Sneaker Link
Project Background
SneakerLink is a conceptual app designed as part of a UX/UI design project to explore solutions for connecting runners with local run clubs. The goal is to make it easier for people to find a running community that fits their needs, whether they’re new to a city, returning to running, or just starting out. For run clubs and organizers, SneakerLink serves as a visibility tool, helping them reach runners who align with their group’s focus and goals.
With the surge in run club popularity post-pandemic, many runners still struggle to find the right group. SneakerLink was designed to address this challenge, creating a seamless way for users to discover clubs, connect with friends, and stay active. While this is a conceptual project, it reflects real-world user needs and explores how digital solutions can foster community and motivation.
Scope
User Research – Understanding runner needs, motivations, and challenges in finding group runs.
UX/UI Design – Designing an intuitive and engaging interface for discovering and joining running groups.
Prototyping – Creating interactive prototypes to test and refine core features.
Usability Testing – Gathering feedback to improve functionality, accessibility, and overall user experience.
Timeline
Dec 2024 - Feb 2025
Part time 20 hours /week
Introduction
Introduction
Problem
Despite the growing popularity of run clubs, finding the right group remains a challenge. Runners often rely on word-of-mouth, social media, or scattered online resources, making the search process time-consuming and inconsistent. For newcomers, returning runners, or those looking for a specific community, this lack of a centralized platform can be a barrier to participation. Likewise, run clubs and organizers struggle to reach the right audience and grow their communities effectively. SneakerLink addresses these pain points by providing a streamlined, user-friendly solution that connects runners with clubs that match their needs.
Research
Research
Competitors
MindBody
Meetup
Nike Run Club
Classpass
Interviews
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Key Takeaway: Community is the main driver of participation in run clubs and fitness events.
Motivation: Social connection and meeting new people.
Needs
Strong social aspect.
Flexible structure.
Run distance details.
Proximity to home.
Actionable Insights
See if friends are attending.
Notifications for nearby events and friends joining.
Explore run clubs in other cities.
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Key Takeaway: Timing and proximity are key factors in attending run clubs.
Motivation: Group running, accountability, motivation, and fitness inspiration.
Needs
Proximity/location visibility
Free/low-cost options
Finding running partners
Exercise logging
Actionable Insights
Invite friends & see who’s attending
Post/share event photos
Show proximity from current location
Advance scheduling & search by keywords
Track runs, miles, and routes
Highlight new clubs / events
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Key Takeaway: Friend profiles and meeting like-minded people would enhance the app, including a carpool option.
Motivation: Connecting with people who share interests
Needs
Parking/carpooling options
Flexible scheduling
Incentives to attend
Event clarity/welcoming atmosphere
Running stats (mile time, PRs, etc.)
Actionable Insights
Interactive map with filters
Runner stats tracking
Friend-finding & meetup filters (time, location, cost, sponsors)
Female-focused clubs
Photos of meetup locations
Parking, amenities, and event details on the app
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Key Takeaway: Parents value structured, repeatable events and the ability to filter clubs based on their needs. Badges and rewards add motivation.
Motivation: Physical health, social connection, making friends as adults
Needs
Weekly recurring events
Friend accountability / participation visibility
Safe, family-friendly options
Transparent workout expectations
Easy-to-use, intuitive interface
Run tracking & progress streaks
Badges/rewards for achievements
Customizable filters
Actionable Insights
Filters for terrain, difficulty, indoor/outdoor, time, and preferences
Participation tracking & check-in data
Weather conditions displayed in-appRun club pages with descriptions, ratings, and proximity
Badges for milestones & achievementsUser profiles with optional paid avatar features
Club ratings & profile reporting system
Key Insights
The main reason users would download this app is to connect with other runners in their area and to build a sense of community.
The ability to sort and filter classes, a feature seen in competitors' apps and requested in user interviews.
A map search feature, similar to those in Mindbody and Classpass. Users emphasized the importance of displaying distance from their home base.
Users expressed interest in tracking running data, similar to Nike Run Club, to monitor their progress and mileage.
In user interviews, apps like Slack and Duolingo were mentioned for their impactful features such as friend profiles and achievement badges that users would like to see.
POVs and HMWs
Point of View and How Might We Statements were developed to deepen our understanding of user needs and create targeted solutions for their key challenges. These statements highlight user pain points and explore potential ways to address them, guiding the design process toward meaningful improvements.
Filtering & Discoverability of Run Clubs
I want to help users easily find run clubs that align with their preferences.
How Might We:
design an intuitive filter system to simplify run club discovery?
make it easy for users to revisit and track recurring run clubs they enjoyed?
determine the most essential filters for users and prioritize them effectively?
Run Tracking & Motivation
I want to help runners log their data in a way that keeps them motivated and engaged with their fitness goals.
How Might We:
determine which performance metrics are most valuable to runners?
design a tracking system that encourages consistent engagement?
use GPS/location data to provide accurate speed and distance tracking?
introduce friendly competition features to boost motivation?
Building Community & Social Connection
I want to connect social runners through the app so they feel a sense of community and are motivated to attend more events.
How Might We:
make users feel comfortable connecting with friends through the app?
create excitement around meeting new people through the app?
inspire users to build a lasting running community?
Map Feature for Easy Discovery
I want to create a map feature that enhances run club discovery and usability.
How Might We:
identify the most important information to display on the map?
integrate filtered search results into the map view seamlessly?
allow users to set a specific search radius around their location?
ensure consistency by applying the same filters to both list and map views?
Run Club Conditions & Safety
I want to ensure runners have accurate expectations about run clubs before attending.
How Might We:
integrate real-time weather updates to inform runners about conditions?
implement a rating and review system to reflect user experiences?
enhance safety by preventing and addressing unsafe experiences at run clubs and within the app?
I created three personas based on my research interviews and market analysis, keeping them at the forefront of my design process. The goal was to ensure the app would cater to a diverse range of users. While they share a similar age range, they are at different stages of life, which was reflected in my user interviews. I wanted to design with all of them in mind, making sure the app addresses the needs of a broad audience.
Personas
Prototyping
Prototyping
Low Fidelity
For the initial homepage design, I began laying out the general features needed within frames for the main screens in the low-fidelity prototype. I included temperature and wind, as they were key factors in deciding whether to run for my users. The preliminary navigation bar was also introduced, outlining the initial structure of what would be found there.
To accommodate different user needs, I divided the process into two roles: the user and the organizer. While both interfaces share a similar design for consistency, their functionalities differ. The organizer inputs club data and manages calendar information, while the user can only view these details and update their personal profile. This separation ensures a streamlined experience tailored to each role’s needs.
Moving forward, I primarily focused on the user experience, as my research participants and testers were potential users rather than organizers.
Brand identity
Sneaker Link is designed to bring communities together, fostering a welcoming environment where anyone can feel comfortable joining in. We understand that going on runs and getting active can be intimidating, so our goal is to make it as easy and approachable as possible.
The name “Sneaker Link” plays on the phrase sneaky link, which typically refers to a casual meetup between people. I reimagined this concept with an active twist where “link” represents connecting with others and “sneaker” ties to the act of running. The app is all about making it easy and natural for runners to meet up, share experiences, and form connections with others who are also passionate about getting active. Just like a "sneaky link" connects two people, Sneaker Link connects runners in a way that feels exciting and effortless, making it easier to find community and motivation.
The logo is a play on the letters SL and matches up with the runner’s stride as shown in the image to the right. Where the back leg matches up with the S and the front leg bends like the L.
For the color palette, we drew inspiration from the sunny and inviting words that came up in user interviews. To create a welcoming, energetic vibe, we decided on a cotton candy sunset palette, using light pink and blue hues. This 70s retro-inspired color scheme brings a sense of warmth and positivity while staying fresh and vibrant.
MidFidelity WireFrames
Search bar repositioned to the top of screen for improved visibility and accessibility, following standard UI patterns.
Map interface with filtering options inspired by industry standards and competitive research (including Airbnb) for familiar user experience.
Add Run feature lets users log their runs and tag associated run clubs, similar to Nike Run Club's functionality.
Club profile cards display club details and highlight user's friends who are members. Clicking on friend names navigates to their profiles.
Consistent card-based design pattern throughout the app provides visual cohesion and improves user recognition of content types.
Friend connections allow users to see other runners' activities. This feature was prioritized based on user feedback.
Universal changes
Navigation Bar:
Added Home button in High Fidelity for easy navigation back to main screen
Changed icon styling: blue background removed from all icons, blue color now only indicates selected screen
Changed label capitalization from ALL CAPS to Regular Capitalization
Added bottom iPhone system bar in High Fidelity mockup
Repositioned labels above icons to improve legibility and fit in High Fidelity wireframe
Universal UI improvements
Added iPhone camera notch/status bar at the top
Enhanced weather bar with emoji indicators
Removed drop shadows from all text boxes
Changed font weight from bold to medium
Standardized capitalization: replaced ALL CAPS text with regular capitalization throughout
HIgh Fidelity
The transition from mid-fidelity to high-fidelity designs was driven by valuable feedback from my mentor, group critiques, and user testing. These insights helped refine key features to better align with the needs of my ideal users. Key improvements for each screen are annotated below.
- Guiding statement added at the top to help users understand the purpose of the screen.
- CALENDAR changed to “my calendar”
- TRACKING GEAR changed to “Connect Devices”
- Back and Help icons added.
- Calendar with next run button added to take user to calendar feature
- Run location and next run CTAs added to take runner to map or calendar feature
- Share icon added so users can share the clubs with friends outside of the app
- Friends who favorited the club show up to encourage the users to attend that club
- Distance from user to the added to the meetup spot added to club cards
- Club names and photos added to the cards
- Runners profile page
- My Friends and My Clubs buttons added to take user to their friends and liked clubs. Made blue and very prominent so the user could easily find where to find their friends
- User can edit their profile and picture and all the information on the page
- Sync Device option added for multi-device user experience
- Date added so runners could go back in and add runs from previous days
- Pace removed because it could be auto calculated using distance and duration
- Search bar suggestions added based on suggestions from peers in group critiques
- Map widened to boarders to make functional on this screen
- Weather icons added to the top feature
- Icon added to show users location
- Previous “list” screen removed and “detailed” renamed to List to reduce redundancy
- List and map buttons updated to have the blue indicate the selected color
- Shows number of results
- Filters and search added to make finding friends easier
- Miles ran removed from profile view
- Suggested friends that have mutuals with the user are added
- City added to “My Friends” to make finding local friends easier
- Tracking information added for day, month, and year
- Filters able to be applied to the data being shown
- Runner’s miles, runs, and pace given the filters applied are shown
- Year with arrows added on x axis so user can change the data being displayed
User Testing
User Testing
Testing Process
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Objective: Identify any frustrations or discomfort users may experience when providing the required information. Since this is a one-time process, it should feel quick and minimally intrusive.
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Objective: Observe users as they log their running miles to identify any difficulties or frustrations. Pay attention to whether they struggle to understand the process or take longer than expected. Streamline the experience by removing unnecessary information.
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Objective: Evaluate whether users can easily locate the club search feature and find a club that meets their needs. Assess the intuitiveness of the search function’s placement and usability. (Note: Measuring success fully may be limited without club data.)
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Objective: Determine whether users can easily find and add friends. Assess if the amount of information displayed is appropriate. Evaluate whether the interface remains clean and uncluttered despite presenting a large amount of information.
Task Flows
Registration on first page changed to Sign Up
Separate Email and password page added for security
Third list option for ways to show clubs removed and detailed option changed to “list” to only have a map and list view.
Show distance from user home on cards and on map view.
Add Icon showing users home on the map view.
Being able to “like” a club and move it to a favorites list and get there through the users profile.
Make the button blue when selected instead of pink, more intuitive for user.
Add share button to the run profile.
Remove the search and the X from the search bar per recommendations from the group critique.
Add “friends” in the search suggestions on the home page.
Add a search field in the friend page to make finding friends easier.
Add Sync Watch data in the add run tab.
Remove the pace in the add run tab because it can be manually calculated when pace and duration are entered.
Add in the date so the runners can add in runs from past days.
updates Made post testing
High-Level Click-Through
A high-level click-through of the SneakerLink app, showcasing its features and overall functionality. The demo highlights the menu and navigation, providing a preview of how users can explore different areas of the app and utilize its features. This initial prototype was built in Figma for early user testing, allowing participants to interact with the core structure and provide feedback on navigation, usability, and feature clarity.
Most refinements based on user feedback are reflected in the video, including improved menu organization, clearer navigation labels, and more intuitive placement of key features. Since this is a Figma prototype, some interactions may feel slightly limited or less fluid, but the final product would offer a seamless, fully functional experience.
Future Considerations
Future Considerations
Moving forward, we plan to complete the calendar feature and gather input from potential organizers to refine the organizer side of the app.
As the app gains traction, we aim to incorporate additional features mentioned in user interviews, such as badges or awards and competitions, to encourage engagement.
In the future, we also envision expanding to other fitness activities like skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and yoga, broadening the range of group activities users can discover.
