Redesigning the user experience for the Army Ten-Miler (ATM), a prominent distance race in Washington D.C., was a project aimed at enhancing engagement and usability for both potential and repeat runners. The ATM, established in 1985, not only promotes the Army and supports fitness goals but also contributes to community relations, with proceeds benefiting Soldier MWR programs.
The challenge was to create a website layout that was captivating for potential runners while also being highly functional for participants during the event and in their preparation and follow-up. Based on analytics from the previous website, we restructured the user experience, developing two distinct interfaces. I collaborated with a designer from Sage Communications, and together we crafted the initial versions based on a newly created site map and basic wireframes.
These two interface designs were then presented to a focus group for feedback, gathering insights on runner preferences and engagement desires. The final design was a hybrid of the two mockups, effectively combining the most successful elements of each.
Our goal was to imbue the design with a sense of movement, using sharp lines, striking imagery, and high contrast to appeal to an active community. The aesthetic was tailored to resonate with runners like a high-end sports brand, drawing on market research and data on preferences among military personnel and the broader running community. The result was a dynamic, on-brand website that provided a superior user experience, aligning perfectly with the spirit and objectives of the Army Ten-Miler.