Opportunities
My cousin and I were in search of a timer app to help with our HIIT workouts. We tried a few popular ones and while they were functional, many of them had clunky UI and subpar design. So, we decided to create our own.
What started out as a simple HIIT interval timer, evolved into a highly customizable timer app that can be used for just about anything.
High-level requirements for the app:
- Quick & efficient
- Minimalistic
- Customizable
- Simple & fun to use
Process
Activity-based Timer
Our original intent was to use the timer for fitness. However, since a timer is applicable to many activities, we defined an Activity as the base container.
An activity is made up of at least 1 step. Each step has a duration and also 2 additional attributes:
Break:
If defined, a break will be automatically inserted between each step. This eliminates the need to create a separate step for breaks
Pulse:
A pulse is a repeated, timed notification during a step. For example: 5 sec pulse, means the app will beep every 5 seconds while the step is active.
UX & Visuals
My activities (home)
Information At-a-Glance
Activity attributes are visible upfront, so users can quickly see details without having to dive deeper in the app.
Each activity can be expanded to show additional information.
Starting an activity is also a swipe away.
activity details
Cycles
The number of times an activity will repeat after completion.
Step Management
Steps can be rearranged by tap and holding a step and dragging it up or down the list.
Tap on a step adjust it's attributes or tap "Add Step" to create a new one.
activity timer
Hierarchy
The top half of the screen is dedicated to the step duration countdown and activity attributes. The hexagon is another visual indicator to help identify how much time is left.
Steps
Steps are sequential and current step is always at the top of the list, highlighted in color.
List is scrollable and users can skip to another step by tapping on it.
Timer Controls
Easily reachable at the bottom of the screen and great for single-hand use.
Users can lock the screen to avoid any accidental screen taps.
Running Activities
Manage Multiple Timers
Users can run multiple timers at once and manage them on this screen.
Swipe an activity to stop or pause.