For regular readers of this blog, you know that the national implementation trial showed that BeUpstanding works to support workers to sit less and move more and create a supportive culture for change. But we didn’t stop with that success. We wanted to know how do we make BeUpstanding not just effective, but easier to run, easier to scale, and easier to sustain?
Our new study explores how we worked with all our end users to help answer those questions – and how a user-centred design (UCD) process helped evolve BeUpstanding into a more flexible and future-ready version of itself: BeUpstanding 2.0.
Why redesign a program that already works?
The national implementation trial showed that BeUpstanding does what it sets out to do: help workers sit less and move more. But it also surfaced a very practical barrier for workplaces:
Running the program across more than one team was harder than it needed to be.
Managers wanted an easy way to run and monitor the program across multiple teams. Champions wanted more training and weekly guidance. Hybrid work had changed the way teams connected. And everyone wanted clearer, simpler ways to keep people engaged. Rather than patching around the edges, we decided to go all-in on a redesign – with this redesign driven by the people who use the program.
Bringing users into the design seat
User-centred design is exactly what it sounds like: instead of guessing what people want, you ask them. You listen. You test ideas early. And you keep improving until the design actually fits how people work.
Across three discovery cycles, we worked with:
- past and current champions
- staff and managers
- wellbeing providers and potential future users
- and a core team of designers, developers, and researchers
Together, we mapped out frustrations, wishes, and “if only…” ideas. We worked together to develop and test mock-ups and prototypes.
Across the data collection, three main themes emerged:
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Workplaces needed someone to coordinate multiple teams – so the “overseer” user was developed
One of the clearest takeaways was that workplaces needed an easy way to support multiple champions and multiple teams at once. In the earlier version of BeUpstanding, this wasn’t possible with how we had set up the platform (which was based on one champion for one team). So we built a whole new platform and introduced a new user in BeUpstanding 2.0: the overseer. The overseer could be a manager, health lead, or anyone overseeing wellbeing efforts. The overseer gets their own dashboard where they can:
- set up and support champions
- keep an eye on multiple teams
- see program progress in real time across multiple teams
- access resources tailored to their role
This change alone makes the program more scalable, and much easier for organisations to run over the long term.
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Champions wanted the process to be clearer and easier
Champions have always been the backbone of BeUpstanding, but the team heard a familiar refrain:
“I love the program… I just need it to be easier to manage.”
So the redesign focused heavily on simplifying the champion experience, including:
- a clearer week-by-week roadmap
- ready-to-send email templates
- new posters and resources
- interactive training modules
- better visibility of team engagement
- easier navigation and setup
Champions in the beta test appreciated having “everything ready to roll” – with less time needed to figure things out, and more time actually supporting their teams.
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Engagement needed a boost – especially with hybrid work here to stay
The third insight: even the best program needs help maintaining momentum, particularly when teams aren’t physically together.
Workplaces asked for:
- mini challenges
- more variety in resources
- gamified elements
- resources for people working from home
- easier ways to see progress
BeUpstanding 2.0 responds with new tools, including: animated stretch break videos; a weekly engagement tracker; more hybrid-friendly content; and, stronger insights reporting. Looking forward, the aim is to incorporate AI to enable an even more personalised experience.
What did workplaces think of the updated program?
Four organisations put BeUpstanding 2.0 through its paces in a 3-month beta test to unpack what was working well and what adjustments were needed.
What worked well
- The overseer dashboard was a hit: simple, intuitive, and genuinely useful.
- Champions loved the ready-made resources.
- The new training modules boosted confidence and clarity.
- Data was easier to access and far better organised.
What still needs fine-tuning
- even simpler onboarding
- more prompts or challenges to keep teams motivated
- richer insights showing progress over time
In true UCD style, these suggestions have already been fed into the next round of improvements.
What’s next?
BeUpstanding 2.0 is now ready for wider implementation, with continuous refinement built into the process. As workplaces evolve, the program will keep evolving with them, just as it should. A huge thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on BeUpstanding and made it into the program it is today. Please do keep letting us know what is working, what is not working, and what more is needed. We are here to listen!
Interested in finding out more?
Read the full article here.
Goode AD, Ulyate L, Healy GN. A User-Centered Design Approach to Enhance Sustainability of a Sit Less, Move More Program for Desk-Based Workers. Health Promotion Practice. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/15248399251398555
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