Nest
A gamified movement app that turns daily steps into a growing companion and social challenges, built around real research on why people stop working out.
What we heard
We collected 146 survey responses and conducted 18 close interviews to understand what actually keeps people from staying active.
said lack of time, not motivation, is what keeps them from staying active
would give a habit app just 5 to 30 minutes a day
ranked highest as motivators — competing with others ranked lowest
Daily goals, visible progress, and real rewards drove more motivation than competition ever did.
People don't want a leaderboard. They want proof they're moving forward.
If we give users a low-effort daily habit loop that combines visible personal progress with optional, low-pressure social features, then they will sustain the habit longer than they have with past fitness or habit-tracking apps, regardless of whether their main barrier is time or motivation.
Who we designed for
The problem
Urban, early-career professionals want to build a healthier movement habit, but limited time and inconsistent motivation get in the way. Their existing routines and attempts with fitness or habit-tracking apps have not been flexible or engaging enough to survive a busy, unpredictable schedule.
What the market already knows
Where we chose to focus
How might we help users with limited time and energy integrate healthy habits into daily life? ⏳
How might we balance competition and collaboration to fit different user motivations? 🤝
How might we make rewards feel meaningful rather than superficial, so users feel genuine progress? 🌱
The goal
Our app will let users build a movement habit through small daily actions, visible progress systems, and optional social challenges, which will affect time-constrained and motivation-constrained users alike by meeting them at their specific point of friction rather than requiring a fixed routine or schedule. We will measure effectiveness by tracking habit retention past the 14-day mark, weekday engagement (independent of weekend plans), and participation in both solo and social features across user types.
Structure & flow
Early wireframes
Final prototype
Built to scale
