User Interface + User Experience
Gymder App
As a Product Designer at Trainingym from April to October 2025, I took on the challenge of leading the visual and usability aspects of this project. My role was key to aligning user needs with technical development, working closely with the team to successfully create an intuitive app.
Project Details
Gymder was born out of a need to address the lack of genuine social connection in the fitness world. Although thousands of people go to the gym every day, the experience is often an individual one; they feel increasingly isolated and lack the motivation that comes from working out as part of a community.
It’s important to note that Gymder has two main features. A user can access Gymder if their gym is a Trainingym client. Therefore, within their fitness center’s app—if the feature is enabled—they can use Gymder and connect with other users at that same fitness center. On the other hand, if you download the Gymder app directly from the Apple Store or Google Play, you’ll need to sign up and create an account where you set your training location. This way, you can match with other profiles from different fitness centers or even people who train in alternative places (calisthenics parks, CrossFit boxes, or even if they train from home).
01. Problem analysis
We can divide the main obstacles into three categories:
- The discovery’s friction: one of the main questions that arises is: how do we allow users to find others with similar skill levels and interests without making the app feel like an intrusive dating app? The key to solving this issue is grouping users into compatibility ranges based on interests that align not only with general interests but also with sports-related interests.
- Visual Identity: another challenge was to create a brand that felt “sporty and energetic,” capturing the essence of Trainingym while setting it apart from the general app. It was also important that it maintain the clean, elegant look of a professional tool.
- User retention: design an interface that encourages users to come back not only to meet new people, but also to interact. Can Gymder motivate members to use the app more and visit the gym more often? By connecting with other users, working out becomes more fun, consistent, and social. More digital interaction = more visits to the gym.
- Managing fitness matches outside a gym environment with Trainingym: since the Trainingym app isn’t tied to a specific gym, it’s more challenging to facilitate fitness matches between different users. How can we add training locations without violating privacy policies?
“I always see the same people, but I never dare to talk to them.” or “I wish there were an app to break the ice at the gym.” — real testimonials from users around the world. Ultimately, the challenge wasn't just about designing an attractive interface, but about transforming an inherently solitary activity into a seamless social experience. The project's success depended on our ability to reduce friction in user interactions while maintaining a safe environment and an aesthetic that captured the energy of the fitness world on every screen.
02. The Approach
Under the guidance of Trainingym, we focused the design on the simplicity of the user flow. My job was to simplify the user's decision-making process and define the app's entire visual style:
- Simple onboarding: we’ve streamlined the registration process so users can start browsing “fitness match” in under 2 minutes. If you’re already using one of the center’s apps with the Gymder feature enabled, registration isn’t necessary. Once your Gymder user profile is set up, you’ll see a series of fitness match recommendations based on your interests.
- Visual Hierarchy: we use a high-contrast color palette (typical of the Gymder brand) to highlight the main call-to-action (CTA) buttons, making it easier to use the app while in the middle of a workout.
- App interactions: to encourage user retention, we’ve created user profiles where you can upload multiple photos to a small gallery, list your interests, add a main photo, and include a short bio. Drawing on successful models like Instagram or Facebook, browsing profiles allows users to compare lives, seek approval, or simply satisfy their curiosity. On the other hand, creating a purely visual profile allows users to “scan” a lot of information quickly without cognitive effort.
- Share Location: to improve location-based matchmaking while also accommodating users who train outside of sports facilities, we’ve added a feature to your profile that lets you share the location of your training spot. This way, you can decide whether you want to share that information with other users.
03. UX Solution
The result is the current version available on the Apple Store and Google Play. It's a robust app where the UI design complements a seamless user experience. Key design features:
- Matchmaking System: an intuitive card-based design that connects users by mimicking the behavior of apps like Tinder or Badoo, where the key features are “swiping” and “endless scrolling” through profiles.
- Dynamic Profile: a space where users can visually showcase their achievements, interests, and goals.
- Simple onboarding: three easy steps where you define your interests, set up your public profile, and choose who you want to connect with (men, women, or everyone). That way, we reduce the risk of users abandoning the app before they finish setting it up.
- Keeping users engaged: to prevent users from leaving the app and encourage user retention, we’ve added a chat feature. This way, once a match is made, users can chat within the app itself and break the ice.
04. Final product and resources
Nothing excites me more than seeing a design come to life. After months of iterations and teamwork at Trainingym, Gymder is now a reality that you can try for yourself. Here are the links to see how the design performs in the real world.
All rights reserved to © INTELINOVA SOFTWARE SOCIEDAD LIMITADA. Gymder is a product developed and managed by © INTELINOVA SOFTWARE SOCIEDAD LIMITADA. The images and trademarks shown in this portfolio are for illustrative purposes only, to demonstrate my role as Product Designer on the project.