Sydney Ledden – UX Research & Design Case Study: Tone Tempo

Project Overview

Tone Tempo is an AI-powered fitness app that personalizes workout plans based on user schedules, available equipment, and fitness goals. The app enhances the exercise experience by syncing curated workouts with AI-generated music playlists, creating an immersive and motivating fitness environment.

My Role

I contributed to both the website design and the iOS/Android app UI/UX, focusing on:

• User research & journey mapping to optimize onboarding, engagement, and retention.

• Feature design to enhance customization, gamification, and accessibility.

• Marketing & user engagement strategies to improve app visibility and conversion rates.

• This case study highlights my approach to UX research, service design, and user experience optimization for Tone Tempo.

Problem Statement & Research Approach

Key Challenges Identified Through UX Research:

• Onboarding Drop-Off: Users found it difficult to set up preferences and navigate features, leading to higher churn rates.

• Feature Clarity Issues: Some key features (e.g., Distance Mode) were perceived as runner-specific, limiting adoption.

• Music & Workout Sync Optimization: Users expected seamless music integration that matched workout intensity dynamically.

• Engagement & Motivation: Retention analysis showed a need for stronger gamification and progress tracking.

• UI/UX Inconsistencies Across Platforms: Disjointed visual hierarchy, button interactions, and navigation flows impacted usability.

Research Methodologies:

• User Personas & Behavioral Analysis: Developed key user profiles (tech-savvy individuals, music lovers, fitness enthusiasts, early adopters).

• Competitor Benchmarking: Analyzed Peloton, Apple Fitness+, Nike Run Club, and Strava to identify UX strengths and gaps.

• A/B Testing & Usability Studies: Tested onboarding flows, interaction patterns, and navigation structures to identify pain points.

• Heatmaps & User Analytics: Assessed tap behavior, engagement rates, and drop-off points to refine UX strategy.

Solutions & UX Research Impact

1. User Journey Mapping & Onboarding Optimization (Reduce churn & improve first-time user engagement)

Research Insight: 50% of users abandon apps after the first use if onboarding is unclear (Source: Localytics).

UX Solutions Implemented:

• Progressive onboarding flow → Guided users through goal setting, fitness levels, and AI workout personalization.

• Apple Health integration → Allowed automatic input of weight, height, and fitness metrics for smoother setup.

• Personalized first workout suggestion → Based on onboarding selections, users received a tailored workout plan on day one.

Impact:

• Increased first-week retention by streamlining setup & feature discoverability.

• Reduced onboarding abandonment rate through a more intuitive flow.

2. Feature Design: AI Personalization, Gamification & Social Engagement (Boost retention & motivation loops)

Research Insight: Apps that use AI-driven personalization see 30-50% higher engagement (Source: McKinsey & Company).

Key UX Enhancements:

• Workout DJ Integration → Users could select "energy level" or mood, with AI auto-curating playlists to match intensity.

• Gamification Features → Introduced streaks, badges, and milestone rewards to reinforce habit formation.

• Community Sharing & Upvoting → Allowed users to share workouts, follow plans, and engage with leaderboards.

Impact:

• Increased session frequency due to AI-driven customization & motivation loops.

• Higher engagement rates in shared workout plans and streak tracking.

3. Workout Experience & Usability Refinements (Improve session flow & reduce friction)

Research Insight: Apps with intuitive, frictionless interfaces see significantly higher user satisfaction & retention (Source: Nielsen Norman Group).

Key UI/UX Adjustments:

• Refined Home Screen Navigation → Simplified menu structure & feature discoverability.

• Optimized "Distance Mode" Messaging → Clarified that it supports running, HIIT, biking, and general movement tracking.

• Improved Scroll & Button Interactions → Added microinteractions & tactile feedback for a more responsive UI.

Impact:

• Reduced user confusion around feature functionality.

• Higher usability scores in A/B testing for button clarity & interaction flow.

4. Accessibility & Visual Hierarchy Enhancements (Ensure inclusivity & WCAG compliance)

Research Insight: Accessible design broadens audience reach and improves user satisfaction (Source: WebAIM).

Key UX Improvements:

• WCAG-compliant color contrast & typography → Ensured readability across various lighting conditions.

• Button & Touch Target Optimization → Improved hit areas for users with motor impairments.

• Dark Mode Adjustments → Optimized low-light usability without reducing visual clarity.

Impact:

• Enhanced accessibility scores, making the app usable for a more diverse audience.

• Improved mobile usability ratings due to better spacing & readability.

5. Monetization & Conversion Strategy (Maximize user conversion to paid plans)

Research Insight: Freemium apps convert 15-30% of users to paid if the free tier adds real value (Source: Sensor Tower).

Key Monetization Enhancements:

• Trial Conversion Optimization → Soft paywall triggered only when users attempt advanced features (queueing, custom workouts).

• Rest Period Ads (Peloton Model) → Non-intrusive ads integrated into editable rest times instead of pop-ups.

• Subscription Page Adjustments → Pricing clearly displayed at the bottom of marketing pages for unobtrusive visibility.

Impact:

Higher trial-to-paid conversion rate due to strategic paywall placement.

Lower ad intrusion complaints with Peloton-style rest period integration.

Final UX Research Takeaways & Next Steps

Key Outcomes from My UX Research & Design Contributions:

• Improved onboarding retention, increasing user adoption through progressive goal setting & health integration.

• Higher engagement & motivation loops, incorporating AI personalization, gamification, and community-driven workouts.

• Enhanced feature clarity, ensuring Distance Mode and music sync were clearly positioned for all users.

• Optimized UI for accessibility, improving visual hierarchy, readability, and button responsiveness.

• Refined monetization & freemium strategy, balancing user value with conversion incentives.

Next Steps & Future Research Considerations:

Further A/B testing on onboarding sequence variations to maximize first-session engagement.

Refine AI-driven personalization to dynamically adjust difficulty & music pacing in real time.

Expand social & live workout features, introducing real-time leaderboard competitions & community challenges.

Optimize dark mode & night-time usability, ensuring readability in low-light settings.

Conclusion

This case study has been so rewarding by being able to blend AI-driven innovation with user-centered design, focusing on:

• User research, service design, and usability testing to enhance engagement, retention, and accessibility.

• Data-driven UX decisions based on behavioral psychology & fitness app trends.

• Scalable, intuitive interfaces that align business goals with user expectations.

My work at Tone Tempo as a UX researcher & strategist, has bene rooted in. ensuring that every design decision is informed by real user needs, data insights, and industry best practices.

*Data from UX Interviews to Come*

Localytics – "The Importance of Onboarding: Why 50% of Users Drop Off After the First Use"

https://info.localytics.com/blog/the-importance-of-onboarding

AI-Powered Personalization & Workout Customization

McKinsey & Company – "How AI-Driven Personalization Drives Business Growth"

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-future-of-personalization-and-ai

Harvard Business Review – "Personalization at Scale: AI’s Role in User Engagement"

https://hbr.org/2021/05/the-future-of-personalization

Engagement & Motivation Loops

FitTech Global – "How Gamification Drives User Retention in Fitness Apps"

https://www.fittechglobal.com/FitTechNews/

Behavioral Economics in Fitness Apps – How Gamification Boosts Motivation

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7696315/

Workout Experience & Usability Enhancements

Nielsen Norman Group – "Common UX Pitfalls in Fitness Apps"

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/fitness-app-usability/

Google UX Playbook for Health & Fitness

https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/ux_playbook_for_health_fitness.pdf

Distance Mode & Running Features

Strava Case Study – "How Strava Expanded Beyond Runners"

https://blog.strava.com/press/strava-case-study/

Sound & Music Integration

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – "Effects of Music on Exercise Performance"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5991975/

Nike Run Club & Apple Fitness+ Case Study

https://www.apple.com/apple-fitness-plus/

Pricing & Monetization Strategy

Sensor Tower – "How Freemium Fitness Apps Convert Users to Paid Subscribers"

https://sensortower.com/blog/fitness-app-growth

Peloton Case Study – "Subscription Revenue Model in Fitness Tech"

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/05/peloton-how-it-became-a-1point8-billion-fitness-company.html