users to engage in mindful movement and observe their body’s progress over time. It provides a gentle way to feel and appreciate physical movement.

Party Mode: Featuring dance-based exercises, Party Mode introduces rhythm and social interaction. Users can learn dance steps, enjoy the beat, and socialize with friends, making exercise a fun and shared experience.

Party Mode: Featuring dance-based exercises, Party Mode introduces rhythm and social interaction. Users can learn dance steps, enjoy the beat, and socialize with friends, making exercise a fun and shared experience.

Party Mode: Featuring dance-based exercises, Party Mode introduces rhythm and social interaction. Users can learn dance steps, enjoy the beat, and socialize with friends, making exercise a fun and shared experience.

Product Details

Once the user takes their first steps on Fellow, light feedback activates to welcome them. Users can adjust the settings of Fellow before starting the activity, or they can choose to keep the default settings.

Once the user takes their first steps on Fellow, light feedback activates to welcome them. Users can adjust the settings of Fellow before starting the activity, or they can choose to keep the default settings.

Once the user takes their first steps on Fellow, light feedback activates to welcome them. Users can adjust the settings of Fellow before starting the activity, or they can choose to keep the default settings.

The user can follow the flow of movements during the exercise through the LEDs. In addition to audio and visual feedback, the light feedback enhances the level of interaction. There are two types of light notifications: steady LEDs and blinking LEDs. Steady LEDs indicate a change in movements, while blinking LEDs signal a standby mode counting the seconds.

The user can follow the flow of movements during the exercise through the LEDs. In addition to audio and visual feedback, the light feedback enhances the level of interaction. There are two types of light notifications: steady LEDs and blinking LEDs. Steady LEDs indicate a change in movements, while blinking LEDs signal a standby mode counting the seconds.

The user can follow the flow of movements during the exercise through the LEDs. In addition to audio and visual feedback, the light feedback enhances the level of interaction. There are two types of light notifications: steady LEDs and blinking LEDs. Steady LEDs indicate a change in movements, while blinking LEDs signal a standby mode counting the seconds.

System & Interaction Map

The map outlines the components and features of the system into a structured flow that represents relationships and navigation paths.

User Interface

The interface is designed to be intuitive and encouraging, making users feel supported and connected throughout their journey. The application works together with the interactive map to guide users.

It allows users to personalize their experience, they can track their movements, connect with a supportive community, monitor activity levels, and adjust settings as desired.

Onboarding

Users are guided to set up a profile that includes their current activity level and personal goals. The system minimizes emphasis on physical metrics like height and weight, instead focusing on daily activeness to reduce intimidation.

Built-in pressure sensors on the mat understand the user’s typical body positioning by allowing system to adapt to the exercises and feedback based on individual posture and movement.

The onboarding includes encouraging messages to help users feel empowered from the start.

Users are guided to set up a profile that includes their current activity level and personal goals. The system minimizes emphasis on physical metrics like height and weight, instead focusing on daily activeness to reduce intimidation.

Built-in pressure sensors on the mat understand the user’s typical body positioning by allowing system to adapt to the exercises and feedback based on individual posture and movement.

The onboarding includes encouraging messages to help users feel empowered from the start.

Users are guided to set up a profile that includes their current activity level and personal goals. The system minimizes emphasis on physical metrics like height and weight, instead focusing on daily activeness to reduce intimidation.

Built-in pressure sensors on the mat understand the user’s typical body positioning by allowing system to adapt to the exercises and feedback based on individual posture and movement.

The onboarding includes encouraging messages to help users feel empowered from the start.

"It doesn’t matter what your height or weight is; your well-being is about how active you feel each day"

Activity Page

The Activity Page displays exercises in a recommended sequence, guiding users through their routine.

Illustrations are used to provide visual cues to help users focus on the movements rather than comparison with others, promoting a positive and user-centered experience. Users can adjust activity settings, customize their workout, and save favorite exercises for easy access, creating a flexible and enjoyable routine tailored to their preferences.

The Activity Page displays exercises in a recommended sequence, guiding users through their routine.

Illustrations are used to provide visual cues to help users focus on the movements rather than comparison with others, promoting a positive and user-centered experience. Users can adjust activity settings, customize their workout, and save favorite exercises for easy access, creating a flexible and enjoyable routine tailored to their preferences.

The Activity Page displays exercises in a recommended sequence, guiding users through their routine.

Illustrations are used to provide visual cues to help users focus on the movements rather than comparison with others, promoting a positive and user-centered experience. Users can adjust activity settings, customize their workout, and save favorite exercises for easy access, creating a flexible and enjoyable routine tailored to their preferences.

Final Remarks

Designing interactions in a playful, engaging, and gamified way aims to help users stay active by using the interactive mat and application.

Reflecting back to SDT, empowering users to personalize every detail, we’ve enhanced Autonomy, giving them full control over their experience. Features like party mode and community access foster Competence, turning fitness into a fun, shared journey. Finally, by removing pressure and eliminating the “right or wrong” approach, we’ve cultivated a sense of Relatedness—making users feel the system is uniquely tailored for their enjoyment and well-being.

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