Zepplife is a wellness and activity tracking app that pairs with external devices like smartwatches to gather data on various health metrics such as sleep duration, step count, stress levels, workouts, caloric burn, and more. The company aims to leverage its technology to assist users in enhancing their overall health.

A preliminary survey was conducted to understand the needs and preferences of users in this domain. Out of the 16 responses received, a majority indicated a desire for more comprehensive water intake and hydration tracking. Consequently, Zepplife decided to introduce a new feature to its app, focusing on the monitoring and promotion of healthy hydration habits.

The hydration tracking feature of the app should prioritize user engagement and simplicity, thus encouraging users to maintain healthy hydration habits. The app should strive for a fast and easy-to-use interface, yet not oversimplify the concept of hydration by merely suggesting a fixed amount of water intake for everyone. Instead, it should provide personalized hydration recommendations considering various factors that influence optimal hydration levels and educate users on the importance of a holistic approach to maintaining proper hydration.

The app's design should emphasize seamless integration with wearables, an intuitive interface, and personalized hydration recommendations based on each user's unique needs and circumstances.

The hydration tracking feature of the app monitors hydration by tracking both liquid intake amounts and hydration percentages. This dual approach allows users to log various drinks consumed throughout the day. Providing comprehensive information about their hydration status and the effectiveness of their drink choices, the app offers valuable tips for improvement. Users can input detailed drink submissions and benefit from adaptive hydration goals, which consider factors like season, stress levels, body health, and activity levels. The app also accommodates manual notifications for extraordinary events like illness or new diets, ensuring hydration goals are tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

Research

The project started with a survey to collect data on potential users' experiences, needs, and expectations regarding activity-tracking apps. The majority of the participants expressed interest in improving their hydration habits.

To gain deeper insights into users' views on hydration tracking, interviews were conducted to explore their thoughts on maintaining healthy hydration habits. Finally, a market analysis was conducted to identify the features, aesthetics, and needs covered by existing apps and to discover opportunities for improvement in this field.

Feature positioning

I analyzed the existing features and noticed that they start with a graph on the homepage and lead to a "history" page where users can view and modify their data. Using this as a reference, I created a new flow that enables users to easily add drinks, set reminders, and learn more about hydration from the homepage. Once a drink is added, users are directed back to the history page to monitor their progress.

UX design

As part of the design process, I brainstormed different ideas for how the data would be presented and visualized, as well as how users would be able to add new drinks. At this point, I'm still exploring various options and ideas to determine the best approach for the feature design.

For the initial sketch of the design, I used screenshots from the UI analysis and pasted them together to represent the optimal flow for users to view their hydration history and add a drink. I used FigJam to add notes around the collage and gather the first round of feedback on the design.

First prototype and user tests

I constructed a quick prototype based on the sketched screenshot and conducted several user testing sessions to evaluate the homepage card and the process of adding a new drink. For this initial version, I omitted the real content from the hydration history page to focus on prototyping and testing the concept of the flow. This approach allowed me to gauge user perception and identify areas where improvements could be made before investing more time and effort into the design's finer details.

User testing & Iterations 2

More than water

Challenges from user testing led to the redesign of the "More than Water" feature. The new design offers hydration tracking based on percentage and volume in ounces or milliliters. Each drink type receives a hydration rating, offering guidelines for optimal hydration.

Prototype

The prototype includes an engaging hydration history page with special interactions and graphics, streamlining the design for simplicity, fewer steps, and clear communication. These changes aim to create a more intuitive user experience for further testing.