Goodreads Redesign – A Journey to a Better Experience
Goodreads Redesign – A Journey to a Better Experience
Goodreads Redesign – A Journey to a Better Experience
Redesigning Goodreads, a popular book-tracking platform, to enhance discovery and user engagement.
Why I Took on This Project
Why I Took on This Project
As an avid reader and designer, I’ve always appreciated Goodreads for its vast collection of books and thriving community of readers. But let’s be honest—navigating the app often felt like a challenge in itself. Cluttered layouts, confusing navigation, and an outdated design made the experience frustrating rather than inspiring.
I took it upon myself to redesign Goodreads with one goal in mind: to make it effortless and enjoyable for book lovers to discover, track, and share their reading journey.
As an avid reader and designer, I’ve always appreciated Goodreads for its vast collection of books and thriving community of readers. But let’s be honest—navigating the app often felt like a challenge in itself. Cluttered layouts, confusing navigation, and an outdated design made the experience frustrating rather than inspiring.
I took it upon myself to redesign Goodreads with one goal in mind: to make it effortless and enjoyable for book lovers to discover, track, and share their reading journey.
Understanding the Problem: What Needed to Change?
Understanding the Problem:
What Needed to Change?
Understanding the Problem: What
Needed to Change?
Before jumping into design solutions, I wanted to fully understand where users were struggling. Through user interviews, competitor analysis, and usability testing, I found some key pain points:
• Getting lost in navigation: Users found it hard to find features they needed.
• Dated design: The visuals didn’t reflect the modern reading experience users expected.
• Finding personalized recommendations was tricky: Users wanted an easier way to explore books tailored to their taste.
These insights helped me focus on what mattered most—creating a seamless, visually appealing, and intuitive experience.
My Approach: Blending Research with Creativity
My Approach: Blending
Research with Creativity
My Approach: Blending Research with Creativity
To bring this vision to life, I followed a structured but flexible approach that allowed for creativity and problem-solving:
Mapping Out the Experience
• I redesigned the information architecture, simplifying the navigation so users could find what they need effortlessly.
• Combining the search and discover features made book exploration intuitive and enjoyable.
To bring this vision to life, I followed a structured but flexible approach that allowed for creativity and problem-solving:
Mapping Out the Experience
• I redesigned the information architecture, simplifying the navigation so users could find what they need effortlessly.
• Combining the search and discover features made book exploration intuitive and enjoyable.
Creating a Visual Story
• I introduced a dark theme with a fresh color palette, giving the app a sleek and modern feel while enhancing readability.
• The new onboarding process now offers clear guidance, helping users get started without feeling overwhelmed.
Testing and Refining
• With usability testing, I gathered valuable feedback and made iterative improvements to ensure the design met user expectations.
Creating a Visual Story
• I introduced a dark theme with a fresh color palette, giving the app a sleek and modern feel while enhancing readability.
• The new onboarding process now offers clear guidance, helping users get started without feeling overwhelmed.
Testing and Refining
• With usability testing, I gathered valuable feedback and made iterative improvements to ensure the design met user expectations.
The Transformation: Before & After
The Transformation: Before
& After
The redesign wasn’t just about making the app look better—it was about making it work better for users. Here’s what changed:
The redesign wasn’t just about making the app look better—it was about making it work better for users. Here’s what changed:
Before Redesign:
• Users described the app as “confusing” and “dull.”
• Navigation felt like a maze.
• Personalized recommendations were hard to find.
After Redesign:
• A clear, user-friendly interface that feels intuitive.
• Personalized recommendations are front and center.
• A modern design that resonates with today’s readers.
Before Redesign:
• Users described the app as “confusing” and “dull.”
• Navigation felt like a maze.
• Personalized recommendations were hard to find.
After Redesign:
• A clear, user-friendly interface that feels intuitive.
• Personalized recommendations are front and center.
• A modern design that resonates with today’s readers.
The Results: How It Made a Difference
The Results: How It Made a
Difference
Redesigning Goodreads was more than just a creative exercise; it had tangible results:
• System Usability Score (SUS): Improved from 54.3% to 95%.
• User Feedback: 100% of participants found the app “engaging” and “useful.”
• Book Discovery: Users could find books 3x faster than before.
These numbers showed me that thoughtful design can truly enhance the user experience, making reading even more enjoyable.
Redesigning Goodreads was more than just a creative exercise; it had tangible results:
• System Usability Score (SUS): Improved from 54.3% to 95%.
• User Feedback: 100% of participants found the app “engaging” and “useful.”
• Book Discovery: Users could find books 3x faster than before.
These numbers showed me that thoughtful design can truly enhance the user experience, making reading even more enjoyable.
What I Learned Along the Way
What I Learned Along the
Way
This project reinforced some valuable lessons for me as a designer:
• Simplicity is key: Users don’t need fancy features; they need clarity and ease of use.
• Listening to users is everything: Their insights shaped the entire redesign.
• Iteration leads to perfection: Testing and refining were crucial to getting things right.
I’m proud of how the redesign turned out, but more importantly, I’m excited about the impact it can have on book lovers everywhere.
If you’d like to explore the redesigned experience, check out the full prototype here
This project reinforced some valuable lessons for me as a designer:
• Simplicity is key: Users don’t need fancy features; they need clarity and ease of use.
• Listening to users is everything: Their insights shaped the entire redesign.
• Iteration leads to perfection: Testing and refining were crucial to getting things right.
I’m proud of how the redesign turned out, but more importantly, I’m excited about the impact it can have on book lovers everywhere.
If you’d like to explore the redesigned experience, check out the full prototype here
Have thoughts on this project? Let's Talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
Have thoughts on this project? Let's talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
Have thoughts on this project? Let's talk
This is just a concise version of the case study—there’s so much more to discuss! I’d love to share deeper insights or chat about how I can bring value to your project.
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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Copyright 2025 Mehjebin Mujeeb
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