Research

Desk Research

I began by reviewing articles from search results on Google, which provided initial insights into the benefits of walking. Websites such as Paths for All and Walking for Health offered valuable perspectives on the positive impact of walking on physical and mental well-being.

Online Case Studies

I analysed case studies from the Walking for Health organisation, which promotes walking groups and helps individuals locate local walking groups. These case studies highlighted the social and health benefits of walking in groups.

Contacting a local walking group

I reached out to various local walking groups via email to schedule potential interviews. Through these contacts, I gained access to contextual interviews, allowing me to gather first-hand insights from active walkers.

Guru’s Day

An annual event, Guru's Day, allowed industry professionals to provide feedback on our projects. During this event, I showcased my research through a video presentation highlighting my mother’s walking challenges, as well as three A3 research boards. The insights gained from the professionals helped shape the project's direction.

You can find more about Guru's day in my booklet which is attached below.

Interviews

Interview #1: Mum My conversation with my mother revealed unexpected insights. She emphasised that familiarity with a walking route increases confidence and makes her feel safer.

Interview #2: Laura (Physiotherapist) Laura highlighted the health benefits of walking and mentioned using the Strava app to track her walks and stay connected with friends. She valued the social aspect of walking.

Interview #3: Dennis shared how walking with friends up a steep hill near his home serves as a social activity and improves his mood for the rest of the day.

Contextual Interview with a Walking Group Leader

• Walkers often measure progress based on distance walked weekly.
• A woman recovering from injury used weekly walks to gradually increase her endurance.
• Walking with a friend encourages people to push themselves further.
• A possible app feature: Users can upload walking routes with minimal effort.
• A recording feature could mark the start and end of each walk.
• A visual confidence-tracking system (such as a colour-in pie chart) helps users articulate how they feel about their walks.

Going along to a walking group

Speaking to the walking leader about confidence, she highlighted that many participants gauge their progress based on the distance they walk each week. For instance, one woman recovering from an injury used weekly walks to test herself, gradually extending her distance.

This incremental progress helped her regain confidence, not only within the group but also when walking independently.

Another key observation was the encouragement provided by a walking companion. Having a friend join the walk motivated participants to push themselves further, making the experience more enjoyable. Incorporating a companion feature into the app could enhance motivation for users.

Additionally, I discussed with my lecturer, Ewan, the possibility of users uploading their own walking routes. A feature allowing minimal user input while marking the start and end of each walk could be highly beneficial.

At the end of the walk, participants often gather for a chat over a cup of tea, reinforcing the social benefits of walking groups. The walk leader also described a visual confidence tracker she had used previously—a simple pie chart where users colour in a section based on their confidence levels. This approach, originally used for a cooking-on-a-budget group, could be an intuitive way for users to express their confidence without relying on a percentage scale.

Key Insights from Research

Desk Research Findings:

• Walking for 20–30 minutes a day can reduce depression across all age groups.

• The Mental Health and Physical Activity journal states that walking is an effective intervention for depression.

• The positive effects of nature exposure can last up to seven hours, improving mood and well-being.

User Research Findings:

• Walkers prefer visual representations (e.g., pie charts) to express their confidence levels.
• Participants appreciate walking at their own pace, with the option to stop or turn back if necessary.
• Confidence builds gradually, especially with the support of friends or familiarity with the route.
• Walking in groups encourages participants to push themselves while making the activity feel effortless.
• Walks have a clear beginning, middle, and end, which could inform a recording feature.

Develop

Where did I go from the research stage?

Through conversations with walking groups and individuals, it became clear that a companion app would be the best approach. The app would provide:

• User-generated and personalised walking routes.
• Insights from fellow walkers.
• A user-friendly interface to encourage participation.

However, integrating these features in a seamless, intuitive way posed a design challenge.

User Testing

User 1:

• Found onboarding screens helpful in understanding the benefits of walking.
• Appreciated the ability to personalise the app without registration.
• Enjoyed customising the home screen to her preference.

User 2:

• Liked the clean, nature-inspired interface, which encouraged outdoor activities.
• Found navigation intuitive and user-friendly.

User 3:

• Found the interface easy to understand.
• Navigation buttons were self-explanatory.
• The decision-making process (via filters and prompts) was intuitive and preferable to data entry forms.

To read more about this section and indeed the rest of the project, you can view my final booklet here or read my blog posts here. 

Final App Screens