Audiobook App
UX/UI
My first project within UX was through the six month intensive UX/UI course with Academy Xi. I was given 12 weeks to complete the full double diamond process, including the build of a high-fidelity prototype.
Project Overview
Product
App
Develop a personalised reading experience that can accompany users during their daily movements.
Objective
For the first part of this project I studied the existing audiobook landscape, looking in detail at the market leader Audible, as well as Libby, LiSTNR and Apple Books. Secondary research indicated that the market is in growth - with millennials driving audience growth during the pandemic. New recruits were the largest portion of audiobook consumers in 2020.
I completed five interviews with millennials aged 29-41. These participants included a person who was hearing impaired, a defected audiobook reader, a librarian, a commuter and a busy dad. Despite different listening behaviours, common pain points started to emerge. 31 surveys were also completed to quantify some of the initial interview findings.
Design Process
Key Insights
Discovery is elsewhere
Choice overwhelms them
They’re on the move
Ease is important
Mood dictates choice
Narration makes the experience
Help users utilise one app to track and share their reading?
Save users time, by helping them discover books they'll love?
Create an app that celebrates less screen time and more audio time?
How might we
01| Discovery is elsewhere
1 in 3 use alternate apps for discovery, decision making and tracking
3 in 4 find books via family and friend recommendations
"I'm fussy - I'll go to Goodreads and won't read anything less than four stars"
"I find books via Goodreads and looking at community reviews"
“I track my reading via Goodreads"
Design considerations
Ability to set reading goals to track progress
Customised "shelves" to allow user to track their reading
Inbuilt Goodreads ratings
"Add to wishlist" function that saves books to shelf for users to review later, similar to Goodreads and Audible
02| They’re on the move
Almost 9 in 10 users listen to audiobooks when driving
They also listen whilst on public transport, exercising or when they're doing menial tasks at home
The ability to multitask is the number one reason users enjoy audiobooks
Design considerations
Large buttons for easy navigation as they hit the road
Homepage that allows the user to jump back in
Clutter free, muted AI
03| Mood Dictates Choice
Over 1 in 2 users will have multiple books on the go, switching depending on their mood
1 in 2 read to escape
1 in 2 read to learn or upskill
Over 1 in 3 read to unwind
Over 1 in 3 read to hear other's life stories
Design considerations
Mood filters developed via community reviews
Book suggestions filtered by mood
04| Choice overwhelms them and recommendations are untailored
Over 1 in 3 users find it difficult to discover stories they like
"It's the equivalent to UberEats - it's the same suggestions for everyone."
"I feel like I see the same bestseller all the time - like I'm not scratching the surface"
"I want suggestions like Netflix, where there are multiple lines with similarities"
"I'm terrible at making decisions. I wish it was like Netflix and would suggest books."
Design considerations
Sign up process to understand user preferences
Recommendations based on user listening activity
Search gallery with Netflix style scrolling and recommendations
Maximum of three recommendations at a time with shuffle ability
User Testing and Pivot Points
User suggested a search function on the home page
Added to top
User was confused by "Want to read" and thought that meant immediate reading
Changed button to Audible language of "Add to wishlist"
"Why are the choices different sizes? I feel like I'm forced to select particular books"
Changed genre/book selections to identical boxes
Future Opportunities
Newsfeed to follow friends reading activity and recommendations
Notes section for personal commentary
Annual wrap up of reading stats
Learnings
This project was immersive and the perfect entry to UX and UI. I was watching tutorials and YouTube videos for Figma and completing each part of the project as I was learning the double diamond process across 12 weeks.
As an avid reader, there were times where I would design something that made perfect sense to me, before it being challenged in user testing.
I loved hearing different perspectives - coming from a radio background it was so interesting hearing from someone who had a cochlear implant, and how important clear and unlayered sound was to be accessible for for them. The research process and ideating were my favourite parts of the project.
Prototype and Artifacts
Bound Audiobook app Figma prototype
