Goodreads Reimagined
An interface with the same care as the stories it holds.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A full mobile redesign built around warmth, clarity, and reducing friction. The goal was to make one of the world's largest reading communities finally feel worthy of the books it tracks.
Nobody opens a reading app to wrestle with the interface.
THE PROBLEM
Despite its massive community, Goodreads feels dated and impersonal. Progress tracking is clunky, reviews are hard to parse, and the homepage lacks any warmth.
USER FEEDBACK
Three pain points surfaced consistently across user research: progress tracking felt tedious, reviews were overwhelming to navigate, and the homepage lacked any sense of warmth or personality.
THE SOLUTION
Three screens were redesigned to directly address each frustration. A personalized homepage with mood-based discovery, an inline progress editor on My Books, and a condensed review summary on the book detail page.
Less resistance at every step means more time spent doing the thing that matters.
BUSINESS IMPACT
Frictionless progress tracking and a more engaging homepage drives return visits. Clearer reviews support more confident book purchases, benefiting both readers and the platform.
WHAT I LEARNED
Personality is a product of small, intentional choices. The most impactful changes weren't structural overhauls. They were careful attention to the moments where users felt friction or disconnection.
The details readers never notice are the ones that keep them coming back.
Like what you see? Contact me!
robrod.world@gmail.com
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