Reader App
Project Brief
With the growing prevalence of short-form content and decreasing attention spans, millennials and Gen Z are falling out of the habit of reading long-form text. Existing reader apps either cater to voracious readers with extensive libraries or lack features to engage casual readers. The challenge was to design a mobile app that reignites the reading habit by delivering immersive, bite-sized reading experiences tailored to younger audiences.
Process
Research and Discovery
Conducted user interviews with 15 potential users aged 18-34 to understand their reading habits and pain points.
Key findings: Many users expressed that they "wanted to read more but felt overwhelmed by traditional books" and preferred curated, shorter content that fit into their busy schedules.
Ideation and Design
Defined the core value proposition: "Reignite the joy of reading by making it accessible, engaging, and personalized."
Brainstormed features such as:
Daily Reading Goals: Bite-sized, 10-minute reading modules.
Personalized Content Feeds: Curated articles, short stories, and summaries based on user preferences.
Gamification: Reward systems and streak tracking to encourage consistent reading habits.
Wireframing and Prototyping
Created low-fidelity wireframes to map out the user journey, focusing on simplicity and accessibility.
Developed an interactive prototype to test navigation, onboarding, and engagement features.
User testing with 10 participants led to iterative improvements, such as simplifying the onboarding process and enhancing content categorization.
UI Design
Chose a calming color palette inspired by libraries and coffee shops to evoke a cozy reading environment.
Designed intuitive UI elements with accessible typography to prioritize readability.
Added subtle animations for a polished and modern look.
Result
The final app design achieved a balance between functionality and engagement, featuring a seamless user experience.
User testing revealed a 30% increase in perceived reading enjoyment compared to existing apps.
The gamification elements resulted in a 70% retention rate after the first month, as users returned to maintain their streaks.
The project successfully demonstrated how thoughtful design could transform a traditional activity like reading into an appealing, habit-forming experience for younger audiences.
