Running App and Branding
for Isleworth Running Club

Project background

Isleworth Running Club, established in 2017 as a local club in South West London, has experienced rapid growth, boasting a current membership of over 400 members on Facebook. In response to the surge in event participation, I took the initiative to create a distinctive logo and design our club vests. Evolving with time, I have been developing a web app to coordinate runs and events efficiently.

Objective

The objective of this project is to understand the goals and needs of small to medium running clubs, research existing applications, and design a highly effective app for communication, event management, and runner data recording.

PROTOTYPE

The Challenge

How might we help runners keep track of their runs and events?

The Client

The Running Club members

Role

Product Designer:
End-to-end project.

Timeline

This project is still a Working in Progress.

Brand and Identity

The logo for the Isleworth Running Club is a testament to modern simplicity and dynamic energy. Employing a clean, contemporary design, the logo features an elegant Sans Serif font cleverly cut in the middle and subtly skewed, symbolizing the essence of movement and progress. To underscore the social and relaxed atmosphere of the club, the word 'club' is presented in a flowing cursive font. The choice of vibrant yellow not only exudes energy but also ensures excellent visibility and print quality on various background colors. Furthermore, the design offers versatility by allowing the option to customize the yellow hue to different neon or vibrant colors, enabling each runner to express their individuality proudly. This versatile logo is set to grace our running vests, jumpers, and make a vibrant presence on our social media platforms.

Mobile App

Problem to solve - Before the app, runs were ad-hoc and initiated by group members, with available times posted on Facebook or organised via WhatsApp. This caused confusion, with many missing messages and becoming disengaged.

Proposal - Develop a mobile app to increase run turnout and enhance the service provided by the Running Club to the local community and its members.

The app will streamline the organisation of both scheduled and ad-hoc runs. Centralising event information on a single platform ensures more visibility, encouraging greater participation. This app will significantly boost local community engagement, increasing the number of people initiating and joining runs. Future developments will include features for runners to track their runs, routes, times, and maintain recorded data.

Desk Research and User Survey

To understand the need for a running app for this club, I conducted a desk research study through an online survey. Approximately 30 participants from the running club took part in this survey. The majority expressed enthusiasm for an app that would help them initiate runs and connect with other members. Many participants also mentioned they found WhatsApp too personal for organising club activities.

The survey provided valuable insights into user needs and preferences, highlighting the potential for a dedicated running app to enhance community engagement and streamline event coordination.

‘Oh, it would be great to have an app where you can effortlessly book and host runs! No more awkwardness of asking around—perfect for shy runners like me looking to connect.’ - Quote from user interview.

Competitive Landscape

In the UK, several running apps are particularly popular due to their unique features and benefits. Here are some of the most widely used ones:

Strava | Nike Run App | Couch to 5K

Prototype

Here is a medium-fidelity prototype focusing on the path to log in, display the runner profile, and join a pre-existing run. The user begins at the log-in screen, entering their credentials to access their profile, which showcases their running stats and recent activities. From the profile, they navigate to the runs list, select a pre-existing run, view detailed information, and confirm their participation with a single tap, seamlessly integrating the event into their schedule.