Google Fitbit Ace LTE

UX
Visual Design
Motion Design

2024

Google Fitbit Ace LTE is a new, first-of-its-kind connected smartwatch for kids ages 7+ that transforms exercise into play and safely helps kids lead more active, independent lives.
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Working as part of the UX team, alongside engineering and marketing, we shaped experiences that bring together digital play and physical movement through a connected wearable.

My role as visual designer was to create a motion design system that uses animation to communicate information dynamically through fun, expressive moments.

UX

Motion UX thinking was fundamental to the decision making process. How can movement and animation improve usability and engagement through high impact moments.

Screen size, digital literacy of the target age group, and technical constraints were just some of the challenges faced that shaped these decisions.

Motion principles provided the framework with which features could be designed, with timing and cadence being used to define sequences and their respective behaviors, ranging between functional and expressive.

Visual Design

We developed a design system that reflected the brand personality, was fully accessible, and flexible enough to bring variety through the different features. Visual styling was needed for animated moments, which could be graphical or cartoon-like depending on the purpose and intended behavior.

Motion Design

Motion was integral at every part of process - from exploring ideas in UX development, through to final delivery to engineering.

Presenting diverse ideas to the team, and displaying animated elements both in sequence and isolated helped to critique what worked best. The best solutions would strike the balance with visuals that felt fresh and expressive, drew from existing systems, and fulfilled their purpose efficiently and effectively.

Frequent check-ins with engineers helped me to understand what would be technically feasible, with many deliverables requiring complex dynamic JSON animations.