STREAMLINED UX Concept
The Streamlined Swim Coaching App project embarked on a journey to address the pressing need for a platform that facilitates coach-to-coach collaboration, mentorship, and shared knowledge in the swimming coaching community. This project emerged from the vision of creating a space where swim coaches, at all levels, could access innovative techniques, share expertise, and collectively enhance the coaching landscape.
"My journey through the swimming realm has been more than just a personal endeavor; it's been a transformative experience. It's revealed to me the power of effective communication, not just as a means to become a better coach but as a tool for personal growth. This journey has underscored how communication can profoundly impact not only one's coaching abilities but also one's character. It's this realization that fuels my passion for continuous learning and my unwavering commitment to enhance the coaching experience through innovative solutions."
TIMELINE
PROBLEM
Swim coaches lack access to innovative techniques and collaborative support, impacting their ability to provide optimal swim training. A solution is needed to foster shared knowledge and mentorship, enhancing coaching and athlete development.
How might we facilitate coach-to-coach collaboration and mentorship to enhance their coaching abilities and collectively improve the swimming coaching landscape?
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The proposed solution was the development of the Streamlined Swim Coaching App. This app aimed to provide a platform for swim coaches to collaborate, access shared workouts, and engage in a vibrant coaching community. It sought to bridge the gap between experienced and novice coaches, empowering them to improve their coaching techniques collectively.
AUDIENCE
The target audience was swim coaches, ranging from beginners to seasoned professionals. This choice was informed by the recognition that coaching excellence is vital at all levels of the sport.
PROCESS
EMPATHIZE
Competitive Analysis
Commit Swimming
PROS
Robust training planning and tracking tools
Workout design and sharing capabilities
Coach-oriented features
CONS
Limited community and collaboration features
Learning curve for full feature utilization
MySwimPro
PROS
Personalized swim workouts
Instructional videos for technique improvement
Community for networking
Swim metric tracking
CONS
Limited community and collaboration features
Learning curve for full feature utilization
SwimSwam
PROS
Abundant swimming news and content
Information on swim meets and events
Active community for sharing experiences
CONS
More news-oriented, less coaching-focused
Lacks direct coaching tools
Interview Questions
Can you share your coaching experience and your current coaching level?
How do you typically create swim workouts and what factors influence your training plans?
What resources or references do you use for coach improvement?
Have you faced challenges in creating workouts, and how did you overcome them?
How do you structure training sessions to balance skill development, endurance, and technique?
Are there coaching techniques that you find effective for swimmers' progress?
How do you seek opportunities for coaching knowledge and skills enhancement?
Do you have mentors, and why do you consider them as such?
What are your coaching goals and plans for career development?
Analysis
The research conducted revealed valuable insights into the world of swim coaching, the challenges coaches face, and the opportunities to improve coaching practices.
Key Insights
Challenges in Coaching Landscape
Coaches face challenges related to staying updated with emerging coaching techniques, managing time effectively, limited resources around them, and finding resources to support their coaching strategies.
Emphasizing Continuous Learning and Coach Collaboration
Coaches prioritize continuous learning and mentorship, actively seeking resources to stay updated on coaching trends. They stress the significance of coach-to-coach collaboration and value learning from peers, fostering a vibrant coaching community.
Workout Creation
Coaches emphasized the importance of creating workouts tailored to different swimmers' skill levels and needs. They appreciate resources that offer workouts for different difficulty levels and provide flexibility for modification.
Swimmer Development
Coaches share a passion for helping swimmers improve and find a love for the sport. They appreciate resources and strategies that enable swimmers to thrive, see growth, and succeed in their swimming journey.
Technology as a Resource
All the interviewees, regardless of their experience level, utilize technology for coaching resources. They rely on online platforms, videos, and online communities to access workout ideas, and learn new techniques.
DEFINE
Personas
Three distinct personas who represent different facets of the swim coaching world. Emma, our learner, embodies the passionate assistant coach who constantly seeks ways to improve and connect with fellow coaches. Ryan, the enthusiastic novice head coach, is transitioning from a competitive swimmer to a coach and seeks mentorship and resources to kickstart his coaching career. Ally, the experienced coach, is a seasoned professional aiming to stay at the forefront of coaching practices while contributing her expertise to the coaching community. These personas bring a rich diversity of experiences, goals, and challenges to the table, forming the basis for creating a swim coaching app that caters to the unique needs of coaches at different stages of their coaching journey.
Journeys
Emma, aspiring to be an impactful swim coach, starts her journey seeking coaching resources and mentorship, and the app becomes her learning hub. Ryan, transitioning from athlete to coach, grapples with the challenges of his new role, and the app empowers him to build confidence and create customized training plans for his swimmers. Meanwhile, Ally, an experienced coach, harnesses the app's innovation and mentorship opportunities to elevate her coaching techniques. These journeys collectively illustrate the app's role in catering to diverse coaching needs, challenges, and aspirations, fostering a supportive community of coaches.
DESIGN
Font
Color
The Streamlined app employs a color palette consisting of various shades of purple and blue. These colors are chosen to evoke trust, innovation, and ambition, which aligns with the app's mission of empowering coaches and swimmers. Secondary colors like blue-grey and dark purple enhance usability and readability, ensuring a consistent and sophisticated design throughout the app.
Features
I then designed a feature-rich app with functionalities tailored to meet the needs of coaches.
Shared Workouts
Coaches can explore and share custom-designed swim workouts from coaches in the community, promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Community
Users can engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and seek advice within the coaching community, fostering connections and shared learning.
Start workouts
Coaches can initiate a swim workout session, providing step-by-step guidance for swimmers.
Save & Schedule Workouts
Coaches can conveniently save their favorite workouts for future use and schedule them for specific training sessions, optimizing coaching planning and efficiency.
FINAL SOLUTION
The outcome was the Streamlined Swim Coaching App prototype, a user-friendly platform that allows swim coaches to access shared workouts, connect with peers, and enhance their coaching skills.
Onboarding
The onboarding process in Streamlined is a personalized experience, enabling coaches to tailor their app usage to their specific coaching needs and preferences.
Emma's Flow
Emma's flow in Streamlined involves creating, scheduling, and personalizing workouts for her swimmers. This ensures that she provides the best coaching experience for her athletes.
Ryan's Flow
Ryan's flow in Streamlined involves seeking feedback and knowledge from fellow coaches to enhance his coaching skills. He explores a workout suggestion for his swim practice sessions, benefiting both him and his swimmers. The app guides him through the workout, making this app a valuable coaching resources and fostering a collaborative coaching environment.
Reflections
This project reinforced the value of user-centered design. Insights from user interviews and testing were instrumental in shaping the app. Collaboration and mentorship in the coaching community are vital for its growth, and the Streamlined App has the potential to play a pivotal role in advancing coaching excellence in the world of swimming. This project highlighted the importance of continual learning and the power of collaboration in achieving a shared goal.
Next Steps
Continue developing features and creating prototypes:
Ally’s prototype, educational resources, personal insights, suggested content
Partnership with swim coaches associations (CSCAA, ASCA, NISCA, ect.)
Determine monetization strategies