Transforming Kernwerk Fitness App — Creating an Adaptive and Engaging User Experience

As a UI/UX Designer with over 5 years of experience, I believe that a well-designed product should not only look good but also solve real user problems and create meaningful experiences. In my role at Kernwerk GmbH, I was trusted to improve the user experience of their fitness app by addressing two major challenges.

Through strategic thinking, creative solutions, and a user-centered approach, I managed to design features that not only streamlined usability but also increased engagement and delivered real impact for both users and business goals.

Let’s dive into the story.

_{Problem 1}

Disorganized Exercise List & Inefficient Level Management

The Challenge:
The exercise feature in Kernwerk’s app had two major issues that made it difficult for users to enjoy a smooth workout experience:

1. Unorganized Exercise List:
   The list of exercises was too long and poorly structured, making it difficult for users to find specific exercises.
2. Inefficient Level Management:
   Each exercise had adjustable difficulty levels, but the app did not manage these levels well. As a result, users struggled to set the right level according to their abilities.

These problems made the feature hard to navigate and less enjoyable, which reduced user motivation and engagement.

My Solution:
To solve this, I designed an adaptive and game-like journey progression system to organize exercises and simplify level management:

1. Categorize Exercise, add filtering & Search:
   I added multiple filtering and search options to make it easier for users to find exercises:
   • Filter by Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
   • Filter by Exercise Type: Mobility, Conditioning, Strength, etc.
   • Search by Name: Instant access to specific exercises
2. Journey Progression System:
   I introduced a game-like level system where exercises were grouped into progressive levels:
   • Users start at Level 1
   • Completing Level 1 unlocks Level 2, and so on
   • This system creates a sense of achievement and motivates users to keep progressing
3. Daily Workout Integration:
   • Data from the Journey Progression is used to generate daily workouts tailored to the user’s progress.
   • This approach helps users get more structured training and avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many exercise options

‍

Theoretical Foundation:

The solution I created is based on several principles of UX theory and user psychology:

Information Architecture (IA)

According to Rosenfeld, Morville & Arango (2015) in the book Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond, a well-structured information architecture helps users find and understand content more easily. By implementing filtering and search features, users can quickly access the information they need without having to scroll extensively.

Progressive Disclosure

The principle of Progressive Disclosure (Nielsen Norman Group) suggests displaying only relevant information at the right time so users don’t feel overwhelmed.With the Journey Progression system, users only see levels that align with their current progress, making navigation more focused and less confusing.

Gamification & Motivation Theory

Based on the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), intrinsic motivation grows when people feel appropriately challenged and see clear progress.Journey Progression creates a sense of achievement by unlocking new levels after users complete previous challenges, similar to the reward unlocking concept in games.

Impact:

✅ Simplified Navigation: Users can quickly find exercises using filters and search

‍✅ Increased Motivation: The Journey system creates clear progression, making workouts more rewarding

✅ Personalized Workouts: Daily plans are tailored to user progress, keeping training structured and effective

‍

_{Problem 2}

Low Engagement with the Knowledge Base Feature

The Challenge:
The Knowledge Base feature offered valuable fitness and health insights, but user engagement was very low. Despite providing high-quality content, the feature was rarely accessed because it:

• Was hard to discover
• Lacked interactive and engaging elements

As a result, the Knowledge Base became an underutilized feature, limiting the app’s potential to educate and support users.

My Solution:
To boost engagement, I redesigned and gamified the feature, turning passive reading into an interactive and rewarding experience:

1. Rebranding to "Essential":
   I renamed the feature to "Essential" to give it a fresh and meaningful identity, emphasizing its importance in the user’s fitness journey.
2. Daily Quiz Gamification:
   I introduced a daily multiple-choice quiz that keeps users engaged:
   • Correct Answer: Users earn rewards like points or badges
   • Wrong Answer: Users receive a motivational quote and a link to a related article for further learning
   • Instant Feedback: The app shows the correct answer with a brief explanation, so every interaction provides value
3. Encouraging Content Discovery:
   By linking quiz questions to relevant articles, I made the Essential feature easier to explore, increasing the visibility of valuable content.

Theoretical Foundation:

The solution I created is based on several principles of UX theory and user psychology:

• Gamification in UX Design

Werbach & Hunter (2012):
Gamification adds challenges, rewards, and progress tracking, boosting engagement and making learning more enjoyable.

• Microlearning Principle

Hug (2007):
Microlearning delivers small, focused lessons, improving knowledge retention and user focus.

• Curiosity Gap Theory

Loewenstein (1994):
When users don’t know an answer, their curiosity drives them to seek more information, encouraging content exploration.

• Behavioral Design & Positive Reinforcement

Skinner (1938):
Rewarding positive behavior builds habit formation, encouraging users to return daily.

‍

Impact:

‍
✅ Higher Engagement: Daily quizzes keep users coming back every day
✅ Increased Content Visibility: Articles become more accessible through interactive elements
✅ Fun & Effective Learning: Gamification makes knowledge retention more enjoyable

Why This Matters

These projects taught me the importance of combining creativity, strategy, and empathy to solve real user problems. By aligning user needs with business goals, I designed solutions that:

• Simplified navigation and improved accessibility
• Encouraged user motivation and long-term engagement
• Personalized content and experiences based on user progress

As a UI/UX Designer with a product mindset, I strive to create intuitive, engaging, and impactful experiences. Whether through gamification, personalization, or smart information architecture, my goal is always to deliver value through design.

🚀 Ready to elevate your product? Let’s connect.

‍

‍

‍