kindle
kindle
As Kindle's library expands, users struggle to keep their books organized and easily accessible. This project introduces new tagging and categorization features to help users efficiently manage their growing collections.
As Kindle's library expands, users struggle to keep their books organized and easily accessible. This project introduces new tagging and categorization features to help users efficiently manage their growing collections.
Introduction & Background
Introduction & Background
Kindle, one of the world’s most popular e-readers, provides access to a vast library of digital books, both free and paid, across devices like phones and tablets, eliminating the need for a Kindle device. As mobile use increases, users seek flexible ways to enjoy content on the go, whether by reading or listening. Despite its widespread popularity, Kindle has yet to fully realize its potential in offering intuitive organization tools for digital libraries.
Kindle, one of the world’s most popular e-readers, provides access to a vast library of digital books, both free and paid, across devices like phones and tablets, eliminating the need for a Kindle device. As mobile use increases, users seek flexible ways to enjoy content on the go, whether by reading or listening. Despite its widespread popularity, Kindle has yet to fully realize its potential in offering intuitive organization tools for digital libraries.
The challenge
The challenge
Kindle is a device that is quite popular among readers; many users employ it merely as a convenient replacement for physical books but turn to other apps to keep their libraries organized. The challenge in this project is to get users get used to new features, like categories and tags to personalize their libraries.
Kindle is a device that is quite popular among readers; many users employ it merely as a convenient replacement for physical books but turn to other apps to keep their libraries organized. The challenge in this project is to get users get used to new features, like categories and tags to personalize their libraries.
the solution
the solution
To improve Kindle’s library organization, a tagging feature was added, allowing users to categorize books with custom tags like “Perfect for traveling” or “Favorites.” Tags can be easily added from the library or while reading a book, giving users a simple, intuitive way to organize and locate books, taking the Kindle experience without relying on external apps.
To improve Kindle’s library organization, a tagging feature was added, allowing users to categorize books with custom tags like “Perfect for traveling” or “Favorites.” Tags can be easily added from the library or while reading a book, giving users a simple, intuitive way to organize and locate books, taking the Kindle experience without relying on external apps.
Want to see how it all came together?
Want to see how it all came together?
Keep reading to follow along with my design journey!
Keep reading to follow along with my design journey!
My role
My role
In this project, I worked on every part of the UX design process, from researching users’ needs to creating the final design and prototype.
In this project, I worked on every part of the UX design process, from researching users’ needs to creating the final design and prototype.
Year: 2024
Duration: 85 hours
Tools: Figma, Microsoft Office and Illustrator
Skills: UX/UI Design, UX Research, Prototyping, User Testing and Adaptability
Year: 2024
Duration: 85 hours
Tools: Figma, Microsoft Office and Illustrator
Skills: UX/UI Design, UX Research, Prototyping, User Testing and Adaptability
Finding the Right Approach
Finding the Right Approach
To make the new Kindle tagging feature really useful, I started by looking at other e-reader apps and talking to people who use Kindle a lot. This research helped me understand common frustrations when reading, finding, or organizing their books and opened my mind to finding the best solution to this.
To make the new Kindle tagging feature really useful, I started by looking at other e-reader apps and talking to people who use Kindle a lot. This research helped me understand common frustrations when reading, finding, or organizing their books and opened my mind to finding the best solution to this.
comparing to the competition
comparing to the competition
comparing to the competition
Users Interviews and Affinity Mapping Insights
Users Interviews and Affinity Mapping Insights
Users Interviews and Affinity Mapping Insights
key Takeaway
key Takeaway
Users want a way to categorize and tag their books directly in the app to keep track of what they’re reading, have read, or want to read.
Users want a way to categorize and tag their books directly in the app to keep track of what they’re reading, have read, or want to read.
Defining the Solution
Defining the Solution
With the results from the user interviews and competitor research, I started with the goals of the company and users, finding ways to benefit both. By putting myself in the users' shoes, I created two personas that would help keep me on the right path with the pain points, requirements, and challenges associated with Kindle. The user flow helped to seamlessly create a path, optimizing the new feature.
With the results from the user interviews and competitor research, I started with the goals of the company and users, finding ways to benefit both. By putting myself in the users' shoes, I created two personas that would help keep me on the right path with the pain points, requirements, and challenges associated with Kindle. The user flow helped to seamlessly create a path, optimizing the new feature.
Goals and Problem Statements
Goals and Problem Statements
With user needs and market gaps clarified, I set clear goals to guide the project.
With user needs and market gaps clarified, I set clear goals to guide the project.
Goals
Goals
Business Goals: Encourage in-app engagement by reducing the need for third-party apps (e.g., Goodreads).
User Goals: Easily organize books with intuitive tagging and folder systems.
Common Goals: Develop a user-friendly categorization system to improve book management.
Business Goals: Encourage in-app engagement by reducing the need for third-party apps (e.g., Goodreads).
User Goals: Easily organize books with intuitive tagging and folder systems.
Common Goals: Develop a user-friendly categorization system to improve book management.
Problem Statements
Problem Statements
Despite Kindle’s global popularity, it lacks a user-friendly system for organizing and managing digital libraries, limiting its potential. User interviews revealed a strong desire for an intuitive way to categorize and tag books.
Despite Kindle’s global popularity, it lacks a user-friendly system for organizing and managing digital libraries, limiting its potential. User interviews revealed a strong desire for an intuitive way to categorize and tag books.
How might we improve the books’ organization and categorization feature to help users easily categorize, find, and manage their reading lists?
How might we improve the books’ organization and categorization feature to help users easily categorize, find, and manage their reading lists?
How might we help users keep track of what they’re actively reading, what they want to read next and what the have already read?
How might we help users keep track of what they’re actively reading, what they want to read next and what the have already read?
Meet Our Readers
Meet Our Readers
To design a solution that truly resonates with Kindle users, I needed to step into their shoes. Here are the personas I crafted (based on real user data) representing a unique set of challenges, preferences, and goals.
To design a solution that truly resonates with Kindle users, I needed to step into their shoes. Here are the personas I crafted (based on real user data) representing a unique set of challenges, preferences, and goals.
User flows
User flows
User flows
Takeaways Defining the Solution
Takeaways Defining the Solution
Better Organization and Access: Make it easier for users to find and arrange their books in the Kindle app.
Improve the App: Make the Kindle app better so that more people use it and keep using it, which makes users happier.
Need for Easier Tagging and Sorting: Fix the problem where it’s hard for users to set up and use categories and tags, which helps them organize their books more easily.
Better Organization and Access: Make it easier for users to find and arrange their books in the Kindle app.
Improve the App: Make the Kindle app better so that more people use it and keep using it, which makes users happier.
Need for Easier Tagging and Sorting: Fix the problem where it’s hard for users to set up and use categories and tags, which helps them organize their books more easily.
Design Process
Design Process
Low - Fi Wireframing
Low - Fi Wireframing
With my research insights ready, I began sketching out the initial designs. I focused on simplicity and ensuring that the tagging feature was easily accessible.
With my research insights ready, I began sketching out the initial designs. I focused on simplicity and ensuring that the tagging feature was easily accessible.
I initially created my wireframes in landscape orientation, but I soon discovered that this wasn't the optimal viewport. After conducting some research, it became clear that most users prefer reading in portrait mode.
I initially created my wireframes in landscape orientation, but I soon discovered that this wasn't the optimal viewport. After conducting some research, it became clear that most users prefer reading in portrait mode.
Mid - Fidelity Wireframing
Mid - Fidelity Wireframing
testing the mid-fidelity prototype
testing the mid-fidelity prototype
testing the mid-fidelity prototype
key takeaway user testing
key takeaway user testing
After the first user testing, I observed that when discovering a new feature in an app that you're used to, most users would benefit from a tutorial explaining how to use the new feature. Following this, I decided to include a small tutorial in the prototypes to observe the users' responses.
After the first user testing, I observed that when discovering a new feature in an app that you're used to, most users would benefit from a tutorial explaining how to use the new feature. Following this, I decided to include a small tutorial in the prototypes to observe the users' responses.
High - Fidelity Wireframing
High - Fidelity Wireframing
With all the notes from the first user tests, I made the necessary iterations, created a tutorial for tagging books, and brought all of this into the high-fidelity wireframes.
With all the notes from the first user tests, I made the necessary iterations, created a tutorial for tagging books, and brought all of this into the high-fidelity wireframes.
testing the final prototype
testing the final prototype
testing the final prototype
Iterations and Final High - Fidelity Wireframes
Iterations and Final High - Fidelity Wireframes
With all the notes from the first user tests, I made the necessary iterations, created a tutorial for tagging books, and brought all of this into the high-fidelity wireframes.
With all the notes from the first user tests, I made the necessary iterations, created a tutorial for tagging books, and brought all of this into the high-fidelity wireframes.
Outcome and Reflections
Outcome and Reflections
Reflecting on this project, the new tagging feature really helped solve a big problem for Kindle users. It made organizing books much easier and improved the overall experience with Kindle.
Reflecting on this project, the new tagging feature really helped solve a big problem for Kindle users. It made organizing books much easier and improved the overall experience with Kindle.
Thanks for taking an interest in this case study!
Thanks for taking an interest in this case study!
This project was a great opportunity to get familiar with the iOS operating system. This project also made me realize that many apps on our phones and tablets still have a lot of features waiting to be discovered! As UX designers, it’s our job to make these features easy for users to find.
This project was a great opportunity to get familiar with the iOS operating system. This project also made me realize that many apps on our phones and tablets still have a lot of features waiting to be discovered! As UX designers, it’s our job to make these features easy for users to find.
I’m currently reading “The Teacher” by Freida McFadden, what about you?
I’m currently reading “The Teacher” by Freida McFadden, what about you?
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