Planet Fitness Mobile App Case Study

Timeline

  • May 2025 - May 2025

My Role

  • UI/UX Designer

Problem

Lacking Personalized Guidance in a Gym Designed for Everyone

Many Planet Fitness members walk in unsure of what to do for their workout. While the gym promotes a judgment-free zone, the lack of structured in-app guidance can leave beginners feeling lost, unmotivated, or inconsistent in their routines, leading to decreased engagement and possible membership cancellations.

Solution

A Guided Fitness Experience That Meets Members Where They Are

To solve this, I introduced the Smart Workout Companion, a personalized in-gym experience that uses member data, equipment availability, and fitness goals to guide users through a tailored workout — all within the Planet Fitness mobile app.

  • Goal-Oriented Customization: Users select specific fitness goals (e.g., build muscle, lose weight, improve endurance), and the app tailors each workout to support those objectives.

  • Time-Based Flexibility: Workouts adapt based on how much time a user has — whether it’s a quick 20-minute session or a full 60-minute routine.

  • Experience-Level Scaling: Plans automatically adjust difficulty, exercise type, and weight suggestions based on whether a user is a beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

  • Progressive Programming: Routines evolve over time — increasing in intensity, volume, or complexity as users consistently check in and complete workouts.

  • User Behavior Learning: The app tracks past activity (e.g., skipped exercises, favorite machines) to fine-tune future sessions and improve personalization.

The Persona

27 Years Old

User Story

Jasmine is motivated to get in shape but often feels lost when she walks into the gym. She doesn’t have a structured workout plan and isn’t confident using most of the machines on her own. Without guidance, she either repeats the same exercises or spends time wandering, unsure of what to do next. This lack of direction causes her to feel discouraged and skip workouts altogether. Despite having the Planet Fitness app, it doesn’t currently help her plan or navigate her gym sessions effectively.

Goals

  • Build a consistent gym routine without feeling overwhelmed

  • Learn how to use gym equipment with proper guidance

  • Track workouts and see progress over time

  • Avoid crowds and wasted time wandering around

Pain-points

  • Feels intimidated by experienced gym-goers

  • Unsure where to start or how to build a workout plan

  • Struggles to stay motivated without clear direction

  • Often skips workouts due to indecision or lack of a plan

Wireframes

The Final Product

The Style Guide

Colors

Logo

Components

Conclusion

Redesigning the Planet Fitness mobile app gave me the opportunity to solve a real-world challenge: helping members feel more confident and intentional during their workouts. By introducing the Smart Workout Companion, I created a feature that personalizes the fitness experience, guiding users with clarity, purpose, and motivation. This solution not only supports beginners like Jasmine in building better habits, but also strengthens the connection between members and the Planet Fitness brand. Through user-centered design, thoughtful feature planning, and seamless UI integration, this project showcases how digital tools can positively impact in-person experiences. I’m excited to keep designing products that bridge the gap between technology and everyday well-being.