Google designers detail the ongoing effort to revamp Fitbit app

What you must know

Google has overhauled the Fitbit app because it formally acquired the corporate in 2021, making it match in step with Materials You design language.In an interview revealed to the Google Design web site, the Fitbit UX crew defined the way it determined to adapt the Fitbit app to combine it with Google platforms. The designers share the thought course of behind the transition, which has spanned two years and remains to be ongoing. 

Google formally closed its deal to accumulate Fitbit roughly three years in the past, and it’s nonetheless working to combine Fitbit into its well being portfolio and bigger units and providers ecosystem. We will see the consequences of this venture in just a few methods, just like the Fitbit app redesign matching the Materials You design language. Nevertheless, we simply obtained a uncommon have a look at the thought course of behind Google’s visible redo of the Fitbit app via an interview with the Fitbit UX crew posted on the Google Design web site.

Whereas it is apparent that the brand new Fitbit app — which has been rolled out in elements beginning final yr — matches the Materials You theme, designers needed to begin engaged on the venture earlier than it was finalized. They began work two years in the past and leaned into the Gentle and House artwork motion that originated in Google’s residence state of California within the late Sixties. 

“We knew there was momentum across the idea of ‘type follows feeling,’ we knew it was about personalization, and we knew it was all about you — that labored very well for celebrating the very best of Google with Fitbit,” mentioned Mat Helme, a Fitbit product and model design lead. 

This strategy in direction of design is how we obtained the Fitbit app because it seems right now, with gentle backgrounds, wealthy colours, and a number of pastel shades. We will see the consequences of Google and Fitbit’s design preferences nonetheless directing app updates, just like the just-released Fitbit Sleep revamp. 

“Having Fitbit lean into rounded types and softer colours feels pretty distinctive, and the round type issue is a giant a part of how we design for that uplifting and compassionate feeling,” mentioned Judy Zhao, who’s a pacesetter of the Fitbit visible movement and programs crew. “We’re ready to do that as a result of we’re combining a number of worlds into one holistic well being journey expertise.”

Nevertheless, it is about extra than simply design. The designers at Fitbit additionally wished to make well being and health metrics obtainable in a method that was simple to digest. 

“We’re on a journey as a product crew to grow to be much less about information assortment and extra about providing you with perception and actionable data to take cost of your well being journey,” mentioned Fitbit UX Design Lead Sarah Wilson. In follow, Wilson says that this entails utilizing charts and textual content to elucidate all of the health and well being jargon which may not be naturally understood by everybody. Going a step additional, Fitbit needs to make it simpler for customers to take recorded information and apply it to make the best health and life-style modifications.

That leads us again to the Google Pixel Watch 2, which has the round type issue to match Fitbit’s rounded design preferences. It additionally consists of the sensors required to offer the info Google needs to share in a easy method. So, it stands to motive that the Pixel Watch — and its round type issue — is a giant a part of the Fitbit technique shifting ahead.