Book Central Case Study | Nkanga Richard

Book Central

Elevating Online Book Shopping.

Case study, Prototyping, Web design

Team

User Research, UX/UI Design, Prototyping, Usability Testing

Solo Project

Team

Tools USed

Figma, Adobe XD

Background

Book Central introduces a user-friendly and intuitive platform, transforming book shopping into a delightful experience. As readers navigate through the application, they encounter a vast collection of books waiting to be discovered. The platform's design prioritizes simplicity and efficiency, allowing users to explore the catalog based on authors, titles, genres, or keywords empowering them to make informed and satisfying purchasing decisions.

Book Central aims to redefine online book sales with an innovative platform, uniting readers worldwide. The focus is on creating a seamless, user-friendly experience for exploring and purchasing books.

Problem

What are some of the key problems we want to solve?

Understanding the obstacles that users face in traditional banking and digital finance, Oak Bank recognizes some of the following problems:

Users face limitations on other platforms due to inadequate genre filters, restricting their exploration.
Users on competing platforms lack a personalized recommendation system, diminishing the unique and tailored experience.

User Persona

To better understand our users…

By addressing the preferences of Lucy, the Literary Explorer, and Alex, the Tech Savvy Bibliophile, "Book Central" is poised to cater to the distinct requirements of both personas, curating a comprehensive and user-centric literary exploration platform.

Problems

Lucy, at 28, desires a platform that caters to her diverse reading interests, providing an immersive and visually appealing interface. She longs for personalized book recommendations to enhance her reading journey and a social space to share insights with fellow book enthusiasts.

Lucy often finds existing platforms lacking in personalized recommendations, leaving her to sift through generic suggestions. Cumbersome search functionalities and a lack of social engagement options also hinder her exploration of new literary treasures.

Needs

Lucy

28 Literary Explorer

Alex, at 34, seeks a convenient and efficient platform that understands his preferences and streamlines the book selection process. Efficiency is paramount for him, requiring a quick and intuitive search function. A visually pleasing and clutter-free interface is crucial for a smooth experience.

Problems

Alex often encounters search functions on existing platforms that are time-consuming and lack efficiency. Additionally, the absence of a streamlined interface makes it challenging for him to explore new books swiftly within his tight schedule.

Needs

Alex

34 Tech Savvy Bibliophile

Competitive Analysis

Initiating my design process, I commenced by delving into research on existing book websites prevalent in the market. This initial step is pivotal in uncovering the strengths and potential opportunities for my envisioned platform, Book Central. I conducted a detailed analysis of two key competitors in the domain: bookshop.org and betterworldbooks.com.

Bookshop

Better World Books

Strengths:

Norman’s Principles: Adheres effectively to Norman's Principles, ensuring intuitive navigation, affordance, visibility, and consistency.
UI Patterns: Successfully implements carousel and "getting input" UI patterns for organized book browsing and enhanced user interaction.
Usability Principles: Demonstrates strong adherence to usability principles, including clear feedback mechanisms and error prevention measures.
Help and Documentation: Offers helpful assistance conveniently located in the footer, providing comprehensive information on various functionalities.

Weaknesses:

Color Scheme: The primary color (white) lacks sophistication, and using green for highlighting may distract users from essential elements.

Opportunities:

Enhanced Color Palette: Opportunity to refine the color scheme for a more sophisticated and visually appealing atmosphere.

Threats:

Potential Distractions: Risk of users being distracted by the color choices, affecting overall user experience.

Weaknesses:

Color Scheme: The primary color (white) lacks sophistication, and using green for highlighting may distract users from essential elements.

Opportunities:

Enhanced Color Palette: Opportunity to refine the color scheme for a more sophisticated and visually appealing atmosphere.

Threats:

Potential Distractions: Risk of users being distracted by the color choices, affecting overall user experience.

Strengths:

Norman’s Principles: Adheres effectively to Norman's Principles, ensuring intuitive navigation, affordance, visibility, and consistency.
UI Patterns: Successfully implements carousel and "getting input" UI patterns for organized book browsing and enhanced user interaction.
Usability Principles: Demonstrates strong adherence to usability principles, including clear feedback mechanisms and error prevention measures.
Help and Documentation: Offers helpful assistance conveniently located in the footer, providing comprehensive information on various functionalities.