Bookmeister Mobile App
Context
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I noticed that despite extra free time, my friends and I were reading even less than usual despite wanting to read. I wanted to create a tool to help my network read as often as they'd like to. In the end, I created a tool that promotes discovery, consistency, and community among book readers.
User Research
After sensing a strong decline in the amount of time I spent reading during quarantine, I couldn’t help but wonder: is this happening to everybody else? What would help me get back into the habit of reading during these uncertain times?
To get to the bottom of my questions, I started with secondary research online, where I found some interesting statistics.
On average, Americans aged 20-34 spend less than 7 minutes everyday reading. (Statista, 2019)
27% of adults say they haven’t read a book (in whole or in part) in the past year. (PEW, 2019)
This piqued my curiosity! People my age weren’t reading very much, but I had to find out, do my peers want to read more? If so, what exactly prevents us from reading as much as we’d like?
To find out, I conducted a user survey and user interviews.
Key takeaways from the survey:
Only 10% of respondants reported not finishing a book in the past year. Much less than that reported in PEW (above).
Users largely prefer reading physical books. During my research, I noticed most book-related apps offered online reading as a primary feature.
Key takeaways from the interviews:
Users aren’t sure where to find books or who to trust to recommend books.
Users want to connect with others over their favorite books, and haven’t been able to in person lately.
Some users are goal oriented and like to track progress on their reading list. They crave the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a book.
Information Architecture
Wireframing
I sketched my designs with pen and paper, then built wireframes using Sketch. With a set of wireframes to capture my red routes, I conducted a round of usability testing using a Marvel POP prototype to identify any issues at this stage.
The results of the user testing indicated that users could successfully navigate the app, but users needed more in-app feedback to know if their tasks were complete.
Visual Design
When thinking about the visual design for this product, I wanted to lean into the nostalgia and fantasy we find in books.
In user interviews, multiple users noted that they loved to be immersed in the stories that books tell.
Especially in times of isolation and hardship, books are a welcome escape from reality.
