BACKGROUND &SECONDARY RESEARCH

Imagine being a book enthusiast, eager to discover your next favorite read and engage with a community of like-minded individuals. You turn to online book platforms for easy access to a wide selection of books but find yourself overwhelmed with options and struggling to find books that truly align with your interests. You long for a platform that not only recommends books based on your preferences, but also connects you with a community of passionate book enthusiasts who can discuss and share their thoughts on the books they love. To address this challenge, online book platforms need to provide a seamless user experience that allows users to easily discover new books and engage in discussions with other book enthusiasts.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that personalized book recommendations can significantly improve user engagement and satisfaction with online book platforms.

The study found that when users were provided with personalized book recommendations based on their reading history and preferences, they were more likely to engage with the platform and rate the recommendations as useful. Additionally, the study found that users who received personalized recommendations were more likely to discover and read books outside of their usual genres or authors, indicating that personalized recommendations can broaden users' reading horizons.

I consider myself fortunate to have been recommended the books above that have since become my all-time favorites and deepened my passion for reading.

RESEARCH GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Research Goals

1. Understand the needs and preferences of book enthusiasts when it comes to discovering new books online.

2. Identify the pain points and challenges user face when it comes to finding new books online

3. To identify key features and functionalities that users want in a book discovery platform

Research Objectives

1.  Conduct user interviews to understand users' reading habits, preferences, and pain points related to discovering new books online.

2. To Identify and prioritize features and functionality that will enhance the book discovery and recommendation process.

3. To design a user-friendly interface that supports easy navigations and quick access to relevant information

USER RESEARCH

Discovering the user's journey: What book lovers taught me about the problem space

As part of my research, I conducted user surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain insights into how book enthusiasts search for new books and what features they value most. These insights will inform the design and development of a personalized book discovery platform that meets the unique needs and preferences of each individual user.

Key themes and insights

Ideation & Information Architecture

As I began to ideate on the design for the book discovery platform, I grabbed my trusty pencil and a blank sheet of paper. Using a low-fi wireframing technique, I sketched out the basic layout of the platform's homepage, including areas for book recommendations, reviews, ratings, and forums. I also sketched out the onboarding quiz process, which would guide users towards personalized book recommendations based on their reading preferences. This step allowed me to quickly iterate on different design ideas and visualize how the platform could come together in a simple and user-friendly way.

After completing the low-fidelity wireframes, I moved onto the mid-fidelity stage. With a clearer idea of the layout and structure of the platform, I began to refine the design and incorporate more details. I used Figma to create the mid-fidelity wireframes, allowing me to work more efficiently and make changes quickly. I focused on ensuring that the design was intuitive and user-friendly, with clear navigation and easy access to all key features.

Bringing books to life: Introducing LitLink's visual identity

With the low-fidelity and mid-fidelity wireframes validated and iterated upon, it was time to move onto the visual design phase.

LitLink is a book discovery platform that blends a modern and sophisticated aesthetic with a touch of warmth and playfulness. The brand's typography, SF PRO, is clean and neutral, while the color palette is a harmonious blend of neutral tones and pops of vibrant hues. Overall, the design elements work together to create a trustworthy, approachable, and aesthetically pleasing brand for book enthusiasts to discover and share their love of literature.

As I progressed through the design process , I created high-fidelity screens to bring my vision to life. These screens were carefully crafted to showcase not only the visual design of the platform, but also the user experience. Once the high-fidelity screens were completed, I moved on to the prototyping stage. This involved building an interactive version of the platform that users could navigate and interact with. By prototyping, I was able to get a better sense of how the design would work in practice and identify any potential issues.

Usability Testing

After creating the high-fidelity screens for my book discovery platform, I was eager to move on to the next step of the design process - usability testing. I wanted to see how users interacted with the platform and gather feedback that would help me improve the user experience. I gathered five participants to test the platform and gather feedback. The feedback helped me to improve the usability on the platform. 90% of the users found it easy to navigate the platform and loved the simple interface. Once all feedback was gathered, I went ahead and made the changes.

The first insight I gained was to add the title and author to the book page. This insight resonated with me, as it would help users quickly identify the book they were looking for and provide additional context and information about the book. With this insight in mind, I decided to make this change to the platform.

LitLink: Discover Your Next Favorite Book with Ease

LitLink isn't just about discovering books - it's about creating a community of readers who are passionate about literature. Whether you're an avid reader or a casual one, LitLink has something for you. With ratings, reviews, and discussion forums, you can connect with like-minded readers and discover your next favorite book. And with bookshelves, you can keep track of what you've read, what you're currently reading, and what you want to read next. So join the LitLink community today and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of literature! View Clickable Prototype

Responsive Design

Based on my user research, I found that book lovers are constantly on the move and rely heavily on their mobile devices to discover, read, and discuss books. Therefore, I made sure that LitLink, the book discovery platform, was designed to provide a seamless experience for not only desktop but also mobile devices, without compromising on functionality or user experience. This way, users can easily access their bookshelves, read reviews, join discussions, and discover new books no matter where they are or what device they're using.

Final thoughts and Reflections

During the project, I felt like a detective, gathering clues and piecing together the user's needs and pain points. I combed through user surveys and feedback, conducted interviews, and observed how people used similar platforms. This allowed me to identify key areas where the current solutions were lacking and pinpoint the specific features that would make Litlink stand out.

Looking back, I realize that I could have improved my process by involving users more actively in the design process. For example, I could have conducted more usability testing and gathered more frequent feedback throughout the development cycle. Additionally, I would have liked to spend more time exploring alternative design solutions, such as incorporating more social elements into the platform to encourage community building and engagement but due to time constraints, I had to prioritize only the key features.

Overall, I learned that designing a successful book discovery platform requires a deep understanding of user needs and a willingness to iterate and refine the design based on feedback. By putting the user first and staying flexible, I was able to create a platform that met the needs of book lovers and encouraged a sense of community around reading.

YOU MADE IT!

If you’d like to chat more, please feel free to contact me at enshrahhayat18@gmail.com