top of page

mytbr

A conceptual book tracking app developed to address the personal and practical need for a streamlined, intuitive way to manage to-be-read (TBR) lists. As an avid reader, I frequently found my list of books buried in the depths of my notes app, leading to frustration and inefficiency. mytbr was born out of this challenge, combining functionality with an engaging design to create a tool that makes tracking, discovering, and managing books easier and more enjoyable.

Tools: Figma, Procreate.

Introduction

Many readers struggle with maintaining an organized TBR list and staying consistent in their reading habits. Existing platforms are often either too complicated or lack features that encourage reading habit formation and data-driven engagement. This leads to a need for:

  • A simple, clean interface for tracking books.

  • Tools for discovering new reads.

  • Gamification features to foster motivation, like tracking streaks and visualizing progress with fun widgets.

While visualising and later wireframing the app, I tried to keep some key aspects in my basic sketch:

  1. Simplicity First: Design a minimalist yet functional UI that prioritizes ease of use.

  2. Engaging Features: Integrate fun and motivating tools like statistics dashboards inspired by Spotify’s Sound Capsule to help readers stay accountable.

  3. Integration Potential: Build a foundation for future seamless integration with other platforms. When designing the app, I kept Apple Books a strong vision in mind for the integration I imagined.

​

Wireframes for app

Key Features

  • TBR List Management

    • Easily add, edit, and remove books.

    • Create new lists to add to TBR depending on interest

    • Get personal recommendations

  • Discover

    • View ratings, reviews, and summaries of trending books.

    • Personalized recommendations based on reading history.

  • Achievements Dashboard

    • Visualize reading streaks, progress, and completion rates.

    • Track time spent reading and favorite genres.

    • Shareable badges to celebrate milestones.

List.png
More.png
Statistics.png

Mid fidelity prototypes​

A Sudden Problem

While protoyping the app, I did not realise some key frames that looked clunky in the overall design, which was common feedback reflected by users as well. The More screen looked as though it could use further refinement, as text was too overpowering and did not give users the feel of a clickable, interactable screen but as a static screen meant to be viewed.

Screenshot 2024-12-23 at 8.07.54 PM.png

Original screen

Screenshot 2024-12-23 at 8.07.06 PM.png

New screen

The Solution

I iterated new screens, and settled on a design that includes a smaller font with less boldness to differentiate it from the screen title, while also giving each page more space to breathe. I also reduced the size  of the header, which felt large and overpowering in comparison to the rest of the page content.

Areas of Improvement

Based on user feedback, I tried to understand and incorporate certain areas that they would like to see improved:

  1. Automatic reading progress tracker rather than manual updates.

  2. Integrating social features, such as sharing TBR lists with friends.

  3. More engaging graphics to capture attention and draw users to the app.

  4. Set up a notification system to remind readers to use the app.

What comes next for the project?

Conduct user research and user testing on need for the app overall, and features they would like to see. Refine the app based on user feedback, and try to integrate social features in the app.

bottom of page