MoCo

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
A key UX challenge in this project was learning how to make the experience enjoyable for people in Berlin. Through my observations, I noticed that their approach to sports is very different. Many users lose motivation in winter and look for something social and fun rather than a traditional fitness tool. At the start, I focused on technical features and on building an interface that pushed people to exercise. These early ideas worked on a functional level but did not attract users or keep their interest. I redesigned the concept many times and explored different styles and interactions. The real challenge was finding the right balance between motivation and playfulness.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
My highlight in the development process came from exploring how to attract Berlin users in a more playful way. I spent a long time thinking about what kind of interaction could make people feel excited about moving again. This led me to create the cartoon character that later became Moco. The moment when I realized that Moco could change from round and heavy to slimmer and more active was very inspiring. It created a friendly visual story that users could relate to and made the whole experience feel more alive. This idea did not appear immediately. It came after many trials and after questioning how to make the concept both fun and meaningful. That creative moment became the turning point of the project.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope Moco can become a platform that guides people through meaningful activities in every season. The idea began with winter motivation, but I believe it can grow into a system that adapts to seasonal changes throughout the year. Each season offers a different mood and energy level, and Moco can suggest activities that match these shifts while keeping users engaged in a fun and sustainable way. I imagine it working with local communities to offer playful events that fit spring, summer, autumn and winter. For myself, I want to continue designing products that support daily wellbeing. Moco is an early step in this direction, and I hope to keep developing it as both a research project and a real service.