UX Research
UI Design
Bringing Goodreads
into the Modern Era
4 Weeks
Sketch, Figjam, Figma, Illustrator
Product Thinking, Interaction Design, Visual Design
Overview
Goodreads is a go-to platform for book lovers, but struggles to keep younger readers engaged. It was clear that the app needed a refresh.
This redesign focused on creating a more community-driven, interactive experience that makes discovering books more enjoyable.
DISCOVERY STAGE
DISCOVERY STAGE
THE FOUNDATION
What’s the real issue?
In the first phase, the goal was to understand the what was the true issue with Goodreads.
I did user research, including 8 empathy interviews and an general exploration of 1,200 reviews, to discover the pain points of users.
EMPATHY INTERVIEWS
Through the empathy interviews and research, there were a couple of common threads:
Users were not excited about the book discovery process.
”I often end up reading the same types of books because I don’t know how to find something new that I’ll like." - Data Analyst, 26 (New York)
Current list recommendations are not effective.
“I spend so much time scrolling through lists, and I never find anything that really fits what I'm in the mood for." - Student, 12 (North Carolina)
Goodreads lacks a good social community.
”I want to share thoughts and discuss books, but I don’t really find a platform that lets me do that in a way that feels natural." - Barista, 32 (New York)
"I enjoy reading, but what really excites me is talking about the books with others, sharing ideas, and hearing different perspectives." - Student, 20 (Pennsylvania)
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
I also carried out competitor analysis to understand the strengths and weaknesses of apps rivaling Goodreads. Here are insights from three popular book database brands.
Audible
Audible has a huge audiobook library and membership perks, making it a top choice for listeners. But it's limited to audiobooks, not ideal for casual users, and the recommendations can be hit or miss.
Bookbub
Bookbub is great for finding book deals with personalized recommendations, but lacks community features, leans too heavily on promotions, and has an outdated interface.
Scribd
Scribd has unlimited access to books and audiobooks, but its selection isn’t as strong as competitors, and its quality control and recommendation system need work.
How will Goodreads be better?
Research revealed that readers want more personalized recommendations and ways to connect beyond traditional reviews.
By rethinking how Goodreads integrates interaction, it can become a space that not only tracks books but actively inspire the next generation to read.
DEFINING STAGE
THE AUDIENCE
What is the focus?
After the discovery stage, defining the target users and key problem is important to ensuring the solution aligns with community’s needs.
Problem Statement
Many teens and young adults struggle to stay engaged with reading. There is a need for a more intuitive and social way to connect with books and other readers.
Who are the target users?
TARGET DEMOGRAPHICS
Age: 13-26
Location: Primarily Urban and Suburban
Digital Behavior
Heavy users of social media
Constant exposure to short-form, fast content
Frequent users of digital platforms for entertainment
Psychographics
Values social community and digital interactions to connect with peers
Interested in engaging in new features, and exploring multimedia integration
Perhaps overwhelmed by traditional reading, needing more to ingest stories
USER PERSONAS
To support the ideation process, I developed three target personas as user references.
Page-Turning Piper
Piper has been a bookworm since childhood. She is picky with her genres and has a special place in her heart for fantasy or mystery books.
Age: 16
Location: Heathrow, Fl
Occupation: High School Student
Interests: Fantasy, mystery novels, pop culture
Needs
Curated book recommendations based on personal preferences and past reads.
A system that highlights new releases and hidden gems in her favorite genres.
A browsing experience that helps her find books without being overwhelmed.
Frustrations
Overwhelmed by generic book lists and irrelevant suggestions.
Difficulty discovering books outside mainstream bestsellers.
Frustration with platforms that offer limited filtering options, hard to narrow down to her exact tastes.
Reel Lover Riley
Riley does not enjoy reading, instead preferring to listen to music or watch reels on Instagram. He finds reading challenging because it feels slow and one-dimensional.
Age: 17
Location: Toronto, Canada
Occupation: High school senior
Interests: Music, action-packed thrillers, gaming
Needs
An interactive, engaging reading experience that blends audio, visual, and text.
Fast-paced or shorter content that keeps his attention, like chapters with multimedia integration or gamified reading challenges.
A feature that pairs music with books or enhances the experience through soundtracks or ambient sound.
Frustrations
Struggling to stay engaged with slow or lengthy books that don’t have interactive or dynamic elements.
Lack of integration between his interests, like music, and the reading experience.
Platforms that focus solely on text, leaving him feeling disconnected or bored.
Socialite Sophie
Sophie is a social butterfly and loves making new friends. She is an avid social media user, and she loves to share her life online, whether it’s her newest favorite food or what she got for Christmas!
Age: 18
Location: London, UK
Occupation: College Student
Interests: Fashion, social media, traveling, pilates
Needs
Opportunities to discuss and review books with a like-minded community.
Group challenges or book clubs where he can read and collaborate with friends.
Social features that allow her to follow other readers, share book recommendations, and participate in events.
Frustrations
Lack of interaction with other readers or limited community engagement.
Platforms that do not facilitate easy sharing or discussion of books and opinions.
Feeling isolated in his reading experience with no outlet for collaboration or feedback.
USER JOURNEY MAPS
To further relate and understand the target users, I created user journey maps to follow their challenges of using Goodreads.
What did I learn?
Through exploring personas, there was the most disconnect in the personalization and engagement phase of app usage.
By honing in on these areas, the most effective solutions can be developed.
IDEATION STAGE
THE CONCEPT
How do I create a solution?
The ideation stage is where creative solutions begin to take shape. Based on the insights gathered from research, I focused on brainstorming different approaches to address the identified challenges.
Using the HMW (How Might We) approach, I organized the challenges faced by each persona and identified the most crucial problem and possible solutions.
Piper feels overwhelmed by the abundance of book choices and often struggles to find recommendations tailored to her interests.
Possible Solutions
Dynamic filtering options to narrow down books based on her favorite genres and themes,
A personalized recommendation system that takes into account Piper’s reading history.
A new release tracker that highlights books that are coming soon in her favorite categories.
Sophie finds that the platform do not allow her interact with other readers in a meaningful way, creating disconnection from the larger reading community.
Possible Solutions
A community-driven feature where she can join challenges with those who share her interests.
Social features that allow her to share reviews and get involved in discussions.
A collaborative review system where she can share recommendations and exchange thoughts after finishing a book with others.
Riley fails to stay engaged with books that do not have interactive elements, craving more dynamic experiences.
Possible Solutions
Multimedia integration where books include soundtracks that could enhance the story.
Gamified reading experiences that offer reading challenges with rewards.
Interactive storytelling with illustrations reflect the mood, creating an immersive experience.
After identifying possible solutions, I mapped out structure of the app, with new features integrated.
Afterwards, I created low-fidelity wireframes to define new feature structures and design.
How did I better the designs?
After creating the wireframes, I iterated and tested multiple possible users. Here are a few small, but significant changes.
The ‘Your List’ tab lacked interest to users, so I created a chart that better captured user attention.
The Daily Poll feature was the most difficult to design. It was not noticed by users and did not allow for good legibility.
Iterations of design were key to creating the best product. By focusing on refinement, the process ensured that the final direction would addressed key challenges with the overall reading experience.
DESIGN STAGE
THE SOLUTION
What was the final solution?
After countless explorations and iterations, the redesigned Goodreads experience focuses on making reading more engaging and social for younger audiences. .With these updates, Goodreads becomes a more dynamic space that fosters connection, discovery, and a love for reading in a way that resonates with modern users.
CONCLUSION
TAKEAWAYS
Designing features that truly resonate with users is challenging and requires constant refinement.
The process is not always linear. Ideas evolve, change, and sometimes fail before they succeed.
Balancing functionality and engagement takes trial and error, but each iteration brings new clarity.
When the process is enjoyable, the final product will reflect that energy.
Want to see more?
Take a look at this project!
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