The eBOOK APP is a platform that lets users can read the ebooks purchased from their e-commerce website. This project is a re-design case. Besides designing for reading, we create three new features to enhance the whole reading experience:
Moreover, our design considers all platforms' experiences, including native mobile and tablet APP and RWD websites.
The previous eBOOK app was launched for four more years. The UI style was old-fashioned. Moreover, usability was terrible and features outdated UI that was not easily accessible on different screens. The biggest online bookstore in Taiwan must catch up with the times on digital service. It has not been updated for a long time, the style and usability of the APP need to be renewed.
Meanwhile, client want to add some new mechanisms to improve reading experience, but there may have interactive effects among these new mechanisms, such as distinguishing the monthly rent from the general purchase of books? Can I read other books while an audiobook is playing? These must be considered in the new design and provide a better experience. So that, How to perfectly integrate the newly added mechanism with the reading experience? is our mission in this project.
Before the start of the project, the client's team has already conducted the user interview for the current version, so what we need to do is to integrate the existing internal data, to have a clearer understanding of the existing e-book market and to analyze the reading behaviors of users while using the e-book APP. The following
We conduct 3 meetings to interview stakeholders from different departments. They are strategy team, IT team, Marketing team and design team. We collect the current problems that stakeholder recognized.
We conduct a heuristic evaluation that follows the guideline of Nielsen Heuristics to point out where are the problems should be improved in this revision. The make them into a list to discuss with clients.
In order to understanding in detail how users perform their tasks and achieve their intended goals in this APP, we list all functions then break them down into specific tasks. Tasks analysis helps us identify the tasks that this APP must support and can also help us refine or re-define the navigation or search by determining the appropriate content scope.
It’s important to research enterprises that related to our app, as their solutions to similar problems will help me gather insights about their strengths and weaknesses. We compared among 4 competitors, there are Kobo, Readmoo, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books.
In addition to improving the existing information structure, there will add new functions, audio books, video course, subscription system and reading records. And think about the consistent information browsing experience across platforms.
In this project we have to consider multi-device, including mobile and tablet native APP, RWD function embedded in book.com website. We made a list of product requirements and used this list to map out all the features and categories that this app should offer in a basic attempt at site hierarchy and organization.
After we defined the work flow and wireframe, we established prototype by Axure RP to demonstrate interaction for detecting issues in information architecture and flows before spending too much time designing details.
The interface menu of the previous version was hidden in the hamburger icon, and it was also difficult to find how to switch library categories. Our design let the APP menu stand out on the bottom to become the tab menu. Users can change the book list classification on the top, which is convenient for users to understand the operation of the information structure.
The new function "Reading Records" allows users to see various statistical data and behaviors about their reading. We use these data to design a badge mechanism. After reaching a certain level on a certain badge, it allows users to share their own reading list in this badge to friends or followers.
This concept is from our observation that most of knowledge-based KOLs will create their own booklists and share them with followers. If they can use this APP to read and simply share the booklist, it not only enriches the experience of this APP but also be good for brand marketing.
Our primary mission in this project is to ideally integrate the newly added mechanism with the reading experience. Users are possible to open different functions at the same time, for example, open textbooks and listen to the audiobook simultaneously. Therefore, we consider the interaction among different functions and define what each function should be arranged on the interface for several conditions.
The design consider the cross-device experience, so that users can have the same user and brand experience on different platforms.
To avoid in-App Purchase fees, the purchase and subscription of eBooks are conducted on the website. After subscribing, you have to borrow books on the website, then you can read in eBOOK APP.
Some of our plans could not be implemented in this project due to customer constraints and commercial considerations. However, we believe that these will be helpful for future business promotion, so after the project is completed, it is recommended that customers should schedule this small revision.
OPENPOINT and BOOKs are in the same enterprise, we can consider providing the function of redeeming OPENPOINT points for e-books. In addition to the application that can strengthen the membership points, it can also be used as another solution to the inability to purchase e-books in the APP.
In addition to personal achievements, the reward mechanism expects heavy users to attract others to use them by sharing their achievements. In addition to getting fame, if you can provide actual rewards, let the person who achieves the badge achievement share the book list, and let others buy the books in it through the link, you can get the reward (coupons, OP points, etc. ). This makes the badge reward system more effective.
