Libby Redesign
Make Space
Make Space
Redesigning an app that allows users to access ebooks
and audiobooks through their local libraries.
Explore the full prototype
A tool that lets humans in the greater
Boston area connect with nearby plants,
birds, and greenspaces.
A tool that lets humans in the greater Boston
area connect with nearby plants, birds,
and greenspaces.
SCOPE
UI/UX
CHALLENGE
Making it easy to navigate millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines.
Libby is an app that allows users to rent digital titles from their local libraries. I love this product because it enables people to access library materials who otherwise may not be able to. However, the app is difficult to navigate. As the only option available for many library card holders, using Libby should be a better experience.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment,
it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
The current Libby app is difficult for users to navigate.
A huge content library combined with a confusing navigation system can make for an unenjoyable user experience. Users I spoke with and app reviews told me that navigating and filtering Libby's titles was a major pain point. Additionally, users wished the app was more tailored to their preferred genres.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment,
it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
CHALLENGE
For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.
PROCESS
I set out to make it easy and fun to navigate Libby's expansive catalog. My redesigned version would include in-app recommendations tailored towards one's literary tastes. An updated site map divided content into three distinct, intuitive categories (Browse, Shelf, and Profile).
UNDERSTANDING MY AUDIENCE
Interviews helped me understand when potential users felt most connected to the environment. I discovered people saw the natural world as a home, where they could express childlike exploration and curiosity and feel comfortable.
Recommended and Featured homepage content.
I used lo-fi wireframes to test out a new browsing structure. I looked to Spotify as a role model for browsing & filtering media, as the app similarly houses a large library of content. Spotify's homepage includes media tailored to the user, as well as featured media that is displayed to many users. I thought this structure worked well and pulled it into my lo-fis.
With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback
and refined my user flows.
With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback and refined my user flows.
Utilizing Figma's Auto layout property allowed me to quickly iterate on my lo-fi wireframes. Each screen is comprised of multiple Auto layout frames that I combined to create complex, adaptable interfaces.
With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback
and refined my user flows.
With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback and refined my user flows.
Hi-fi wireframing mainly consisted of applying Libby’s brand to my lo-fis, aside from some updates to current UI component styles. One larger UI update I made was surrounding the onboarding flow. Libby uses a chat-style UI in onboarding flow, and I wanted to retain this decision, but the flow needed to feel more conversational. So, I edited the copy and reordered content to make it more natural.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback
about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I
also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
I created a prototype to make page interactions as easy to understand as possible. For instance, I introduced a swipe interaction between the "Featured" and "Recommended" sections of the Browse screen, which is viewable in the prototype.
Explore the full prototype here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback
about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I
also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback
about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I
also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.
View the final wireframes with prototypes for both workflows here.
TAKEAWAYS
After speaking with users, I knew my main goal in redesigning Libby had to be making this product more usable and simple. Focusing my energy on the app's functionality meant steering my focus away from other cool features I wanted to implement, but I knew usability was by far the most crucial improvement area. I'd like to test this new version of Libby with more users and incorporate their feedback to make it even more personalized.
TAKEAWAYS
As a designer, I sometimes feel like I'm creating things that push people further away from real life experiences. But with Make Space, I felt like I was creating a digital platform that could actually enrich someone's experience of being out in the world. I feel like I honed my UI/UX process and I am incredibly happy with the final product.
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SAM MARCHESI © 2022