Challenge

Fitness tracking apps suffer from high abandonment rates—research shows 60-70% of users quit within the first month.

Primary pain points include overwhelming onboarding processes, unclear goal-setting interfaces, and motivational content that feels generic or discouraging. Users download with enthusiasm but abandon when the interface feels confusing or the tone feels cold and clinical

Fitness apps face a common problem: users download with enthusiasm but abandon within weeks when the interface feels confusing, or the tone feels cold and clinical. My goal was to transform every touchpoint into a moment of encouragement, turning "Continue" buttons into "Let's Go!" moments, error messages into helpful guides, and empty states into invitations rather than dead ends.

Approach

• Conducted user research to identify specific motivation barriers and friction points through interviews and competitive analysis

• Created user personas representing different fitness levels and goals (beginners, returning athletes, maintenance users)

• Designed information architecture prioritizing clarity over feature density

• Developed comprehensive microcopy system that encourages without overwhelming

• Created voice & tone guidelines balancing motivation with authenticity—equal parts personal trainer and supportive friend

• Prototyped complete user flows in Figma with actual interface content (not lorem ipsum)

• Conducted usability testing with target users and iterated based on feedback

Content Design Solutions

Onboarding: Simplified 8-screen onboarding to 3 essential steps with conversational microcopy that builds confidence rather than intimidation

Goal Setting: Clear, jargon-free goal options with helpful context ("What's this?" tooltips) instead of assuming user knowledge

Progress Tracking: Encouraging microcopy that celebrates small wins and reframes "failures" as learning opportunities

Empty States: Motivational messaging that guides next actions rather than leaving users uncertain

Permissions: Transformed technical asks into conversational invitations ("Get your daily motivation reminder? We'll cheer you on but never spam you")

Result

Streamlined onboarding experience with clear, motivational content architecture. User testing showed improved comprehension of features and reduced cognitive load during initial app exploration. Created a scalable microcopy system that maintained a consistent, encouraging voice across all product touchpoints.

Skills Demonstrated

User Research • User Personas • Information Architecture • Figma Prototyping • Microcopy Development • Voice & Tone Guidelines • Usability Testing • Iterative Design • Content Strategy • Mobile UX Writing

Project Context

Role: UX Writer, Content Strategist
Project Type: Academic UX Design Case Study (Google UX Design Certificate Program)
Tools: Figma, User Research, Content Strategy Frameworks
Deliverables: Complete app microcopy system, voice & tone guidelines, user flow content

Why This Matters

This project demonstrates my ability to think beyond individual words and understand how content shapes user behavior and emotional experience. Good UX writing isn't just about clarity; it's about using language to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and create moments of delight that keep users engaged. Every button label, error message, and notification is an opportunity to reinforce the brand promise and help users succeed.

Tags

Content Design, UX Writing, Microcopy, User Research, Mobile App, Figma

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