TYPE OF PROJECT
Mobile app design
Low Fidelity
Onboarding + 1 Feature
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE?
2 Weeks
MY ROLE
1 of 3 UX DesignerS
Research and Design
TOOLS I USED
Figma
Canva
THE PROBLEM
Readers are eager to find friends and connect with people who share their book interests, but they lack the confidence and knowledge of where to find the right people and how to start connecting. As a result, readers often feel disconnected and unmotivated to maintain their reading habits.
OUR APPROACH
Introducing Write Minded, a book club discovery app.
We crafted a user persona, conducting interviews and surveys and a thorough competitor analysis to understand the needs and behaviors of potential users. Through brainstorming sessions, we designed intuitive features such as finding genre-based book clubs and reader events. Created comprehensive user flows for seamless onboarding, exploring nearby book clubs, and adding bookstore events to calendars. Iterative testing and feedback refined our prototypes, ensuring a user-friendly experience that simplifies book club discovery and fosters community interaction.
RESULT
The final prototype of Write Minded received enthusiastic feedback from users who valued its intuitive interface and well-organized features. They appreciated how the app facilitated connections with fellow book enthusiasts, supported their reading habits, and made it effortless to discover and join book clubs, engage in events, and connect with like-minded readers.
By providing a safe and engaging platform, Write Minded effectively addressed the identified challenges, enabling readers to form meaningful connections and stay motivated in their reading journeys
Let's get to know our user
User Interviews and Surveys:
To understand the needs and behaviors of potential users for Write Minded, we conducted interviews and distributed Google Forms surveys. Our aim was to identify common pain points, preferences, and goals related to reading and book club participation.
Here are some key tasks and questions we explored:
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Describe your current reading habits.
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Have you ever been a member of a book club? Why or why not?
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What challenges do you face in finding and joining book clubs?
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How do you choose the books you read?
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What features would you find most valuable in a book club app?
What our users said..
I want to join a book club but don’t know where to find one of interest
Frankie B.
Being part of a book club helps me prioritize reading and brings me a deeper level of understanding of books.
Jesse N.
My family are avid readers and we talk daily about books but I have no one my age to discuss books with and I would like to.
Jamie L.
Olivia goes on an adventure
Now that you have been introduced to Olivia, let's get a better look at her life and how WriteMinded had the ability to positively affect it
Our Approach
…an easy, affordable and enjoyable way to keep up my reading habit
I need...
… to connect with people over the books I read and gain recommendations from like minded people
I like...
…to meet new people but don’t know how to find the right fit for me
I want...
Meet Olivia
Olivia Sanders is a 29-year-old nurse from Colorado who loves thrifting, cooking, and spending weekends with a good book. She enjoys romance, self-improvement, fantasy, and adventure genres. Despite her busy schedule, she aims to read 10 books this year and is passionate about finding affordable ways to enjoy new books. Olivia hopes to discover the best second-hand bookstores and connect with fellow book lovers.
Habits & interests
• Enjoys going thrifting.
• Likes to cook after work.
• Spends her weekends reading by the pool or at the park.
• Goes to the movies once a month.
Pain points
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Work takes up a lot of her time and energy
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Always wanted to join a book club but doesn’t know if she’ll fit in
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Loves to read new books but finds it can get really expensive purchasing new books
Pain Points
Goals & Needs
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Wants to meet friends who like to read
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Wants to discover the best second hand bookstores in her neighborhood
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Set herself a goal to read 10 books per year
From Sketches to Screens
We kicked off our design process with good old pen and paper, sketching out different ideas for how the app could look and function. These rough drafts helped us visualize our thoughts and refine them into clearer concepts.
Final Prototype
Moving forward, we translated these sketches into basic digital blueprints called low-fidelity wireframes. These wireframes laid out the bones of the app, showing where everything would go and how users would navigate through it. We tested these with real users to see what worked and what needed tweaking.
Taking the feedback on board, we then moved onto more detailed designs, adding in colors, images, and finer details. These mid-fidelity designs brought the app to life, making it feel more real and user-friendly
USER FLOW
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Onboarding Process
When users first launch the Write Minded app, they're guided through a seamless onboarding process. They can sign up using their email or social media accounts, creating a username, selecting favorite genres, adding a bio, and uploading a profile picture. Plus, they can opt to share their location for local connections. For returning users, there's a simple log-in option, and they can also sign up with Apple or Google accounts.
Feature 1: Joining a Book Club
Exploring nearby book clubs is made easy with this feature. Users can click on location pins on the map to discover clubs in their area, read descriptions, learn about upcoming events, view attendee profiles, and sign up to attend. For those not ready to join immediately, there's an alternative path. Upon sign-up, events are automatically added to the user's calendar for convenience.
Feature 2: Adding Bookstore Event to Calendar
Users can toggle to view nearby bookstores, select a pin to access details and upcoming events. They can quickly learn more about events and add them directly to their calendar. This streamlined process enhances user participation in bookstore events and enriches their app experience.
I need this app in my life! It's so hard to find people who are as passionate about books as I am.
Payton Hillman
I've always had trouble finding people who are reading the same book or genre as me. My friends love to ruin it for me if they've already read it!
Max Johnson
The app feels so easy to navigate. I love how everything is organized based on interests and location.
Chloe Wilson
Throughout our presentations and user testing sessions, we were met with genuine excitement and enthusiasm for the Write Minded app. Users eagerly shared their experiences and expressed how the app addressed a longstanding challenge in their reading journey.