THE PROBLEM
Readers are lost in the interface, not in books as intentioned
Despite being the go-to platform for book lovers, Goodreads hasn’t evolved much in years. The site is cluttered, slow to navigate, and lacks clear pathways for discovering new titles or managing your personal library.
Through user interviews, I uncovered three key frustrations:
It’s hard to discover books unless you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Onboarding is messy — new users feel overwhelmed.
Shelving and rating books feels outdated and disconnected.
So, I asked: What if Goodreads worked for the reader, not just as a database—but as a discovery engine?
MY PROCESS
Research → Heuristic Evaluation → User Journey Mapping → Wireframes → Usability Testing → UI Design
Research & Audit
Interviewed 5 frequent Goodreads users.
Conducted a heuristic evaluation of the current site.
Mapped out core frustrations across the user journey.
🎯 Key Insight:
“I mostly use Goodreads to track what I’ve read, but I wish it helped me find new books I’d actually enjoy.”
KEY UX DECISIONS
Designing for the curious, not just the organized
Customization
Old: Basic "want to read / read" with no flexibility
New: Widget-based system that can be added/removed
Author Feature
Old: Hidden in a submenu
New: Direct access via the navbar
Streamlined Discovery
Old: Static lists, endless scrolling
New: Dynamic cards, personalized recs, filters for mood/length/genre
Elevating the Visual Language
The redesign leans into a modern, minimal aesthetic. Think whitespace, soft neutral tones, and clear hierarchy that allows covers, quotes, and conversations to shine.
TESTING THE DESIGN
I didn’t just want the redesign to look good—I wanted to make sure it actually worked for real people, in real ways. So I put my designs through two kinds of stress tests.
With Black Hat design testing and a round of A/B testing, I uncovered key areas that matter to users - how they explored book details, browsed recommendations and interacted with authors. To sum it up, they spent longer time exploring rather than finding features which enhanced discoverability and thus, usability.
KEY FEATURES
A homepage that prioritizes discovery - from new reads to active author Q&As
A visible “Talk to Authors” section to make community engagement actually accessible
Curated recommendations based on reading history and genres
Streamlined review UX with an emphasis on readability and authenticity
RESULTS FROM USABILITY TESTING
Testing with 4 users (pre vs post design) revealed:
75% faster time-to-complete on adding a book to a custom shelf
2 out of 4 users described the new discovery flow as “fun”
All testers preferred the redesigned onboarding over the existing one
FINAL THOUGHTS
This project was about more than just aesthetics—it was about reconnecting readers with what they actually want from a book platform: a sense of discovery, community, and conversation.
By bringing hidden features like author engagement to the surface, simplifying discovery, and refining the overall experience, I reimagined Goodreads as a space that feels both personal and alive.
Because readers deserve better - and honestly, so do authors.
Let's work together!