Madhumitha Manimaran
2023 by Madhumitha Manimaran
mamanim@iu.edu
Role
UX Research
UX Design Prototyping
Team
Individual
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Timeline
4 weeks
Motivated by this realization, I've undertaken the task of redesigning the app. Initially, I've prioritized addressing UX-related issues to enhance Goodreads' overall viability. Subsequently, I'm concentrating on crafting a user-friendly and intuitive interface. My goal is to reshape this application into a platform that delivers a smooth and pleasurable reading experience for all its users.
PROBLEM
The key issue in the Goodreads app lies in its unaltered feed layout and stagnant user interface, hindering an optimal user experience.
The current state of the app necessitates a significant overhaul, as the layout of the feed falls short of providing an optimal user experience, and the app's user interface has remained largely unchanged since its inception.
DESIGN CHALLENGE
How might we improve the readers' experience by modifying or adding new features in the app?
In response to user feedback and leveraging my design and development experience, I've both visually updated and suggested technical improvements for the app.
FINAL DESIGN
Initially, I focused more on designing an experience that addressed the pain points I found. Then, I transitioned my focus to making the app fun and more viable by spending more time thinking about the ways I can make users spend more time on it than just using it to read reviews and comments.
Okay, but how did I actually get there?
PROCESS
RESEARCH
I've discovered that many individuals share similar sentiments about the app, which has enabled me to identify some intriguing pain points that I may not have personally encountered. Furthermore, I've uncovered valuable suggestions on how to enhance its appeal and usability.
In addition to my own firsthand experience, I've begun exploring user reviews of Goodreads on both the App Store and Apple Store.
“Lots of unnecessary tapping needed”
Insights from the observation/Pain points
“Lots of unnecessary tapping needed”
“it'd be nice if I could see my friends activity more often”
Scoping down the problems
Inefficient User Interface.
Limited updates from their friends
Stringent Rating Standards
Personalize the search option based on user’s data
Website's design in need of a modern update
How could I translate these pain points into design opportunities?
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
Restructured the home screen to minimize unnecessary clicks and overhauled the app's visual aesthetics and layout.
Home page
Discover page
More option
The home and discover pages have been merged into the main page.
To streamline the user experience and minimize clicks, I've integrated the options from the "more" section into the home page.
#OPPORTUNITY 1
How might we improve the website’s design and user interface?
Revamped the layout of the "My Books" section and eliminated unnecessary features.
DNF
Comedy
Horror
Enter the shelf name
Add to main shelf
Create Shelf
I've simplified the process by introducing a toggle button in the 'Create a new shelf' pop-up. This allows users to directly add a book to their primary shelf, reducing the need to navigate through "more shelves" and select from various options, resulting in fewer clicks.
Toggle button that enables the user to choose whether to add a new shelf to the primary or secondary shelves.
#OPPORTUNITY 2
What can be done to improve the search bar and stringent rating?
Shelves added by the user is moved to main shelf based on the toggle button shown below.
Drawing from my development background, we can enhanced the search function's effectiveness by storing user data, including clicks, search history, preferred genres, friend recommendations, and trending books. As a result, the search algorithm prioritizes these factors, offering more personalized book suggestions.
Improving the search function.
Reducing the stringent rating.
While exploring the pain point in the realm of Goodreads, I couldn't help but observe the platform's inclination toward critical book reviews and ratings. In my research, I uncovered several reasons why users tend to highlight the negatives and downplay the positives, contributing to this critical trend.
Considering the factors mentioned above, I've devised two solutions that are not design-related but aimed at enhancing the Goodreads community.
Introducing a 0.5-star rating option, instead of being limited to whole numbers, would not only contribute to a more accurate average rating but also allow users to provide more precise and fitting ratings.
Including the feature of private reviews, visible only to your friends, would ensure that they don't impact the book's overall rating. This feature becomes valuable, especially in cases where you can recognize a book's quality even if it wasn't to your personal liking.
If none of the book clubs interest a user, they can choose a recommended book and create their own book club! In just a few steps, users can create their own club and share it to social media to spread the word (The app will also notify users of the newly created book club)
#OPPORTUNITY 3
What are the ways I can make users spend more time on it than just using it to read reviews and comments?
Added a new feature where the user can join an existing book club or create their own that other readers can join
Whenever I use Goodreads, I always lose interest. My tweaks were an attempt to make the app a more engaging experience and see if I could make visually pleasing yet pragmatic interfaces. However, my design process was conducted without access to Goodread’s internal research or design strategy and I'm sure there are parts of the current interface that are specifically designed to meet certain internal metrics.
REFLECTION
FINAL THOUGHTS
WHAT I LEARNED?
I began this redesign project with the intention of conducting it within a limited time frame, essentially as a "sprint." Given the time constraints, I found it necessary to rely on the product's original visual style to some extent, rather than getting deeply involved in creating entirely new design elements or motifs. Instead, my primary emphasis was on restructuring the product, not a complete overhaul.
WHAT’S NEXT?
I was aware that there would be further aspects to address if I decided to proceed with this project. In this case study, my redesign efforts primarily focused on revamping the layout and enhancing the user interface. I anticipate that delving deeper into bridging the gap between the website and the app, especially considering the numerous missing features in the app, would present fresh challenges and lead to new insights into the product.
Redesigning GoodReads - An UX Case study
mamanim@iu.edu
Madhumitha Manimaran
2023 by Madhumitha Manimaran
Work
About
Resume
“The UI looks like it hasn't changed since day 1”
“Searching function is super clunky”
“People are very critical and it’s impossible to find a book with good ratings”
Inefficient User Interface.
Limited updates from their friends
Stringent Rating Standards
Personalize the search option based on user’s data
Website's design in need of a modern update
How could I translate these pain points into design opportunities?
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
How could I translate these pain points into design opportunities?
Home page
Discover page
More option
#OPPORTUNITY 1
How might we improve the website’s design and user interface?
#OPPORTUNITY 2
What can be done to improve the search bar and stringent rating?
Shelves added by the user is moved to main shelf based on the toggle button shown below.
In Goodreads, there's no provision for awarding a 0.5-star rating, and it can be quite vexing when deciding between a 4-star and a 5-star rating for a book.
Sometimes we can acknowledge “a book is well-written and you still hate it”
The desire to provide honest feedback leads to critical reviews.
#OPPORTUNITY 3
What are the ways I can make users spend more time on it than just using it to read reviews and comments?
Whenever I use Goodreads, I always lose interest. My tweaks were an attempt to make the app a more engaging experience and see if I could make visually pleasing yet pragmatic interfaces. However, my design process was conducted without access to Goodread’s internal research or design strategy and I'm sure there are parts of the current interface that are specifically designed to meet certain internal metrics.
REFLECTION
FINAL THOUGHTS
WHAT I LEARNED?
I began this redesign project with the intention of conducting it within a limited time frame, essentially as a "sprint." Given the time constraints, I found it necessary to rely on the product's original visual style to some extent, rather than getting deeply involved in creating entirely new design elements or motifs. Instead, my primary emphasis was on restructuring the product, not a complete overhaul.
WHAT’S NEXT?
I was aware that there would be further aspects to address if I decided to proceed with this project. In this case study, my redesign efforts primarily focused on revamping the layout and enhancing the user interface. I anticipate that delving deeper into bridging the gap between the website and the app, especially considering the numerous missing features in the app, would present fresh challenges and lead to new insights into the product.
Whenever I use Goodreads, I always lose interest. My tweaks were an attempt to make the app a more engaging experience and see if I could make visually pleasing yet pragmatic interfaces. However, my design process was conducted without access to Goodread’s internal research or design strategy and I'm sure there are parts of the current interface that are specifically designed to meet certain internal metrics.
Search
Suggested searches
Romance
What’s new?
Fiction
Fantasy
Children
Classics
Non-Fiction
Personalized genre based on the user’s data.
This feature will display newly released books, keeping users updated with the latest publications.
The user will have an option to share his book club in social media
The app will notify automatically to the other users
OVERVIEW
An attempt to create a more captivating user experience and explore the possibility of designing visually appealing yet functional interfaces.
I've used this app for years, and initially, I found it frustrating without pinpointing why. With my technical and design expertise, I now understand the app's shortcomings better and can address them effectively.