type
case study
Mentor
Sandra Vickery
Duration
10 Weeks
Date
winter 2025
Problem
The US faces severe health disparities with a 15-year life expectancy gap between economic classes that continues to widen.
Solution
ParkShare addresses these disparities through a hybrid health solution combining digital tools and self-care practices for underserved populations.
My Role
Led end-to-end product design from research to iterative refinements based on user testing.
01 Discovery
Secondary Research
Secondary research revealed significant longevity gaps between income levels and identified "blue zones" where lifestyle factors contribute to longer lifespans.
Life Expectancy vs Income
The richest Americans live 10-15 years longer than the poorest Americans.
Centenarian Prevalence
America has far fewer centenarians than Okinawa, Japan.
Key Lifestyle Elements
Dan Buettner & National Geographic identified blue zones —100+ years.
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Despite being considered a poor region, Nicoya, Costa Rica is recognized as a blue zone where residents regularly live past 100 years through their lifestyle practices.
02 Define
Primary Research
Primary research with adults 25-35 in low-income communities identified key themes: motivation factors, social aspects, barriers to fitness, and environmental influences.
User Interviews
"Can you elaborate, tell me more?"
~ Interviewer
"I'm able to connect with nature…"
~ User 1
"It's nice to motivate each other…"
~ User 2
"Why don't you take care of your body?…"
~ User 3
"Consistency is the foundation..."
~ User 4
"I think we're very social beings..."
~ User 5
Empathy Maps
Created empathy maps and personas representing three user types: nature lovers, adventurers, and community-driven users.
User Personas
How Might We (HMW)
Developed "How Might We" questions focusing on flexibility, discovery, accessibility, and connectivity.
Flexibility
Discovery
Accessibility
Connectivity
User Stories Matrix
User Stories Affinity Mapping
User Stories MVP
Prioritized MVP features through user stories mapping: workout partner matching, customizable workout templates, and location filtering.
03 Information Architecture
Site Map
Designed site map with five core sections: Explore, Connect, GetFit, Calendar, and Profile.
User Flows
Created user flows to seamlessly integrate fitness planning with location features and social connectivity.
04 Ideation
Early Ideation
Used rapid ideation to develop key design elements: motivational components, intuitive exploration interfaces, and calendar integration.
Sketches to Low Fidelities
Developed low-fidelity wireframes for onboarding, exploration, workout, and connection flows.
05 Visual Design
Mood Board
Created visual design system with nature-inspired elements, intuitive navigation, and welcoming aesthetics.
Visual Style Guide
06 Implementation
Usability Testing Highlights
Conducted two rounds of usability testing, identifying and resolving navigation issues across core flows.
Final Prototypes
Final prototypes demonstrated significant improvements in task completion rates across Explore, Workout, and Connect flows.
Last Thoughts and Next Steps
Impacts & Results
User testing revealed 80% of participants found the app intuitive to navigate.
Strong positive feedback on community connection features and outdoor activity focus.
Successfully validated core features: location discovery, workout creation, and social connection.
Lessons Learned
Welcome and signup screens need clearer separation to reduce confusion.
Home screen requires additional context and explanatory text.
Performance issues during workout creation need addressing.
Future Opportunities
Should consider implementing a dedicated bookmarks section for easier access.
Test streamlining the GetFit section to reduce information overload.
Add a clear pause feature during workouts.
Personal Growth
Gained expertise in remote user testing methodologies.
Developed skills in synthesizing diverse user feedback.
Enhanced ability to identify and prioritize feature improvements.