Redesigning the Bench Press

Product analysis and Redesign.

Role

  • Spearheaded the redesign section and designed solutions in Figma.

  • Creating an animation to showcase product functionality

  • Conducted user interviews

  • Contributed to writing sections throughout case study

Team

  • Garrett Lee

  • Classmate 1

  • Classmate 2

  • Classmate 3

  • Classmate 4

Duration

1 Month

Overview

In this project, our team tackled a critical problem in gym equipment design — the lack of built-in safety mechanisms in the traditional bench press. Through extensive user research and iterative prototyping, we developed a redesigned bench press that integrates safety features and promotes user confidence, particularly when lifting without a spotter.

Problem

The traditional bench press poses significant risks, especially when users lift without a spotter. Many users reported fear of injury, hesitation to attempt personal records (PRs), and difficulty reracking weights. These safety concerns directly limit usability, causing users to self-impose physical limits due to a lack of affordances and constraints built into the bench press design.

“I’ve skipped PR attempts because I was too scared to bench without someone spotting.” — Interviewee

User Research

We conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with gym-goers of varying experience levels. Key findings:

  • 83% (15 of 18) said they feared injury when bench pressing without a spotter.

  • 33% (6 of 18) avoided attempting PRs due to safety concerns.

  • Users felt significantly safer when someone spotted them (average safety rating: 9.6/10) versus when lifting alone (average safety rating: 5/10).

  • Many users developed their own emergency escape strategies, such as sliding the bar down their body or tilting it to dump the weights — methods that carry additional risks.

This data revealed a clear opportunity: users were compensating for a lack of built-in safety through dangerous workarounds, indicating design failure and usability gaps.

Key Problems Identified

  • No self-spotting mechanism for failed lifts

  • Difficulty re-racking due to poor height alignment, especially for shorter users

  • Inability to adjust bench height, reducing effective force generation for shorter users

  • Mental and physical hesitation during benching due to safety concerns

Design Goals

  • Increase safety for solo bench press users

  • Promote confidence to lift without a spotter

  • Support proper form and performance regardless of user height

  • Maintain intuitive, discoverable interactions for all users

Design Process

We followed the Double Diamond Design Process:

  1. Discover – Conducted interviews, observed user behavior, identified breakdowns in current bench press usage

  2. Define – Framed the problem: “How might we design a bench press that empowers users to lift safely without a spotter?”

  3. Develop – Brainstormed and prototyped multiple concepts including pedal mechanisms, adjustable racks, and self-spotting systems

  4. Deliver – Finalized a redesign that blends intuitive safety features with performance usability

Design Concepts & Features

1. Lowering Pedal System

An emergency foot pedal allows the user to lower the bench height, letting the bar rest safely on self-spotting bars. This clear signifier acts as an “Oh Shit” button — a last-resort feature when a user cannot complete a lift.

  • Minimizes cognitive load during a failed lift

  • Accessible placement near the user's natural leg position

  • Supports multiple use cases: emergency exits and bench height adjustment

2. Self-Spotting Bars

Automated spotting bars activate when the pedal is pressed, catching the bar just above the user’s body. This provides:

  • A clear physical constraint for the barbell

  • Reduced risk of barbell collapse

  • Expanded use for other barbell-based exercises at waist height

3. Adjustable Rack Height

A rack-height adjustment mechanism accommodates users of all body sizes and arm lengths. Unlike traditional benches, users can set the perfect racking height, improving safety and control.

  • Peg-based design for intuitive adjustment

  • Visual signifiers guide discoverability

  • Reduces need for external assistance during setup and racking

Prototypes

We iterated on two versions:

Initial Prototype

  • Added multi-level racking

  • Introduced spotting bars based on user feedback

  • Identified the need for adjustable bench height

Final Prototype

  • Combined pedal + spotting bar system for full fail-safe usability

  • Adjustable racking and bench height built into one streamlined design

  • Created a compact, multi-functional machine that enhances safety and opens new lifting possibilities

Impact

By addressing the physical and psychological limitations of traditional benches, our redesign:

  • Empowers users to train independently

  • Reduces injury risk during failed lifts

  • Expands accessibility for users of all body types

  • Encourages more consistent progress in strength training

Conclusion

This case study demonstrates how thoughtful, user-centered design can radically improve both safety and confidence in strength training. By listening closely to user pain points and aligning our solution with core UX principles, we created a product that could help more people lift — and lift safely.