Peloton, Hydrow, and Designing the Multi-Faceted Connected Fitness Experience

Episode 015 • 44 min

With the pandemic keeping most gyms closed, the connected fitness industry is booming.

Peloton alone reported a 66% increase in sales through the spring. On this episode, we’re talking about the big moves in connected fitness equipment and digital experiences, and how they’re designed. Think Peloton for biking and running, Mirror for cardio, Tonal for weight training, Hydrow for rowing, and many more. These are internet-connected devices you have at home that allow you to work out with a digital and community experience on screen. As our guest co-host, David Knies shared, connected fitness companies need to get three things right: the hardware, the software, and the content, all while delivering a unified, best-in-class experience. David is the Chief Growth Officer at Essential Design, the design firm behind Hydrow, the live outdoor reality rowing machine. We interview Hydrow Founder and CEO, Bruce Smith, to dig into the design process behind his amazing rowing platform. Plus we share our weekly dose of good design.

Weekly Dose of Good Design

• Sam: Roost Laptop Stand 
• Liz: Wild Basin – Boozy Sparkling Water
• David: Strava and HeadSpace

Links

• App: DRIVN
• App: TeamSnap
• Company: SportsEngine
• App: Zwift
• App: Strava
• Company: PA Consulting
• Company: Astro Studios
• Video: Hydrow Highlights
• Product: Concept2 Rowing Machine
• Product: WHOOP
• Company: Cooper Perkins