Tyler Y. Designs

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Tyler Y. Designs

Projects

About

Contact

OSS Mobile: Elevating Jiu-Jitsu Training Through Digital Innovation

OSS Mobile is a cutting-edge platform designed to seamlessly integrate digital learning into the traditional Jiu-Jitsu training regimen. By offering a user-centric mobile experience, it empowers practitioners to access high-quality instructional content, monitor their progress, and engage with a vibrant community, all from the convenience of their devices.

Date

January - July

23 Weeks

Project Type

Individual student project at Springboard

Role

User research & User interface design

Applications Used

Project Overview

OSS Mobile is a dedicated mobile application designed to support Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners by providing a comprehensive platform for learning, tracking progress, and engaging with the community. Unlike generic fitness or martial arts apps, OSS Mobile is built specifically for Jiu-Jitsu athletes—both beginners and seasoned practitioners—who seek structured training, body care resources, and a strong sense of community. This project focuses on creating an intuitive and immersive user experience that enhances skill development, promotes injury prevention, and fosters meaningful connections within the BJJ community.

Problem Statement

Despite Jiu-Jitsu’s global popularity, there is a lack of high-quality mobile applications tailored specifically to the sport. Many existing apps focus solely on instructional videos without addressing other key aspects of a practitioner's journey, such as injury prevention, mobility work, and community engagement. Jiu-Jitsu is a demanding martial art that requires continuous learning, physical maintenance, and a supportive network. OSS Mobile seeks to bridge this gap by offering an all-in-one platform where users can improve their techniques, take care of their bodies, and connect with like-minded individuals to become the best version of themselves both on and off the mat.

Research and Discovery

User Interviews

We conducted user interviews with seven males and two females, a mix of practitioners and non-practitioners at different levels of the sport. The goal was to understand practitioners' wants and needs while also assessing non-practitioners' knowledge of and interest in Jiu-Jitsu.

Some quotes:

Patrick M. (24)

|

Does not participate

“I have heard Jujitsu before but I never really seen it. All I know is that it is some kind of fighting and that’s about it.”

Hao Yuen Y. (47)

|

White Belt (0 Stripes)

“I wish there would be more women in the sport. Last time I went, I remember I had to sit out because of the odd number of partners and there were not enough women.”

Ali E. (50)

|

Black Belt (0 Stripes)

 “I love competing and I love watching students compete. As a school we need to support each other and push each other to be the best that we can and try to encourage others to give it their best.”

Affinity Mapping

He prefers online learning

He would like tutorials that can teach him some moves.

  1. Learning/Training:

  • Users struggle to remember techniques after class.

  • Many want a structured, progressive learning path.

  • Lack of guided drills makes solo training difficult.

He can’t find partners in his weight class

He is a purple belt and often does not have partners at his level

  1. Community/Trust:

  • Users rely on trusted instructors and fellow practitioners for technique validation.

  • There’s skepticism toward random online videos.

  • A platform that connects users with verified instructors would build trust.

Tutorials. She likes learning in classes and wishes she can learn outside of classes

With more women in the sport, it could be seen as less intimidating.

  1. Community/Trust:

  • Users rely on trusted instructors and fellow practitioners for technique validation.

  • There’s skepticism toward random online videos.

  • A platform that connects users with verified instructors would build trust.

He likes how everyone is competitive and strives to be better.

He hopes to compete next year with more training time and fewer responsibilities.

  1. Competitiveness:

  • Advanced users and competitors are highly goal-driven.

  • They seek detailed breakdowns and high-level coaching insights.

  • They want performance tracking to measure progress against peers.

Some people might not have as much disciple to stick to the sport.

Going to the city was too time consuming and used up too many resources.

  1. Discipline/Time Management:

  • Many struggle with consistency due to busy schedules.

  • Short, structured training sessions would help keep them on track.

  • Time-efficient techniques and daily reminders could improve engagement.

He prefers online learning

He would like tutorials that can teach him some moves.

  1. Learning/Training:

  • Users struggle to remember techniques after class.

  • Many want a structured, progressive learning path.

  • Lack of guided drills makes solo training difficult.

  1. Community/Trust:

  • Users rely on trusted instructors and fellow practitioners for technique validation.

  • There’s skepticism toward random online videos.

  • A platform that connects users with verified instructors would build trust.

  1. Women-Related Issues:

  • Female practitioners sometimes face discomfort training with larger or aggressive partners.

  • They desire resources tailored to their unique training needs.

  • A women-friendly space (such as discussion groups or technique recommendations) would be beneficial.

  1. Competitiveness:

  • Advanced users and competitors are highly goal-driven.

  • They seek detailed breakdowns and high-level coaching insights.

  • They want performance tracking to measure progress against peers.

  1. Discipline/Time Management:

  • Many struggle with consistency due to busy schedules.

  • Short, structured training sessions would help keep them on track.

  • Time-efficient techniques and daily reminders could improve engagement.

View Full Affinity Mapping on Mural

Mural File

Mural File

Mural File

He prefers online learning

He would like tutorials that can teach him some moves.

  1. Learning/Training:

  • Users struggle to remember techniques after class.

  • Many want a structured, progressive learning path.

  • Lack of guided drills makes solo training difficult.

He can’t find partners in his weight class

He is a purple belt and often does not have partners at his level

  1. Community/Trust:

  • Users rely on trusted instructors and fellow practitioners for technique validation.

  • There’s skepticism toward random online videos.

  • A platform that connects users with verified instructors would build trust.

Tutorials. She likes learning in classes and wishes she can learn outside of classes

With more women in the sport, it could be seen as less intimidating.

  1. Community/Trust:

  • Users rely on trusted instructors and fellow practitioners for technique validation.

  • There’s skepticism toward random online videos.

  • A platform that connects users with verified instructors would build trust.

He likes how everyone is competitive and strives to be better.

He hopes to compete next year with more training time and fewer responsibilities.

  1. Competitiveness:

  • Advanced users and competitors are highly goal-driven.

  • They seek detailed breakdowns and high-level coaching insights.

  • They want performance tracking to measure progress against peers.

Some people might not have as much disciple to stick to the sport.

Going to the city was too time consuming and used up too many resources.

  1. Discipline/Time Management:

  • Many struggle with consistency due to busy schedules.

  • Short, structured training sessions would help keep them on track.

  • Time-efficient techniques and daily reminders could improve engagement.

Empathy Map

Think:

  • Likes the aggressiveness of the sport.

  • Hard to find good schools/partners.

  • Likes the discipline associated with the sport.

Does:

  • Watching others train

  • Looks up moves on Reddit and YouTube.

  • Training and learning with friends.

Feel:

  • Worried about injuries.

  • Feels that it is more than just a sport

  • Loves the competitiveness.

  • Brazilian JiuJitsu takes a lot of time.

Pain:

  • Often gets injured from the sport.

  • Not enough time.

  • Training and learning with friends.

  • Too far from nearest good training center.

  • Can’t find the right partners.

  • Not good with technology.

Gain:

  • Can find more partners.

  • Learn more moves and get better.

  • Learn other life skills from the sport.

  • Become more disciplined and patient.

Says:

  • “I feel more alive when I go against someone and completely dominate them.”

  • “I like learning new moves and trying to improve myself and increasing my move set.”

  • “I wish there were some more people a little more advance and the other purple belt is pretty old too.”

  • “I would like it if there was a good school right next to me where I can drop in anytime I would like. That way I can learn with great coaches and people, without spending much time on travel.”

Persona

Maria Garcia

“I am always on the move and doing things for others. I wish I had more free time to do things I enjoy.”

Age: 35

Work: Nurse

Family: Husband and 2 kids

Location: New York

Education: Bachelors Degree

Bio

Maria Garcia Is a mother of two. She works as a nurse during the day. When she is not working, she is often with her family. She enjoys learning new things and does JuJitsu for self defense and to release stress.

Goals

  • Wants to learn as much as she can in BJJ

  • Be able to use these moves in self defense

  • Achieve her weight loss goal.

Frustrations

  • Too many responsibilities, not enough free time.

  • Not enough training partners.

  • Long tiring hours at work.

Personality

Introvert

Extrovert

Intuitive

Analytical

Cautious

Adventerous

Passive

Active

Preferred Channels

Social Media

Mobile

Computer

Red Routes

We identified key red routes to determine the essential screens and interactions for user success. These included:

Joining a Competition
Learning Techniques
Finding a Gym

View Red Routes on FigJam

FigJam File

FigJam File

FigJam File

Competitive Analysis

We analyzed four competitors: Reddit, YouTube, BJJ Fanatics, and Jiu-Jitsu Five-O.

Reddit
Strengths:

  • Large variety of memes, news, and other topics.

  • Large community with almost 800,000 members and counting.

Weaknesses:

  • Community-driven content that is mostly uploaded by members.

  • Not much structure; all types of content are included.

Opportunities:

  • Introduce structured learning threads and expert Q&A sessions.

  • Create official BJJ community forums with verified content.

Threats:

  • Unregulated user-generated content can lead to misinformation.

  • Engagement can be unpredictable and dependent on trending topics.

YouTube
Strengths:

  • Large collection of videos, both long and short form

  • Users can learn almost all the moves from videos

Weaknesses:

  • Not much organization; skill level in videos varies drastically

  • Too much information can be overwhelming

Opportunities:

  • Develop curated learning playlists for different skill levels.

  • Offer instructor-led live training sessions.

Threats:

  • Oversaturation of content can overwhelm new learners.

  • No community-building features beyond comments.

BJJFanatics
Strengths:

  • Large library of tutorials taught by professionals

  • Downloadable videos for offline viewing

Weaknesses:

  • Tutorials need to be purchased individually

  • Not very organized, mostly categorized by tags

Opportunities:

  • Introduce subscription-based model with structured learning paths.

  • Enhance search functionality for better organization.

Threats:

  • High cost of individual video purchases can deter users.

  • Lack of interactivity compared to live training or coaching.

Jiujitsu Five-O
Strengths:

  • Helpful for workouts, mobility, and health

  • Simple design that is well-organized

Weaknesses:

  • Some parts require an external application

  • Feels incomplete due to paywalls restricting access

Opportunities:

  • Expand beyond fitness to include comprehensive BJJ training.

  • Integrate with wearable devices for fitness tracking.

Threats:

  • Paywall limits user access to valuable content.

  • Lacks a dedicated technique learning section.

Reddit
Strengths:

  • Large variety of memes, news, and other topics.

  • Large community with almost 800,000 members and counting.

Weaknesses:

  • Community-driven content that is mostly uploaded by members.

  • Not much structure; all types of content are included.

Opportunities:

  • Introduce structured learning threads and expert Q&A sessions.

  • Create official BJJ community forums with verified content.

Threats:

  • Unregulated user-generated content can lead to misinformation.

  • Engagement can be unpredictable and dependent on trending topics.

YouTube
Strengths:

  • Large collection of videos, both long and short form

  • Users can learn almost all the moves from videos

Weaknesses:

  • Not much organization; skill level in videos varies drastically

  • Too much information can be overwhelming

Opportunities:

  • Develop curated learning playlists for different skill levels.

  • Offer instructor-led live training sessions.

Threats:

  • Oversaturation of content can overwhelm new learners.

  • No community-building features beyond comments.

BJJFanatics
Strengths:

  • Large library of tutorials taught by professionals

  • Downloadable videos for offline viewing

Weaknesses:

  • Tutorials need to be purchased individually

  • Not very organized, mostly categorized by tags

Opportunities:

  • Introduce subscription-based model with structured learning paths.

  • Enhance search functionality for better organization.

Threats:

  • High cost of individual video purchases can deter users.

  • Lack of interactivity compared to live training or coaching.

Jiujitsu Five-O
Strengths:

  • Helpful for workouts, mobility, and health

  • Simple design that is well-organized

Weaknesses:

  • Some parts require an external application

  • Feels incomplete due to paywalls restricting access

Opportunities:

  • Expand beyond fitness to include comprehensive BJJ training.

  • Integrate with wearable devices for fitness tracking.

Threats:

  • Paywall limits user access to valuable content.

  • Lacks a dedicated technique learning section.

Reddit
Strengths:

  • Large variety of memes, news, and other topics.

  • Large community with almost 800,000 members and counting.

Weaknesses:

  • Community-driven content that is mostly uploaded by members.

  • Not much structure; all types of content are included.

Opportunities:

  • Introduce structured learning threads and expert Q&A sessions.

  • Create official BJJ community forums with verified content.

Threats:

  • Unregulated user-generated content can lead to misinformation.

  • Engagement can be unpredictable and dependent on trending topics.

YouTube
Strengths:

  • Large collection of videos, both long and short form

  • Users can learn almost all the moves from videos

Weaknesses:

  • Not much organization; skill level in videos varies drastically

  • Too much information can be overwhelming

Opportunities:

  • Develop curated learning playlists for different skill levels.

  • Offer instructor-led live training sessions.

Threats:

  • Oversaturation of content can overwhelm new learners.

  • No community-building features beyond comments.

BJJFanatics
Strengths:

  • Large library of tutorials taught by professionals

  • Downloadable videos for offline viewing

Weaknesses:

  • Tutorials need to be purchased individually

  • Not very organized, mostly categorized by tags

Opportunities:

  • Introduce subscription-based model with structured learning paths.

  • Enhance search functionality for better organization.

Threats:

  • High cost of individual video purchases can deter users.

  • Lack of interactivity compared to live training or coaching.

Jiujitsu Five-O
Strengths:

  • Helpful for workouts, mobility, and health

  • Simple design that is well-organized

Weaknesses:

  • Some parts require an external application

  • Feels incomplete due to paywalls restricting access

Opportunities:

  • Expand beyond fitness to include comprehensive BJJ training.

  • Integrate with wearable devices for fitness tracking.

Threats:

  • Paywall limits user access to valuable content.

  • Lacks a dedicated technique learning section.

Design Process

Low fidelity Wireframes

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Competitive Homepage

  • Countdown timer for upcoming competitions

  • Dashboard with modular widgets

  • Lounge area for community interaction

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Health Tracker

  • Visual progress bar for weight tracking

  • Wellness modules (doctor access, workouts, recipes)

  • Calendar synced with a weight tracker

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Grapplers' Quest

  • Gamified gym and partner locator

  • Global and friends ranking system

  • Online/offline status for challenges

Competitive Homepage

  • Countdown timer for upcoming competitions

  • Dashboard with modular widgets

  • Lounge area for community interaction

Competitive Homepage

  • Countdown timer for upcoming competitions

  • Dashboard with modular widgets

  • Lounge area for community interaction

Grapplers' Quest

  • Gamified gym and partner locator

  • Global and friends ranking system

  • Online/offline status for challenges

Interactive Preview: Hover over the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Competitive Homepage

  • Countdown timer for upcoming competitions

  • Dashboard with modular widgets

  • Lounge area for community interaction

Health Tracker

  • Visual progress bar for weight tracking

  • Wellness modules (doctor access, workouts, recipes)

  • Calendar synced with a weight tracker

Grapplers' Quest

  • Gamified gym and partner locator

  • Global and friends ranking system

  • Online/offline status for challenges

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Competitive Homepage

  • Countdown timer for upcoming competitions

  • Dashboard with modular widgets

  • Lounge area for community interaction

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Health Tracker

  • Visual progress bar for weight tracking

  • Wellness modules (doctor access, workouts, recipes)

  • Calendar synced with a weight tracker

Interactive Preview: Click the sketches to reveal the app's standout features!

Grapplers' Quest

  • Gamified gym and partner locator

  • Global and friends ranking system

  • Online/offline status for challenges

User Testing Insights

  • Issues with button size affecting clickability.

  • Color contrast and text brightness adjustments needed.

  • Users struggled to switch between competitive and normal modes.

  • Difficulty finding friend and global rankings.

  • Glitches in online/offline toggle button.

  • No clear home button.

  • Some users feared redundancy with YouTube and Reddit.

High Fidelity Wireframes

We refined our wireframes based on user feedback, improving:

  • Visual Hierarchy

  • Navigation Clarity

  • Component Interactions

  • Prototyping for MVP

Final Solution & Takeaways

Final Solution

OSS Mobile was designed to bridge the gap between in-person Jiu-Jitsu training and digital learning, providing users with a structured, interactive, and accessible way to improve their skills. Based on our research and iterations, the final solution includes:

  1. Structured Learning Curriculum

  • Categorized system for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced techniques

  • Step-by-step video tutorials from experienced instructors

  • Progress tracking system

  1. Interactive Training Tools

  • Technique Journal for logging training sessions and notes

  • Bookmarking for quick technique review

  • Hands-free mode for easier use while training

  1. Community & Social Features

  • Discussion forums for user interaction

  • Instructor Q&A sessions

  • Gamified Grappler’s Quest challenge system

  1. Health & Recovery Integration

  • Health Tracker for wellness metrics

  • Workout and stretching tutorials

Takeaways

OSS Mobile was a valuable learning experience that helped me grow in UX research and mobile application design. Key learnings:

  • Designing for a Diverse Audience

  • Mobile UX Considerations

  • Iterating Based on Feedback

Future Improvements

Future updates could introduce AI-driven training recommendations, live sparring analysis, and enhanced instructor interactions to improve user experience further.

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