GPS ONMOVE: Designing a Connected Sports Device for Fitness Enthusiasts

TL;DR

In 2014, while working at Decathlon (Geonaute brand) I contributed to the design and user experience of the GPS ONmove devices—GPS tracking devices produced by Decathlon. The goal was to create a seamless experience that allowed users to track their workouts, sync data, and view progress across multiple devices. My role was primarily focused on the UX/UI design, ensuring the device interface was intuitive and motivating for users.

  • Developed for use with myGeonaute.com, allowing users to track and analyze their activities

  • Focused on creating a user-friendly interface that encouraged engagement and tracking

  • Received positive feedback from users for its simplicity and functionality

  • Sold massively in Decathlon stores, one of Geonaute best seller for multiple years

  • Highly rated by customers

The Challenge

The GPS ONmove devices were designed to cater to a growing market of fitness enthusiasts who wanted to track their sports activities using Decathlon’s connected ecosystem. The goal was to renew the GPS range, simplifying its UI, bringing more features for outdoor enthusiasts, and launch 2 new models based on the same hardware, but with two different firmwares, allowing to mutualize production costs and increase margins. The idea what. to propose the best value for money on the market.

ONmove 50 is the simplest and best value for money sport GPS on the market. It allows beginners and occasional sportsmen to get distance, speed, chrono and time on the move. It also includes an internal storage for saving sport history on the watch.

“Economical and simple watch. Good GPS signal reception. Basic information but very useful when competing in races, as it provides the right and necessary information.”

ONmove 200 is much more complete  : customizable screens with more values (instant speed, average speed, instant pace, avg pace, distance, calories, time, stopwatch, target zones, HR value) And the main difference is that ONmove 200 is a connected product (bluetooth 4.0). Workouts can be transferred to myGeonaute service either wirelessly via the myGeonaute connect APP or via ONconnect software. MyGeonaute.com responsive service allows sportsmen to review easily all the details of their workouts, understand better their effort,  progress and compete with their friends. It also embodies a technology that allows sportsmen to fix GPS signal much faster. A very particular attention was brought to make user experience fluid and simple.

ONmove 220 was even more complete with same firmware base but new features such as hydration alerts, records, multi sport support and integrated HR sensor...

"Good GPS, good HRM; easy to connect via Bluetooth; long-lasting battery.”

However, the challenge was:

  • To create a user-friendly interface on the device that would seamlessly sync with the myGeonaute.com platform

  • To ensure the data collected was easily accessible and motivational for users

  • To ensure compatibility across a range of devices (smartphones, tablets, and desktops)

Objective

Create a UX/UI design for the GPS ONmove that:

  • Allows users to easily track their workout data

  • Seamlessly integrates with the myGeonaute.com platform for data synchronization

  • Provides a user-friendly interface that encourages motivation and consistent usage

  • Is intuitive enough for a wide audience, from beginners to experienced fitness enthusiasts

My Role

UX/UI Designer
As a member of the design team, I was responsible for:

  • Designing the user interface of the GPS ONmove devices to ensure it was intuitive and aligned with Decathlon’s design standards

  • Ensuring that the syncing functionality with myGeonaute.com was easy for users, with clear visual feedback

  • Creating wireframes and prototypes to ensure that the device provided a clear and consistent user experience

  • Collaborating with the engineering team to ensure that the design was technically feasible and met the user needs

  • briefing a freelance for graphic part (both for product and APP)

Key Contributions

  • Interface Design: Developed a clean, simple, and intuitive UI that was easy for users to navigate, especially for those new to fitness tracking.

  • Device and Platform Integration: Focused on seamless data synchronization with myGeonaute.com, ensuring users could easily upload and analyze their workout data across devices.

  • Motivational Features: Designed features that helped users stay motivated, such as progress tracking and comparing workouts.

  • Testing and Iteration: Conducted multiple rounds of usability testing to refine the interface and ensure it met user needs.

Design Process

1. Research & Discovery

  • User Research: I gathered insights from existing Decathlon customers to understand how they tracked their sports activities and their pain points with current devices.

  • Competitive Analysis: I analyzed other fitness devices and platforms to understand the best practices for integrating sports tracking with motivational features.

2. UI & Visual Design

  • Wireframes and Prototypes: I designed initial wireframes for the device interface and created interactive prototypes for usability testing.

  • Visual Design: I created the final visual design for the device, focusing on clarity, ease of use, and aligning with Decathlon's established brand.

3. Testing and Iteration

  • Usability Testing: We conducted multiple rounds of user testing to ensure the device was intuitive. Feedback helped refine the layout and interactions.

  • Data Syncing: Ensured that the device’s data syncing capabilities with myGeonaute.com were clear and worked seamlessly, allowing users to easily upload their workout information.

Results

User Impact

  • The device allowed users to easily track their workouts and monitor progress through intuitive visualizations.

  • It helped users stay motivated through features like tracking calories burned, setting goals, and comparing sessions.

Business Impact

  • The GPS ONmove devices became a key component in Decathlon's ecosystem, encouraging users to engage with myGeonaute.com and purchase more sports equipment from Decathlon.

Longevity

  • The GPS ONmove series contributed to Decathlon's overall strategy of creating a connected ecosystem for fitness and health, with the platform and device still used in some form by users today.

What I Learned

  • Designing for Simplicity: One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of simplicity in the design of devices for new users, especially in the fitness space where users might be less tech-savvy.

  • Integration is Key: Seamless integration between the device and the online platform was essential in keeping the user experience consistent and engaging.

  • User-Centered Design: Continuous feedback from users was crucial to refining the product and ensuring that it met real-world needs and motivations.

  • Dealing with hard constraints: I needed to deal with crazy constraints such as very few pixels on a small LCD screen. I learned what it really means to be “pixel perfect” :)

Funny viral video made by communication team :