A refreshing rowing experience: designing the WaterRower Connect App

Case study by

Max van IJsselmuiden

Role

Lead UX Designer

Challenge

Elevate the existing physical monitor by creating the WaterRower Connect app, a mobile-first application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a real-time performance monitor.

Impact

Successfully enhanced the overall brand experience.

Period

2016 - 2018

WaterRower is a brand celebrated for its elegant, handcrafted rowing machines. While the physical product offers a timeless and authentic on-water experience, the core challenge was to design a digital experience that would serve as a high-quality companion to the machine.

The goal was to elevate the existing physical monitor by creating the WaterRower Connect app, a mobile-first application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a real-time performance monitor.

My role as the lead designer for this project at Label305 was to tackle key challenges in bridging the physical and digital, including user experience enhancement, intuitive interactions and data visualization.

  • To create an application that connects to the physical machine
  • To use natural interactions that reinforce the brand’s focus on craftsmanship
  • To display real-time performance data and progress in a useful way

Video of the onboarding flow.

Image: WaterRower

Approach

Ideation from a style guide

The project began with a clear brief from WaterRower UK. My process was focused on translating the brand's aesthetic and functional quality into a digital product. The requirements, constraints and main goal were clear. I started by studying the provided style guide to ensure visual and brand consistency. Based on this, I developed the main wireframes for the application's core user flows.

Image: WaterRower

Key interactions

One of the most critical elements was the workout setup. Inspired by the tactile experience of a cooking timer, I designed and prototyped a "knob" interaction for setting a workout's time or distance. I created several versions and conducted usability tests with the team to identify the most intuitive and satisfying option. This hands-on testing was crucial for ensuring the final design felt natural and engaging.

Votes for possible functionalities taken from the feedback form.

Flow refinement

Following the successful prototyping phase, I extended the initial designs to build the full UI, focusing on creating a consistent and high-quality user experience. I collaborated closely with the team to identify opportunities for new features, repeating the design and testing process to ensure each addition was well-integrated.

At the time I was working on this project, around 2016-2018, I was watching the show House of Cards. To my surprise, the WaterRower rowing machines were featured in the show. It was such a cool moment, and a realization for me that I was working on something interesting.

Side note

Solution

Image: WaterRower

Fluent onboarding

A streamlined first-use experience designed to minimize friction. This includes auto-detection of nearby devices, the ability to skip steps, and seamless login via a password manager.

Video of the onboarding flow.

Interactive workout setup

The unique "knob" interaction provides a creative and tactile way for users to set their workout goals, reinforcing the feeling of being in control.

Interval workouts.

Workout presets.

Trackable progress

The app offers clear, real-time metrics during a workout and visualizes progress over time. It allows users to track split times, as well as customizable variables like weight and workout intensity, making it a truly personal fitness tool.

Privacy-first

Recognizing the importance of user data protection, the app was designed to be GDPR-compliant. Users have full control over their information, with the ability to request data deletion at any time, and the amount of data stored is minimized to only what is relevant.

Video of the onboarding flow.

Impact

The design and development of the WaterRower Connect app successfully enhanced the overall brand experience. The final product created a seamless link between the machine's premium craftsmanship and a digital experience, helping users stay motivated and in control of their fitness journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project. Although the constraints were clear, the freedom at Label305 allowed me to pour my creative idea’s into it.

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Want to stay tuned?

A refreshing rowing experience: designing the WaterRower Connect App

Case study by

Max van IJsselmuiden

Role

Lead UX Designer

Challenge

Elevate the existing physical monitor by creating the WaterRower Connect app, a mobile-first application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a real-time performance monitor.

Impact

Successfully enhanced the overall brand experience.

Period

2016 - 2018

WaterRower is a brand celebrated for its elegant, handcrafted rowing machines. While the physical product offers a timeless and authentic on-water experience, the core challenge was to design a digital experience that would serve as a high-quality companion to the machine.

The goal was to elevate the existing physical monitor by creating the WaterRower Connect app, a mobile-first application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a real-time performance monitor.

My role as the lead designer for this project at Label305 was to tackle key challenges in bridging the physical and digital, including user experience enhancement, intuitive interactions and data visualization.

  • To create an application that connects to the physical machine
  • To use natural interactions that reinforce the brand’s focus on craftsmanship
  • To display real-time performance data and progress in a useful way

Video of the onboarding flow.

Image: WaterRower

Approach

Ideation from a style guide

The project began with a clear brief from WaterRower UK. My process was focused on translating the brand's aesthetic and functional quality into a digital product. The requirements, constraints and main goal were clear. I started by studying the provided style guide to ensure visual and brand consistency. Based on this, I developed the main wireframes for the application's core user flows.

Image: WaterRower

Key interactions

One of the most critical elements was the workout setup. Inspired by the tactile experience of a cooking timer, I designed and prototyped a "knob" interaction for setting a workout's time or distance. I created several versions and conducted usability tests with the team to identify the most intuitive and satisfying option. This hands-on testing was crucial for ensuring the final design felt natural and engaging.

Votes for possible functionalities taken from the feedback form.

Flow refinement

Following the successful prototyping phase, I extended the initial designs to build the full UI, focusing on creating a consistent and high-quality user experience. I collaborated closely with the team to identify opportunities for new features, repeating the design and testing process to ensure each addition was well-integrated.

At the time I was working on this project, around 2016-2018, I was watching the show House of Cards. To my surprise, the WaterRower rowing machines were featured in the show. It was such a cool moment, and a realization for me that I was working on something interesting.

Side note

Solution

The final result was the WaterRower Connect app, a digital companion that truly complements the physical machine.

Image: WaterRower

Fluent onboarding

A streamlined first-use experience designed to minimize friction. This includes auto-detection of nearby devices, the ability to skip steps, and seamless login via a password manager.

Video of the onboarding flow.

Interactive workout setup

The unique "knob" interaction provides a creative and tactile way for users to set their workout goals, reinforcing the feeling of being in control.

Interval workouts.

Workout presets.

Trackable progress

The app offers clear, real-time metrics during a workout and visualizes progress over time. It allows users to track split times, as well as customizable variables like weight and workout intensity, making it a truly personal fitness tool.

Privacy-first

Recognizing the importance of user data protection, the app was designed to be GDPR-compliant. Users have full control over their information, with the ability to request data deletion at any time, and the amount of data stored is minimized to only what is relevant.

Video of the onboarding flow.

Impact

The design and development of the WaterRower Connect app successfully enhanced the overall brand experience. The final product created a seamless link between the machine's premium craftsmanship and a digital experience, helping users stay motivated and in control of their fitness journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project. Although the constraints were clear, the freedom at Label305 allowed me to pour my creative idea’s into it.

Did you like this post?

Want to stay tuned?