Book Voyage
Helping young adults rediscover their passion for books and cultivate a joyful reading habit.
My Role
End-to-end design
Project Type
Self-directed solo project
Timeframe
18 weeks (June–October 2024)
Skills
User interviews, feature prioritization, visual design
Book Voyage
Helping young adults rediscover their passion for books and cultivate a joyful reading habit.
My Role
End-to-end design
Project Type
Self-directed solo project
Timeframe
18 weeks (June–October 2024)
Skills
User interviews, feature prioritization, visual design
Book Voyage
Helping young adults rediscover their passion for books and cultivate a joyful reading habit.
My Role
End-to-end design
Project Type
Self-directed solo project
Timeframe
18 weeks (June–October 2024)
Skills
User interviews, feature prioritization, visual design
Context
Growing up, I was a huge reader.
Context
Growing up, I was a huge reader.
Context
Growing up, I was a huge reader.
My younger self would be shocked to learn that I’d go from devouring hundreds of books for fun to reading close to zero by the time I got to high school.
My younger self would be shocked to learn that I’d go from devouring hundreds of books for fun to reading close to zero by the time I got to high school.
My younger self would be shocked to learn that I’d go from devouring hundreds of books for fun to reading close to zero by the time I got to high school.
I don’t seem to be alone in this. My initial look into studies about reading habits suggested that my experience is indeed part of a broader trend, signaling that there might be an opportunity here.
I don’t seem to be alone in this. My initial look into studies about reading habits suggested that my experience is indeed part of a broader trend, signaling that there might be an opportunity here.
I don’t seem to be alone in this. My initial look into studies about reading habits suggested that my experience is indeed part of a broader trend, signaling that there might be an opportunity here.
70% of 6–8-year-olds enjoy reading for fun, but this drops to 46% among 12–17-year-olds. This downward trend has held true in every report from the past decade.
25% of Gen-Z respondents say they don’t have time to read for pleasure. This is 11% more than Millennials, the generational cohort that ranked second highest.
Outcome
Book Voyage
A book discovery and tracking platform that helps young adults fall back in love with reading.
Outcome
Book Voyage
A book discovery and tracking platform that helps young adults fall back in love with reading.
Outcome
Book Voyage
A book discovery and tracking platform that helps young adults fall back in love with reading.
Find your perfect book
Tell us about your reading habits and favorite media, and we’ll find a book you won’t want to put down.
Find your perfect book
Tell us about your reading habits and favorite media, and we’ll find a book you won’t want to put down.
Find your perfect book
Tell us about your reading habits and favorite media, and we’ll find a book you won’t want to put down.
Set up your environment
Block distractions by creating app restrictions. Schedule when and where to read to set yourself up for success.
Set up your environment
Block distractions by creating app restrictions. Schedule when and where to read to set yourself up for success.
Set up your environment
Block distractions by creating app restrictions. Schedule when and where to read to set yourself up for success.
Document your progress
Reading transports you to new worlds—collect travel stamps as you reach your goals. Set flexible, creative goals and pursue them at your own pace.
Document your progress
Reading transports you to new worlds—collect travel stamps as you reach your goals. Set flexible, creative goals and pursue them at your own pace.
Document your progress
Reading transports you to new worlds—collect travel stamps as you reach your goals. Set flexible, creative goals and pursue them at your own pace.
Understanding my Target Audience
I interviewed people whose reading habits mirrored the trends from my initial research.
Understanding my Target Audience
I interviewed people whose reading habits mirrored the trends from my initial research.
Understanding my Target Audience
I interviewed people whose reading habits mirrored the trends from my initial research.
This helped me uncover the stories behind the data, revealing two major obstacles in the reading process:
This helped me uncover the stories behind the data, revealing two major obstacles in the reading process:
This helped me uncover the stories behind the data, revealing two major obstacles in the reading process:
🔁
Finding the “right book” is too difficult.
Interviewees turn to social media for recommendations but often struggle with where to start or whom to trust, leading to choice paralysis.
This search takes time away from reading, and even seemingly promising picks often fail to resonate, creating a discouraging cycle of trial and error.
Interviewees turn to social media for recommendations but often struggle with where to start or whom to trust, leading to choice paralysis.
This search takes time away from reading, and even seemingly promising picks often fail to resonate, creating a discouraging cycle of trial and error.
Finding the “right book” is too difficult.
🔁
Finding the “right book” is too difficult.
🔁
Interviewees turn to social media for recommendations but often struggle with where to start or whom to trust, leading to choice paralysis.
This search takes time away from reading, and even seemingly promising picks often fail to resonate, creating a discouraging cycle of trial and error.
⏰
Lack of time is only part of the story.
Interviewees shared that while their workloads have increased with age, leaving them with less free time, the bigger challenge is that passive activities like scrolling social media has replaced reading.
Many found this shift frustrating, describing it as leaving them feeling out of control and easily distracted.
Interviewees shared that while their workloads have increased with age, leaving them with less free time, the bigger challenge is that passive activities like scrolling social media has replaced reading.
Many found this shift frustrating, describing it as leaving them feeling out of control and easily distracted.
Lack of time is only part of the story.
⏰
Lack of time is only part of the story.
⏰
Interviewees shared that while their workloads have increased with age, leaving them with less free time, the bigger challenge is that passive activities like scrolling social media has replaced reading.
Many found this shift frustrating, describing it as leaving them feeling out of control and easily distracted.
Interviewees also shared a common attitude: they value some accountability to encourage reading but avoid strict goals, concerned the activity might start to feel like a chore.
Interviewees also shared a common attitude: they value some accountability to encourage reading but avoid strict goals, concerned the activity might start to feel like a chore.
Interviewees also shared a common attitude: they value some accountability to encourage reading but avoid strict goals, concerned the activity might start to feel like a chore.
🏫
Interviewee 5
In AP Lang, the book would be enjoyable by itself, but the teacher would give us a quiz a so it made [reading] less fun.
🏫
Interviewee 5
In AP Lang, the book would be enjoyable by itself, but the teacher would give us a quiz a so it made [reading] less fun.
Interviewee 5
In AP Lang, the book would be enjoyable by itself, but the teacher would give us a quiz a so it made [reading] less fun.
With a better understanding of my target audience, I summarized my learnings with an archetype, so I could reference it throughout ideating.
With a better understanding of my target audience, I summarized my learnings with an archetype, so I could reference it throughout ideating.
With a better understanding of my target audience, I summarized my learnings with an archetype, so I could reference it throughout ideating.
Two more interviews & 60 Reddit posts
To better understand how to address my target audience’s pain points, I learned from experienced readers.
Two more interviews & 60 Reddit posts
To better understand how to address my target audience’s pain points, I learned from experienced readers.
Two more interviews & 60 Reddit posts
To better understand how to address my target audience’s pain points, I learned from experienced readers.
These were people who are satisfied with their relationship to reading and/or successfully overcame a reading slump. I found they:
These were people who are satisfied with their relationship to reading and/or successfully overcame a reading slump. I found they:
These were people who are satisfied with their relationship to reading and/or successfully overcame a reading slump. I found they:
✅
Enjoy tracking their reading.
This is primarily because it
Provides a sense of accomplishment.
Helps them remember a book and their feelings towards it.
Allows them to reflect on trends in their reading habits.
This is primarily because it
Provides a sense of accomplishment.
Helps them remember a book and their feelings towards it.
Allows them to reflect on trends in their reading habits.
Enjoy tracking their reading.
✅
Enjoy tracking their reading.
✅
This is primarily because it
Provides a sense of accomplishment.
Helps them remember a book and their feelings towards it.
Allows them to reflect on trends in their reading habits.
🛀
Have a relaxed attitude towards goal-setting.
They often focus on creative and sustainable reading goals, like exploring new genres or finishing books they already own, instead of purely quantitative targets.
These goals are mildly challenging but achievable, providing something to strive for without putting too much stress on the reader.
They often focus on creative and sustainable reading goals, like exploring new genres or finishing books they already own, instead of purely quantitative targets.
These goals are mildly challenging but achievable, providing something to strive for without putting too much stress on the reader.
Have a relaxed attitude towards goal-setting.
🛀
Have a relaxed attitude towards goal-setting.
🛀
They often focus on creative and sustainable reading goals, like exploring new genres or finishing books they already own, instead of purely quantitative targets.
These goals are mildly challenging but achievable, providing something to strive for without putting too much stress on the reader.
Defining the Problem
Even with a genuine interest in reading, compounding obstacles make it harder for Aspring Readers to follow through.
Defining the Problem
Even with a genuine interest in reading, compounding obstacles make it harder for Aspring Readers to follow through.
Defining the Problem
Even with a genuine interest in reading, compounding obstacles make it harder for Aspring Readers to follow through.
To target the challenge areas found in my research, I wanted to examine:
To target the challenge areas found in my research, I wanted to examine:
To target the challenge areas found in my research, I wanted to examine:
How might we...
1. Connect users with relevant and accessible books?
2. Set up environments conducive to reading?
3. Encourage a relaxed and reflective approach to reading?
Brainstorming & Evaluating
I decided to create an app, as most people I talked to preferred tracking media this way.
Brainstorming & Evaluating
I decided to create an app, as most people I talked to preferred tracking media this way.
Brainstorming & Evaluating
I decided to create an app, as most people I talked to preferred tracking media this way.
I brainstormed features and prioritized them based on their impact versus the effort required to bring them to life.
I brainstormed features and prioritized them based on their impact versus the effort required to bring them to life.
I brainstormed features and prioritized them based on their impact versus the effort required to bring them to life.
I narrowed my focus to four concepts.
I combined reading notifications and focus mode since they complemented each other. Also, I wasn’t sure if a stats-focused collectible or customizable goals was a stronger solution, so I explored both and decided to ask people during concept testing their thoughts.
I narrowed my focus to four concepts.
I combined reading notifications and focus mode since they complemented each other. Also, I wasn’t sure if a stats-focused collectible or customizable goals was a stronger solution, so I explored both and decided to ask people during concept testing their thoughts.
I narrowed my focus to four concepts.
I combined reading notifications and focus mode since they complemented each other. Also, I wasn’t sure if a stats-focused collectible or customizable goals was a stronger solution, so I explored both and decided to ask people during concept testing their thoughts.
Concept Testing
I started with paper sketches, translating them to mid-fi wireframes to get feedback.
Concept Testing
I started with paper sketches, translating them to mid-fi wireframes to get feedback.
Testing
I started with paper sketches, translating them to mid-fi wireframes to get feedback.
Testing
I started with paper sketches, translating them to mid-fi wireframes to get feedback.
💬
Feedback: Unsure about reasoning.
While users appreciated the onboarding quiz’s effort to identify their reading preferences, many felt uncertain about how the final recommendation was generated. This lack of transparency made it difficult for them to trust that the app could truly understand their tastes, leaving them wanting more control over the process.
While users appreciated the onboarding quiz’s effort to identify their reading preferences, many felt uncertain about how the final recommendation was generated. This lack of transparency made it difficult for them to trust that the app could truly understand their tastes, leaving them wanting more control over the process.
Feedback: Unsure about reasoning.
💬
Feedback: Unsure about reasoning.
💬
While users appreciated the onboarding quiz’s effort to identify their reading preferences, many felt uncertain about how the final recommendation was generated. This lack of transparency made it difficult for them to trust that the app could truly understand their tastes, leaving them wanting more control over the process.
💡
Solution: Improve credibility.
Made the quiz more collaborative by letting users select genres upfront and have the final say on what information the app analyzes.
Added reasoning behind why a user was given a book suggestion.
Made the quiz more collaborative by letting users select genres upfront and have the final say on what information the app analyzes.
Added reasoning behind why a user was given a book suggestion.
Solution: Improve credibility.
💡
Solution: Improve credibility.
💡
Made the quiz more collaborative by letting users select genres upfront and have the final say on what information the app analyzes.
Added reasoning behind why a user was given a book suggestion.
💬
Feedback: Notifications need to be used carefully.
Interrupting activities like scrolling TikTok with reading notifications wasn’t as effective as expected. Users were unsure how the app determined “a while” of scrolling and expressed concerns about the app making this judgment. Some mentioned having tried setting social media time limits with mixed success, noting that notifications could quickly shift from helpful to annoying.
While users liked the idea of scheduling reading time, they were uncertain about how rigid a session would be and what happens once it ends.
Interrupting activities like scrolling TikTok with reading notifications wasn’t as effective as expected. Users were unsure how the app determined “a while” of scrolling and expressed concerns about the app making this judgment. Some mentioned having tried setting social media time limits with mixed success, noting that notifications could quickly shift from helpful to annoying.
While users liked the idea of scheduling reading time, they were uncertain about how rigid a session would be and what happens once it ends.
Feedback: Notifications need to be used carefully.
💬
Feedback: Notifications need to be used carefully.
💬
Interrupting activities like scrolling TikTok with reading notifications wasn’t as effective as expected. Users were unsure how the app determined “a while” of scrolling and expressed concerns about the app making this judgment. Some mentioned having tried setting social media time limits with mixed success, noting that notifications could quickly shift from helpful to annoying.
While users liked the idea of scheduling reading time, they were uncertain about how rigid a session would be and what happens once it ends.
💡
Solution: More customizability.
I still wanted to account for the two different scenarios—unplanned and planned reading—but now users can:
Adjust app notifications and access to suit their preferences, letting them determine what is helpful vs. annoying.
Add more time or end a session as needed, with scheduled reading times acting as guidelines rather than rigid structures.
I still wanted to account for the two different scenarios—unplanned and planned reading—but now users can:
Adjust app notifications and access to suit their preferences, letting them determine what is helpful vs. annoying.
Add more time or end a session as needed, with scheduled reading times acting as guidelines rather than rigid structures.
Solution: More customizability.
💡
Solution: More customizability.
💡
I still wanted to account for the two different scenarios—unplanned and planned reading—but now users can:
Adjust app notifications and access to suit their preferences, letting them determine what is helpful vs. annoying.
Add more time or end a session as needed, with scheduled reading times acting as guidelines rather than rigid structures.
💬
Feedback: No winner for the best way to track progress.
Users were drawn to the idea of collecting stamps (3a) but had concerns about the feasibility of implementation. They also preferred tracking goals (3b) over stats (3a), as goals felt more active and engaging.
Users were drawn to the idea of collecting stamps (3a) but had concerns about the feasibility of implementation. They also preferred tracking goals (3b) over stats (3a), as goals felt more active and engaging.
Feedback: No winner for the best way to track progress.
💬
Feedback: No winner for the best way to track progress.
💬
Users were drawn to the idea of collecting stamps (3a) but had concerns about the feasibility of implementation. They also preferred tracking goals (3b) over stats (3a), as goals felt more active and engaging.
💡
Solution: Merged concepts, taking best parts of each.
Instead of representing individual books, stamps now represent goals, which balances the scale of creating stamps while maintaining their motivating visual appeal.
Added an end-of-year reading recap. The stamps are clickable with descriptions that transform them into more meaningful tools for reflection.
Instead of representing individual books, stamps now represent goals, which balances the scale of creating stamps while maintaining their motivating visual appeal.
Added an end-of-year reading recap. The stamps are clickable with descriptions that transform them into more meaningful tools for reflection.
Solution: Merged concepts, taking best parts of each.
💡
Solution: Merged concepts, taking best parts of each.
💡
Instead of representing individual books, stamps now represent goals, which balances the scale of creating stamps while maintaining their motivating visual appeal.
Added an end-of-year reading recap. The stamps are clickable with descriptions that transform them into more meaningful tools for reflection.
Solution
Seven versions later...the final hi-fi flows
Solution
Seven versions later...the final hi-fi flows
Solution
Seven versions later...the final hi-fi flows
Onboarding Quiz
Onboarding Quiz
Onboarding Quiz
Reading Session
Reading Session
Reading Session
1. Create new reading session
1. Create new reading session
1. Create new reading session
2. Reading reminder in action
2. Reading reminder in action
2. Reading reminder in action
Flexible Goals Passport
Flexible Goals Passport
Flexible Goals Passport
1. Logging book & customizing goals page
1. Logging book & customizing goals page
1. Logging book & customizing goals page
2. End-of-year recap
2. End-of-year recap
2. End-of-year recap
Conclusion
So what now?
Conclusion
So what now?
Conclusion
So what now?
Future Direction
Future Direction
Future Direction
1.
I’d like to track metrics like completion rates and user ratings for recommended books versus user-selected ones to assess onboarding effectiveness. Additionally, tracking follow-through rates for scheduled reading sessions would help evaluate the strategy and identify other accountability measures to encourage consistent reading habits.
1.
I’d like to track metrics like completion rates and user ratings for recommended books versus user-selected ones to assess onboarding effectiveness. Additionally, tracking follow-through rates for scheduled reading sessions would help evaluate the strategy and identify other accountability measures to encourage consistent reading habits.
1.
I’d like to track metrics like completion rates and user ratings for recommended books versus user-selected ones to assess onboarding effectiveness. Additionally, tracking follow-through rates for scheduled reading sessions would help evaluate the strategy and identify other accountability measures to encourage consistent reading habits.
2.
Explore how to incorporate more social features. While my initial research highlighted the potential benefits—such as boosting motivation—I chose not make them the main focus in the MVP due to the reported drawbacks; they can hinder progress by keeping some users focused on planning rather than taking action.
2.
Explore how to incorporate more social features. While my initial research highlighted the potential benefits—such as boosting motivation—I chose not make them the main focus in the MVP due to the reported drawbacks; they can hinder progress by keeping some users focused on planning rather than taking action.
2.
Explore how to incorporate more social features. While my initial research highlighted the potential benefits—such as boosting motivation—I chose not make them the main focus in the MVP due to the reported drawbacks; they can hinder progress by keeping some users focused on planning rather than taking action.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
1.
Convenience is appreciated, but removing all friction isn’t always ideal. In some cases, asking users to take a more active role—like manually entering their preferences—can be better because it gives people a sense of agency and builds trust in the app.
1.
Convenience is appreciated, but removing all friction isn’t always ideal. In some cases, asking users to take a more active role—like manually entering their preferences—can be better because it gives people a sense of agency and builds trust in the app.
1.
Convenience is appreciated, but removing all friction isn’t always ideal. In some cases, asking users to take a more active role—like manually entering their preferences—can be better because it gives people a sense of agency and builds trust in the app.
2.
When collaborating with others, you naturally gain different perspectives. However, in a solo project, it's easier to develop a myopic view and get stuck revisiting the same problems. To counter that, I had to be much more intentional about seeking informal feedback to keep ideas moving forward.
2.
When collaborating with others, you naturally gain different perspectives. However, in a solo project, it's easier to develop a myopic view and get stuck revisiting the same problems. To counter that, I had to be much more intentional about seeking informal feedback to keep ideas moving forward.
2.
When collaborating with others, you naturally gain different perspectives. However, in a solo project, it's easier to develop a myopic view and get stuck revisiting the same problems. To counter that, I had to be much more intentional about seeking informal feedback to keep ideas moving forward.