The Soul Mate
YO ! WELCOME TO OUR WORLD !
A ray of sunshine passes through the shutters. I open one eye, stretch out gently, give my body time to wake up. Barefoot in my garden, with my hands wrapped around a cup of warm tea, I listen to the sound of silence.
In my life : noise, speed, the hectic world around me. Despite all the mayhem, I try to get away from it all and leave it to everyone else ! Sitting cross-legged... In touch with the earth... Stretching out... Inspiration... Exhalation... I am there, fully there. Backpack filled with the bare necessities, a pair of walking sticks I quietly follow my own path.
With family and friends, a small incursion into the forest for a few short hours awaits. For me sport is a succession of movements which consist of putting me in agreement with my surroundings and the people in my life. To be one with the elements, to feel a sense of osmosis with mother nature, I long for this and I cherish these moments ! Have you got a train to catch, a file to send back by Monday? Take your time, there’s no hurry...
AN EXPERIENCE
THAT’S A LITTLE BIT OUT-THERE
The life of a sportsperson is not only about the moments they’re actually doing their sport. You just have to observe a child who is going skiing for the first time, or someone in the locker room before a big game, everything you do prepares you for the sports session ahead. It's the bigger picture ; the before, during and after, that really makes the difference. It is vital that we keep this in mind throughout the design process.
If we as Designers lose sight of the bigger picture during the design process, you can be certain that we are going to miss something, and we’re gonna mess something up ! The design experience is like a catchy song that gets stuck in your head from morning to night, it sets the tempo for the whole creation process. It gives the designers a rhythm to work along to and if we can figure out how to design to the beat of the athletes who use our products, we will see it in their performance and in the sense of accomplishment on their faces.
DORIAN, MAXENCE & THE UX
GAINING ALTITUDE
VS WALKING WITH STONES IN YOUR SHOES
After observing the users, the first task for UX is to present their findings on a curve. This curve isn’t drawn meticulously on precise graph paper like something a mathematician would draw, rather it is a simple yet informative way of providing us with a general overview of the motivations and the struggles of a typical athlete in a given sport.
Here the highs and lows are presented in a single photo.
AND AFTER
From towering summits to deep valleys, the analysis of the user experience allows us to build bridges and paths which can overcome any challenge. But not only that.
How do you start a fire if you’ve never done it before? This is one aspect of UX : imagining solutions to problems athletes encounter.
Not everyone is Bear Grylls ! Getting a little extra help to prepare for your next trip is always a good idea.
Looking for a little bit of inspiration for your next outdoor adventure ? Or do you wanna share your best trail ? Check out “ENTREZ DEHORS” (which literally means “Get Outdoors”) a French platform dedicated to hiking and the great outdoors.
The Soul Mate is always on the look for a tailor-made adventure. They have all the kit they’d ever need for a trip regardless of its duration. They check the weather forecast religiously, their itinerary has been precisely adapted to their pace and fitness level, the most breath-taking viewpoints have been chosen well in advance and their meals are planned down to the calorie ...
Now all that’s left for them to do is let the magic of the great outdoors happen. Now it’s up to the deer to show itself around a bend in a path, the sun to dart its golden rays through the morning mist... Right, that’s it.. I’ve decided, I’m giving up everything to raise a flock of mountain sheep in the Highlands.
RELAX, I’LL TAKE YOU OUTSIDE FOR THE WEEKEND !
Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Let me take your hand as you take your first step towards the ultimate escape. I’m going to put you on the right path towards your own peace of mind and well-being. You have the right to disconnect from the stresses of life ! So follow me for a simple but exceptional weekend in the great outdoors.
When you're feeling a little hesitant about heading out, or you’re scared of the unknown, I'll be there to reassure you and simplify everything for you. If you don't know what you need to take or what you should leave behind and you’re nervous about not having everything you’ll need to survive ... relax... don’t worry about it, I got your back, muggins here will sort you out. All you have to do is tell me who you want to go with, when you plan to go and what you want to discover along the way !
You made it ! How was your trip? Now, it’s time to chill out ! Oh, you still have to pitch your tent ? No worries, I’m going to take care of it for you...Maybe you can get started on the campfire instead. That’s much more fun, isn’t it ? Time for the magic to begin ! Yeah grab a few branches and two big logs like granddad used to do. And, if worse comes to worst, there’s a lighter in the backpack.. but that’s our little secret !
After we eat these toasted marshmallows, look up and enjoy the sky. It’s time to sleep but not before looking at the constellations..yeah that’s the Big Dipper, easy ! But can you find Ursa Minor ?
And if the kiddos are a little scared of the dark, take a look at the bottom of your bag. I put a little night light in there which, I promise, will last all night. Don't ask why, like I said...it’s magic !
THAT’S IT.
You might think our work ends there. Not quite. You see, once the experience is wrapped up in its shiny new packaging, it still has to go through logistics to our salespeople, before you can finally get your hands on it. That’s a whole different journey altogether, full of other emotions that we try to share with you every day.
When it comes to the pride of a victory, whether it's you who wins or the other team, the Coach Mate will support you all the way. It is happiness in finding a balance, meeting other people, and ultimately experiencing the support offered by our products. The beginning of a product’s life in the field is also the beginning of the life of its successor. Our job, from then on, is to listen to the users, to refine our intuitions, sometimes to rethink everything, in order to offer another, more advanced experience, enriched by the meetings our athletes have and the directions our athletes take.
During this new stage we continue to navigate alongside our athletes and the Challenger Mate is there every step of the way :
What the "mate" ?
Don’t waste your time doing useless Facebook surveys to find out what your favourite flower says about your personality, discover your “Mate” right here.
Thanks to your answers, we will be able to draw up a map of the “Mates” ! Ready ? Set ? Go!
