Gentler Streak is reshaping the way in which we strategy health monitoring with a give attention to self-compassion and personalization. With their iOS and Apple Watch apps they encourage folks to take heed to their our bodies whereas nonetheless attaining their targets.
We chatted to Gentler Streak’s Apple Design Awards winners Katarina Lotrič and Andrej Mihelič about their mission, distinctive design philosophy, and use of empathy to drive the app’s design.
May you inform us slightly bit about Gentler Streak, the motivation and crew behind it?
Katarina: Gentler Streak is an inclusive well being and health tracker designed to advertise a sustainable strategy to an energetic life-style. Our mission is to make the advantages of normal train accessible to everybody. By offering customized steerage tailor-made to help particular person capabilities and wellbeing, Gentler Streak ensures that customers of all health ranges and backgrounds really feel welcomed and supported of their health journey.
The app emerged from our personal struggles with burnout as a consequence of improper exercise ranges: one among us was overtraining whereas getting ready for a triathlon, and the opposite confronted a scarcity of train as a consequence of an damage, which led to psychological burnout. This made us understand the significance of being energetic whereas understanding the correct quantity of exercise for every particular person.
We began in search of an app that guided people in making a sustainable behavior whereas interesting to us when it comes to consumer expertise. We couldn’t discover something. Most apps give attention to fixed enchancment, setting data, and unrealistic challenges. We felt unrepresented by current well being and health apps and couldn’t discover something to assist us keep energetic in a manner that supported our long-term well being — so we determined to create one ourselves.
The 4 co-founders: Andrej Mihelič (Product Proprietor, UI/UX Designer), Jasna Krmelj (CTO), Luka Orešnik (Senior Developer), and I, Katarina Lotrič (CEO), are all various in our talent set and complement one another effectively. We’re additionally no newbies, all of us have over a decade of expertise within the iOS ecosystem, which made it a bit simpler to start out this story off.
The Apple Watch and iOS app work in tandem to fulfill customers at completely different factors of the journey.
May you inform us extra about Gentler Streak’s strategy to design? Do you’ve got any particular ideas you’ve outlined and stick with?
Katarina: We wish the app to be as accessible as attainable, and consumer expertise performs a key position in that. We attempt to keep on with practices which can be widespread and validated. We hope that customers naturally know what to do once they open the app, and what a sure motion does. For us, the design additionally performs a vital position in making you’re feeling good and welcomed — that’s why there are illustrations, transitions, and animations. It’s all about making a “tender” setting, one thing that feels nice and is frictionless to make use of. At any time when we’re growing a brand new function, our objective is to all the time make it as intuitive as attainable. From time to time, we throw in some cute surprises to additionally add that little spark to the app.
Gentler Streak’s design visually conveys a wide range of health and well being insights that assist customers higher perceive their physique and make knowledgeable choices.
In your web site, you point out Gentler Streak is a ‘Exercise and Health Tracker for People’ May you inform us slightly bit extra what components within the design convey that ‘human’ aspect?
Katarina: Much like what I used to be saying above, we felt the vast majority of the apps goal health geeks, hardcore health club lovers, individuals who take their train significantly. We made the app for on a regular basis folks, like ourselves. With all the things we do, we hope the top result’s that you just really feel included.
We made the app for on a regular basis folks, like ourselves. With all the things we do, we hope the top result’s that you just really feel included.
Often, health apps look fairly “chilly”, their design targeted on presenting stats, not a lot on making a sure ambiance. With us, you possibly can take a look at the stats, however we additionally translate these stats into phrases: digesting your information and presenting it as your day by day health standing and the state of your present wellbeing. It’s one thing anybody can perceive, even with zero information of well being and health. It’s on a regular basis language: nobody is excluded, anybody can take part. We use illustration in numerous elements of the app, to assist help that messaging and the feel-good vibe. Additionally, because the steerage is extremely customized, these particular person exercise targets are achievable, which provides further motivation.
How did the primary designs for Gentler Streak come collectively? What had been a number of the preliminary challenges you needed to navigate?
Katarina: The principle problem we discovered was learn how to current tons of numbers in a easy manner that everybody may perceive with out deep well being and health information. It’s simple to place numerous numbers like coaching load, coaching pressure stability, and all kinds of exercise stats on the display, however this was one thing everybody else was doing and we felt it needed to be completed higher, otherwise, if we wish to tackle a brand new crowd. The entire app is made with this in thoughts: presenting issues in a manner on a regular basis folks can perceive and take motion from.
The principle problem we discovered was learn how to current tons of numbers in a easy manner that everybody may perceive with out deep well being and health information.
The Apple Watch and iOS app work in tandem to fulfill customers at completely different factors of the journey.
How do you keep consistency all through the general expertise and design throughout the iPhone and Apple Watch?
Andrej: Our philosophy is to design an app the place you’re feeling at house from the primary time you open it. To realize that, it’s important to perceive the graphical human consumer interface of the working system you’re growing for. Some designers really feel they’ve to depart an apparent mark on their designs, and sometimes, these iOS apps would possibly look cool and funky however have poor UX, resulting in a protracted studying curve for customers. The consequence usually being deleting the app.
Gentler Streak’s design strives to seek out the stability between acquainted, purposeful UX components and their very own design language.
To create Yorhart, we labored with Sören Selleslagh, an excellent man who’s all the time such a pleasure to work with! We needed one thing that resonated with everybody, no matter age, gender, race, or physique form. Within the app, all the things revolves round your coronary heart information, so Sören began exploring in that path, and there you go. Yorhart’s title (strive saying it out loud) got here spontaneously: it made sense as the entire higher a part of the Streak tab (illustration and day by day standing) is basically a love letter out of your coronary heart. 🙂
May you share with us what’s the the position of information in Gentler’s app and your stand round privateness??
Katarina: Your well being and exercise information are a vital a part of Gentler Streak, as all the things stands upon it. We attempt to personalize the expertise as a lot as attainable inside the capabilities of the Apple Watch. So, carrying your Apple Watch at night time and monitoring exercises feeds us info that then permits us to information you as finest as attainable. With out your well being and health information, the app is ineffective. And with out readings of your vitals (like sleep length or oxygen saturation), the app’s steerage is much less exact. Evening information is very beneficial, as there may be much less outdoors noise to intrude with us. For ladies, we additionally take the menstrual cycle into consideration, because it performs an enormous position in our day-to-day readiness. I’m tremendous excited to deepen this function in direction of the top of this 12 months!
Our personal privateness is necessary to us, and we uphold that precept in the way in which we function — we respect our customers’ privateness similar to we respect our personal. The app offers with delicate information, and we don’t wish to have it on our palms—it might be an pointless legal responsibility. Every part in Gentler Streak occurs in your system: the app reads from HealthKit and likewise writes the logged information there, with out sending it wherever.
Is there a specific function that stunned you for being an surprising hit with customers? Or one you’re feeling extra folks ought to find out about?
Katarina: Individuals appear most happy with how the app adapts to their health degree and motivates them in a manner that feels attainable. Customers actually admire the smaller options, such because the post-workout notifications. I’m all the time stunned by how a lot folks love customized icons, issues, and widgets — I feel we have to create much more of them, haha.
On the stuff I really feel folks ought to know extra about, on the Apple Watch tracker, the readiness bar (the inexperienced stripe with an orange coronary heart) reveals you in real-time how a lot buffer you’ve got left to remain inside wholesome exercise ranges when you work out. I feel that’s fairly slick. One other helpful function, which I’m stunned lots of people nonetheless don’t find out about, is the choice to set your standing to sick, injured, or on a break when life occurs. If I may say one thing to every consumer it might be one thing within the traces of: ‘faucet the hell out of this app’ — you by no means know what’s hidden behind these buttons 😄.
Having the flexibleness to set your standing to sick, injured or on a break displays how the crew behind Gentler Streak are designing for real-life situations.
Was the Apple Design Award one thing you had been set on from the early days, or did it simply come as a part of Gentler Streak’s growth?
Katarina: Our fundamental objective was to create an app that similar-minded folks would acknowledge as a solution to their wants, and make it a part of their self-care routine. Being bootstrapped meant we had no alternative however to make it occur: none of us needed to go job looking. Since we had been all seniors with complementary backgrounds and had an expertise with creating an ADA product earlier than (Luka and I co-founded Lake Coloring, which gained an ADA in 2017), we believed we had what it took to create an app that will be worthy of getting featured on the App Retailer. With no advertising and marketing funds, getting on there may be important. It’s additionally a nod in direction of your product being related.
In the identical 12 months we launched Gentler Streak (2022), we had been shocked to study we had gained an App Retailer Award (Apple Watch App of the 12 months), and that modified all the things for us. Successful an Apple Design Award this June, particularly for social affect, is an unbelievable honor. It’s much more significant as a result of you possibly can’t apply for these awards; the method is completely inside on Apple’s aspect. Seeing Gentler Streak validated by each our customers and the business’s high authority is sort of arduous to place into phrases. Understanding how it began and the way a lot work, love, and thought we put into it, it feels wonderful to see it being acknowledged on this manner. Superb is a phrase that’s so overused, however right here…it’s the precise alternative of phrases.
May you inform us slightly bit extra in regards to the position of copy in Gentler Streak and the way it suits into the general design?
Katarina: The copy within the app is simply as essential because the design as they work hand in hand. With the design, we intention to create a tender, cozy, heat, homey ambiance. Similar applies to the copy. We needed it to be supportive however not tacky, motivating however not fake-hyped, for it to be form of light-hearted, to not take itself too significantly, if that is sensible? All of that, whereas staying skilled and bringing right info throughout. We aimed for it to have character, however not as a lot that it might personal the app. So, you’re all the time strolling that superb line, attempting to make it excellent. Typically we miss although!
Whereas Gentler Streak is a really visible app, copy is key to spherical up the expertise — serving to make clear or deepen ideas or accompanying the consumer all through their journey.
Are you able to describe the method and challenges of localizing the app?
Katarina: At present, our app is out there in ten languages however the first two languages we launched had been Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, due to a few devoted superfans. Because the challenge grew, doing translations that manner grew to become overwhelming, and at that time we may afford to work with an company. We needed to make sure that the translations had been extra than simply literal — how the copy sounds and makes folks really feel is essential. So for every language, we all the time put collectively native beta teams starting from 15 to twenty customers. We check it with these teams for a few month, gathering suggestions and making changes till we really feel assured it’s prepared for launch.
Initially, the problem was primarily our crew dimension and managing translations on our personal. Nevertheless, working with the company and having devoted beta teams for testing considerably eased the method. Localizing for the Asian markets offered distinctive challenges, significantly with unfamiliar typefaces and character units. We relied closely on our translators and beta testers to make sure that our targets had been met and that the translations resonated with customers. I feel the most important problem should be forward of us if we determine to do Arabic language translation.
With the ability to use the app in your most well-liked language helps make the expertise really feel extra customized and tailor-made to you.
How has Sketch helped you within the strategy of designing Gentler Streak? Are there any particular Sketch options which were significantly helpful?
Andrej: I’ve been a Sketch consumer since model 1.0. I like the simplicity of Sketch’s UI and its robustness. The entire Gentler’s GUI is made in Sketch and utilizing parts and making our personal is what makes designing a pleasure and likewise saves tons of time. Additionally, options just like the Coloration Variables, pre-made libraries or easy issues like displaying distance between parts and different mini but efficient perks make designing UI in Sketch a pleasing expertise. You guys are introducing new options with such a quick tempo I don’t even know all of them.
Sketch’s iPhone and iPad apps are a should for us. I usually put an iPhone in entrance of me with the Sketch app open so I can design on my Mac and see how issues look straight on a smaller display. Syncing between Mac and iPhone works nice so I can see adjustments instantly which additionally accelerates the method.
And there are additionally two apps which can be a should for us: Sketch’s iPhone and iPad apps. I usually put an iPhone in entrance of me with the Sketch app open so I can design on my Mac and see how issues look straight on a smaller display. Designing issues on an enormous display is one factor, however seeing this on an iPhone or iPad is one thing else. Syncing between Mac and iPhone works nice so I can see adjustments instantly which additionally accelerates the method. Prior to now I needed to export screens, save them to Photographs and open them on the iPhone.
What’s subsequent for Gentler Streak? Are there any upcoming options or information that you just’re enthusiastic about?
Katarina: Oh, nice issues are coming! Our final objective is for Gentler Streak to change into a whole, one-stop well being and health hub. We’ve simply turned our exercise summaries into a whole exercise journal (customized titles, notes, including images…), added the iOS 18 perks, and we even have a brand new heavy function in testing – sleep. This will likely be an enormous replace, which is a part of our broader give attention to well-being. It can give you way more detailed details about your sleep high quality, and its impact in your day by day well-being and assist you to enhance your sleep hygiene.
By saying all that, our northern star is simplicity. When you’re not keen on detailed information, you gained’t be overwhelmed — all the things will stay easy and simply accessible as it’s now. This simplicity is a core, unchangeable worth of the app. Nevertheless, for many who do wish to dive deeper into the information, they may have the ability to.
Prepared to present Gentler Streak a strive? You’ll be able to obtain the app from the App Retailer. And should you’ve created one thing in Sketch that you just love, share it with us in our neighborhood discussion board — we’d like to see it.