Doone: Book Recommendation App
Doone: Book Recommendation App
Enhancing engagement metrics for digital readers in an AI-guided app
Enhancing engagement metrics for digital readers in an AI-guided app
Project Scope
Project Scope
Jun-Sep, 2024
Jun-Sep, 2024
Role
Role
UI/UX Designer, Researcher
UI/UX Designer, Researcher
Tools
Tools
Figma, Miro, Trello, Teams
Figma, Miro, Trello, Teams
Why Readers Are Turning Away?
Why Readers Are Turning Away?
In an age where we have endless stories at our fingertips, it’s paradoxical that people still drift away from reading. Through user interviews and observation, I discovered that many aspiring readers begin a book with excitement only to lose motivation midway. They juggle countless digital distractions, lack a sense of community, and feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices. Ultimately, even the most convenient e-books fail to hold their attention if there’s no deeper engagement, accountability, or personalisation. This recognition fueled a core question for our UX journey:
How might we design an experience that reignites the joy of reading and sustains it in the long run?
In an age where we have endless stories at our fingertips, it’s paradoxical that people still drift away from reading. Through user interviews and observation, I discovered that many aspiring readers begin a book with excitement only to lose motivation midway. They juggle countless digital distractions, lack a sense of community, and feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices. Ultimately, even the most convenient e-books fail to hold their attention if there’s no deeper engagement, accountability, or personalisation. This recognition fueled a core question for our UX journey:
How might we design an experience that reignites the joy of reading and sustains it in the long run?
Digital Reading Trends
Digital Reading Trends
The shift to digital books has gained significant momentum in the past decade, with the digital book market in the UK reaching revenues of £280 million by 2023 (Statista, 2023). However, the shift towards digital reading has revealed distinct challenges, particularly in maintaining user engagement compared to traditional reading formats.
The shift to digital books has gained significant momentum in the past decade, with the digital book market in the UK reaching revenues of £280 million by 2023 (Statista, 2023). However, the shift towards digital reading has revealed distinct challenges, particularly in maintaining user engagement compared to traditional reading formats.
The Role of AI and Gamification
The Role of AI and Gamification
AI has increasingly enhanced personalisation in various digital applications, particularly in learning and content consumption (Krivoruchko, 2023). In the context of reading, AI can provide personalised book recommendations based on user preferences, reading history, and engagement patterns, making the reading experience more tailored to individual users.
AI has increasingly enhanced personalisation in various digital applications, particularly in learning and content consumption (Krivoruchko, 2023). In the context of reading, AI can provide personalised book recommendations based on user preferences, reading history, and engagement patterns, making the reading experience more tailored to individual users.
Challenges in Engagement
Challenges in Engagement
Despite the many benefits of digital reading, specific barriers hinder sustained user engagement. According to Khan (2023), one of the most significant challenges is the lack of personalisation in many existing reading apps, which leads to a disjointed user experience. Readers need to be provided with recommendations that align with their evolving tastes, leading to a sense of detachment from the platform.
Despite the many benefits of digital reading, specific barriers hinder sustained user engagement. According to Khan (2023), one of the most significant challenges is the lack of personalisation in many existing reading apps, which leads to a disjointed user experience. Readers need to be provided with recommendations that align with their evolving tastes, leading to a sense of detachment from the platform.
During the Empathise phase of the Doone project, we deeply explored users' reading habits, motivations, and frustrations to inform our app's design. Using a targeted recruitment campaign, we gathered insights from nine participants, including three expert readers with daily reading routines.
Through semi-structured interviews, affinity diagramming, and participatory design activities, we identified key challenges and desires across user types. Users highlighted the need for personalised recommendations, motivation to read consistently, and a desire for community features.
During the Empathise phase of the Doone project, we deeply explored users' reading habits, motivations, and frustrations to inform our app's design. Using a targeted recruitment campaign, we gathered insights from nine participants, including three expert readers with daily reading routines.
Through semi-structured interviews, affinity diagramming, and participatory design activities, we identified key challenges and desires across user types. Users highlighted the need for personalised recommendations, motivation to read consistently, and a desire for community features.
Love letter and Breakup letter to "reading"
Love letter and Breakup letter to "reading"
Define
Define
From the development of empathy maps, Customer Journey Maps (CJMs), and personas, we gained a clear understanding of users' unique needs, behaviors, and emotional drivers. The empathy maps helped us categorise key motivations, frustrations, and reading habits, distinguishing between frequent readers, occasional readers, and those who rely on social recommendations, and those relying on family and friends' recommendations.
From the development of empathy maps, Customer Journey Maps (CJMs), and personas, we gained a clear understanding of users' unique needs, behaviors, and emotional drivers. The empathy maps helped us categorise key motivations, frustrations, and reading habits, distinguishing between frequent readers, occasional readers, and those who rely on social recommendations, and those relying on family and friends' recommendations.
Each persona’s journey highlighted key friction points, such as information overload, a lack of community features, or unclear progress tracking, that often derail reading goals.
Each persona’s journey highlighted key friction points, such as information overload, a lack of community features, or unclear progress tracking, that often derail reading goals.
The CJMs detailed each persona’s interaction with the app, illustrating touchpoints where users felt the most engaged or encountered friction. This work revealed critical design opportunities: the need for seamless navigation, mood-based recommendations, social interaction features, and gamified progress tracking. Together, these tools created a strong foundation to guide feature prioritization and ensure a user-centered design approach that caters to diverse reading experiences.
The CJMs detailed each persona’s interaction with the app, illustrating touchpoints where users felt the most engaged or encountered friction. This work revealed critical design opportunities: the need for seamless navigation, mood-based recommendations, social interaction features, and gamified progress tracking. Together, these tools created a strong foundation to guide feature prioritization and ensure a user-centered design approach that caters to diverse reading experiences.
Ideation
In the Ideate stage, we engaged users in participatory design to generate ideas and ensure the app aligned closely with their needs. Using How Might We (HMW) questions, Rapid Ideation, and Crazy 8s, we collaborated with users to brainstorm solutions to their reading challenges. These sessions encouraged users to share creative ideas, helping us identify key features like mood-based recommendations, gamification elements, and social interaction tools. This approach allowed us to design with users rather than for them, ensuring the app’s features addressed real user preferences and frustrations.
HMW Questions
HMW Questions
Rapid Idea Generation
Rapid Idea Generation
Crazy 8
Crazy 8
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
As part of the Ideation phase, we conducted a detailed Competitor Analysis to better understand the landscape in which Doone would operate. We examined both direct and indirect competitors, focusing on their pricing models, product maturity, feature sets, and unique value propositions.
As part of the Ideation phase, we conducted a detailed Competitor Analysis to better understand the landscape in which Doone would operate. We examined both direct and indirect competitors, focusing on their pricing models, product maturity, feature sets, and unique value propositions.
Feature Gaps:
There is a notable absence of AI-powered book recommendations and mood-based suggestions among direct competitors, presenting an opportunity for differentiation.
Feature Gaps:
There is a notable absence of AI-powered book recommendations and mood-based suggestions among direct competitors, presenting an opportunity for differentiation.
Social Integration:
Platforms incorporating social features (like Instagram and TikTok) are more engaging. Integrating similar features could increase user interaction and retention.
Social Integration:
Platforms incorporating social features (like Instagram and TikTok) are more engaging. Integrating similar features could increase user interaction and retention.
Gamification Potential:
Competitors that use gamification show higher user engagement. Implementing game-like elements could encourage regular use and foster a habit-forming experience.
Gamification Potential:
Competitors that use gamification show higher user engagement. Implementing game-like elements could encourage regular use and foster a habit-forming experience.
User-Centric Design:
Understanding and addressing user pain points identified in reviews (such as complex navigation and lack of features) can significantly enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.
User-Centric Design:
Understanding and addressing user pain points identified in reviews (such as complex navigation and lack of features) can significantly enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.
Ideation
In the Ideate stage, we engaged users in participatory design to generate ideas and ensure the app aligned closely with their needs. Using How Might We (HMW) questions, Rapid Ideation, and Crazy 8s, we collaborated with users to brainstorm solutions to their reading challenges. These sessions encouraged users to share creative ideas, helping us identify key features like mood-based recommendations, gamification elements, and social interaction tools. This approach allowed us to design with users rather than for them, ensuring the app’s features addressed real user preferences and frustrations.
Introducing Doone’s Game-Changing Features
Introducing Doone’s Game-Changing Features
From a Book Wizard that refreshes your memory on partially read stories to mood-based recommendations that suit how you’re feeling, Doone is all about making reading more personal and fun. Gamification elements let you earn and spend points, whether that’s renting a new book or building up your virtual “tree” as you progress. And it doesn’t stop at individual achievements; Doone’s social interactions encourage you to share thoughts, highlights, and snippets with a vibrant community, turning every page into a shared adventure.
From a Book Wizard that refreshes your memory on partially read stories to mood-based recommendations that suit how you’re feeling, Doone is all about making reading more personal and fun. Gamification elements let you earn and spend points, whether that’s renting a new book or building up your virtual “tree” as you progress. And it doesn’t stop at individual achievements; Doone’s social interactions encourage you to share thoughts, highlights, and snippets with a vibrant community, turning every page into a shared adventure.
BOOK WIZARD
BOOK WIZARD
Picture this: you only remember snippets of a book you’re craving, or maybe you just know you want an uplifting fantasy with a strong female lead. Enter the Book Wizard. By describing your ideal story anything from plot points to genres or themes Doone’s AI scours book databases, online reviews, and community comments to pinpoint the perfect match. In essence, it’s a personal librarian that harnesses the power of the internet and user-generated insights, ensuring the next book you open is exactly what you’ve been searching for.
Rekindle Your Reading Journey!
Rekindle Your Reading Journey!
For many readers, returning to a partially finished book can feel daunting. Freshen Up solves that hassle by instantly summarising everything you’ve read so far plot points, characters, and key themes so you can jump back in without missing a beat. A single tap prompts Doone’s AI to bring you back up to speed, eliminating the need to skim through chapters or re-read old sections. In other words, it ensures every page turn remains seamless and immersive.
For many readers, returning to a partially finished book can feel daunting. Freshen Up solves that hassle by instantly summarising everything you’ve read so far plot points, characters, and key themes so you can jump back in without missing a beat. A single tap prompts Doone’s AI to bring you back up to speed, eliminating the need to skim through chapters or re-read old sections. In other words, it ensures every page turn remains seamless and immersive.
BOOK WIZARD
Picture this: you only remember snippets of a book you’re craving, or maybe you just know you want an uplifting fantasy with a strong female lead. Enter the Book Wizard. By describing your ideal story anything from plot points to genres or themes Doone’s AI scours book databases, online reviews, and community comments to pinpoint the perfect match. In essence, it’s a personal librarian that harnesses the power of the internet and user-generated insights, ensuring the next book you open is exactly what you’ve been searching for.
GAMIFICATION
Growing Engagement from Seed to Streak
From day one on Doone, readers plant a virtual seed representing their commitment to start a new story. Each finished chapter, friendly interaction, or badge unlock helps that seed flourish into a vibrant “reading tree.” This playful visual reward system isn’t just for show: it taps into a sense of progress and achievement, encouraging users to maintain reading streaks and stay motivated. Adding friends amplifies this effect every follow, comment, or shared accomplishment adds more “roots” to your tree. Earn “Doone” points by finishing books or hitting milestones, then use them to rent new titles and unlock exclusive badges. It transforms reading from a solo pastime into a communal experience, where every milestone feels tangible, shareable, and worth celebrating.
Bridging Motivation and Affordability
Through user interviews, we found that some readers hesitate to purchase books they’re unsure they’ll finish. Enter the “Rent with Doone” feature, which allows them to spend the in-app currency they’ve earned from consistent reading. Not only does it reward users for maintaining their streaks and finishing books, but it also addresses financial concerns by offering a cost-effective way to explore new titles. In short, this system combines the satisfaction of achievement with an affordable path to discovering fresh reads, keeping users both budget-savvy and eager to keep turning pages.
Reading That Meets You Where You Are
Many readers turn to books for emotional escape or a mood boost, yet typical platforms categorise titles by genre. Inspired by user research, we designed a mood-based recommendation engine that factors in how you’re feeling. Whether you need an uplifting pick-me-up or a thrilling distraction, Doone’s AI reads between the lines of community insights, user data, and your past choices to suggest precisely the right book. This added layer of personalisation transforms browsing into a more intuitive, emotionally resonant experience—ensuring each title you pick truly speaks to you at that moment.
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
User research revealed that many readers crave a sense of connection as they progress through a book. To address this need, Doone integrates social features where you can invite friends to join you on the same title, leave reactions or comments on specific passages, and engage in real-time discussions. This collaborative environment reinforces accountability and satisfaction turning what could be an isolated pastime into a lively, interactive experience.
GAMIFICATION
Growing Engagement from Seed to Streak
From day one on Doone, readers plant a virtual seed representing their commitment to start a new story. Each finished chapter, friendly interaction, or badge unlock helps that seed flourish into a vibrant “reading tree.” This playful visual reward system isn’t just for show: it taps into a sense of progress and achievement, encouraging users to maintain reading streaks and stay motivated. Adding friends amplifies this effect every follow, comment, or shared accomplishment adds more “roots” to your tree. Earn “Doone” points by finishing books or hitting milestones, then use them to rent new titles and unlock exclusive badges. It transforms reading from a solo pastime into a communal experience, where every milestone feels tangible, shareable, and worth celebrating.
Bridging Motivation and Affordability
Through user interviews, we found that some readers hesitate to purchase books they’re unsure they’ll finish. Enter the “Rent with Doone” feature, which allows them to spend the in-app currency they’ve earned from consistent reading. Not only does it reward users for maintaining their streaks and finishing books, but it also addresses financial concerns by offering a cost-effective way to explore new titles. In short, this system combines the satisfaction of achievement with an affordable path to discovering fresh reads, keeping users both budget-savvy and eager to keep turning pages.
Reading That Meets You Where You Are
Many readers turn to books for emotional escape or a mood boost, yet typical platforms categorise titles by genre. Inspired by user research, we designed a mood-based recommendation engine that factors in how you’re feeling. Whether you need an uplifting pick-me-up or a thrilling distraction, Doone’s AI reads between the lines of community insights, user data, and your past choices to suggest precisely the right book. This added layer of personalisation transforms browsing into a more intuitive, emotionally resonant experience—ensuring each title you pick truly speaks to you at that moment.
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
User research revealed that many readers crave a sense of connection as they progress through a book. To address this need, Doone integrates social features where you can invite friends to join you on the same title, leave reactions or comments on specific passages, and engage in real-time discussions. This collaborative environment reinforces accountability and satisfaction turning what could be an isolated pastime into a lively, interactive experience.
Usability & Valence Testing: Fine-Tuning Doone’s Reader Experience
Usability & Valence Testing: Fine-Tuning Doone’s Reader Experience
To ensure Doone’s design truly resonated with readers, we combined standard usability sessions with valence testing—tracking emotional responses as participants navigated features. This dual approach uncovered not just where people stumbled but also how they felt when stumbling. For instance, a confusing button layout could provoke frustration or discourage further exploration. By gathering direct feedback on both functionality and emotions, we made more nuanced adjustments—tweaking layouts, clarifying labels, and optimising visuals so that the overall reading journey felt intuitive, engaging, and consistently uplifting.
To ensure Doone’s design truly resonated with readers, we combined standard usability sessions with valence testing—tracking emotional responses as participants navigated features. This dual approach uncovered not just where people stumbled but also how they felt when stumbling. For instance, a confusing button layout could provoke frustration or discourage further exploration. By gathering direct feedback on both functionality and emotions, we made more nuanced adjustments—tweaking layouts, clarifying labels, and optimising visuals so that the overall reading journey felt intuitive, engaging, and consistently uplifting.
About Me
I specialise in simplifying complex topics. My process involves taking chaotic inputs user needs, technical constraints, and business goals, and organising them into scalable, intuitive solutions. Currently, I’m focused on integrating AI workflows into the design process to help teams ship higher-quality products faster.
About Me
I specialise in simplifying complex topics. My process involves taking chaotic inputs user needs, technical constraints, and business goals, and organising them into scalable, intuitive solutions. Currently, I’m focused on integrating AI workflows into the design process to help teams ship higher-quality products faster.
About Me
I specialise in simplifying complex topics. My process involves taking chaotic inputs user needs, technical constraints, and business goals, and organising them into scalable, intuitive solutions. Currently, I’m focused on integrating AI workflows into the design process to help teams ship higher-quality products faster.
