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Project
The ACG Hiking App was designed to be the all-around app for hikers and explorers. With features like trail search, group hike and trail-curated shopping, this app is a hikers best friend. The app design embodies the 90's apparel style Nike ACG embraces, taking pride in their early 90's roots and fully embracing the meaning of All Conditions Gear.
Category
Programs
Role
Year
2021
Researcher, Designer
Adobe XD, Illustrator, Photoshop
User Experience
Mission
Hiking is one of the most accessible outdoor activities, yet many hikers face challenges that make the experience harder than it should be. Finding reliable trails, preparing the right gear, and staying connected with others often require juggling multiple apps and resources. While Nike’s ACG line equips people for all conditions, there’s no unified digital space that supports that same mission.
To stand in line with apps like Nike Run Club and Nike Training Club, The Nike ACG Hiking App concept is imagined, bringing together trail exploration, gear recommendations, community features, and preparation tools into one cohesive platform that empowers hikers at every level.
Personas
To better understand the average hiker, feedback was gathered from various hiking communities, particularly the ACG Discord community, where users from all over the world shared their needs and opinions on a potential hiking app. Their responses were all taken into consideration and created the base of our two personas, Mike, representing the experienced, avid hiker, and Sarah, reflecting the beginner eager to get into the hobby. Together, their perspectives show the range of possible users and allow every need to be covered.
Sketches
Based on the insights from both personas, six initial wireframe sketches were developed, each addressing a specific pain point. Shop This Trail provides hikers with gear recommendations specific to the selected trail, focusing on weather and current conditions, while Hike Tracking allows for compass based direction back to the starting point in the case of lost connection, made possible with the “take me back” feature.
Group Hike and Save Group was developed on the research of Nikes past “Run Club” featuring city runs with locals joining in the presence of nike pacer employees, now with a hiking variation. Meanwhile, Social Media encourages sharing experiences and photos specific to the hiking community, and Trail Sharing lets users recommend routes to other friends, or connect them to your same trail. Together, these concepts explore different ways the app can support hikers through connection, preparation, and discovery.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
The next stage translated the original sketches into low-fidelity wireframes, refining structure and layout while keeping the focus on function. Each concept, Shop This Trail, Hike Tracking, Group Hike, Save Group, Social Media, and Trail Sharing was tested in greater depth to define user flow, navigation, and interaction points. This phase helped visualize how each feature would operate within the app and test which feature is most essential for the average user, and focus in on strong examples to pursue in the high-fidelity phase.
Branding
After the wireframe testing stage, two branding moodboards were developed to define the app’s visual direction. The first drew inspiration from trail guides and the natural tones found outdoors, emphasizing earthy textures and authenticity. The second reflected the bold, colorful energy of Nike ACG’s 90s roots, drawing from vintage hiking apparel, advertisements and graphic styles. This nostalgic and bright direction ultimately became the foundation for the app’s identity.
High-Fidelity Wireframes
The final high-fidelity designs present a fully refined version of the ACG Hiking App, combining nature with Nike’s signature visual identity. The interface features bold typography, gradients, and color palletes inspired by Nike ACG’s early gear collections. Each screen was crafted to feel intuitive and energizing, helping users explore trails, track progress, and connect with others in a clean, performance driven experience. The result is an app that captures ACG’s outdoor spirit, and empowers those that are built for all conditions.
Explore Trails
When a trail is selected, the ACG app presents a range of tools designed to make planning and preparation effortless. Users can view detailed trail information, read or leave reviews, and access quick options to favorite or share routes with friends. Each page is built to give hikers confidence before they set out, providing everything from common weather conditions to downloadable maps. With these features, every hike begins with clarity, connection, and a sense of readiness for the trail ahead.
Shop This Trail
The Shop This Trail feature connects the hiking experience directly with ACG’s product ecosystem. When a trail is selected, users can choose to “shop this trail,” which instantly curates a gear list tailored to that location’s current conditions. The app analyzes factors like weather, terrain, and season to recommend the most suitable apparel and equipment. For example, a snowy winter trail might highlight fleece pants, packable jackets, and insulated boots, while a hot, humid summer route would suggest lightweight tops and high traction shoes. This personalized approach makes preparation simple, bridging the gap between exploration and the gear built for it.
ACG for Web
The web version of the ACG Hiking App extends the experience beyond mobile, offering users a convenient way to explore and prepare from any device. From the site, users can view trail pages, download or print maps, and share routes just as they would in the app. The web experience also integrates shopping features, allowing users to browse ACG gear and access the Shop This Trail function for tailored product recommendations. For features that rely on mobile tools, like live tracking or group hikes, the site prompts users to download the ACG Hiking App, where they can experience all features for an elevated hiking experience.
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