Hello! I'm Owen, a UX Designer based in Northern Ireland. With a solid foundation in art and design, I apply my creative skills to enhance user experiences.
I’m dedicated to refining user experiences by designing interfaces that are clear and user-friendly, ensuring that every design decision is informed by the needs of the user.
This project seeks to inspire a passion for reading by connecting students with perfect books.
Libro strives to make reading enjoyable, accessible, and tailored to individual preferences. Libro is a mobile application that recommends books to students depending on their individual preferences. By syncing with their school library, students can reserve physical books or read e-books directly on the app. Once a student reads a book they can then take a quiz. Passing a quiz earns them rewards such as stationery or school supplies from their teacher.
I decided to work on this type of project for two main reasons. In primary school I took part in a reading program called “Accelerated Reader” and became obsessed with reading in order to win prizes and achieve a “word millionaire” certificate. Another reason is that I wanted to offer a better way to recommend books to Gen Z other than the “BookTok” trend which I believe is lacking in terms of quality recommendations
Libro is designed to be used in secondary school classrooms by students aged between 11-16 and incorporated as part of their school curriculum.
Libro’s dual approach caters to both readers and non-readers by offering a dynamic reading experience that adapts to individual preferences and reading habits. For the “nonreader” students, Libro provides an engaging platform that guides users to books that match their own interests. On the other hand, Libro also targets students who do read often, but are seeking more personalised recommendations.
Many existing apps on the market share similar user interfaces and features, making it a bit challenging to innovate. However, by leaning into the Gen Z student demographic and emphasising gamification and quiz elements, I was able to create distinctive features that set Libro apart. During the development of my high-fidelity screens, something was missing in Libro’s design essence. The breakthrough came with the introduction of a mascot, which infused some vitality into Libro’s brand identity. Meet Libbi, the AI companion within Libro, designed to curate personalised book suggestions for students. Libbi’s digital persona was brought to life through illustrations using Clip Studio.
Working on this project I used a variety of different technologies. I used Figma for creating all of my wireframes for my prototype, both low-fi and high-fidelity screens. I had developed my experience of using Figma working from placement and was able to create components, animations. Also, Adobe After Effects was useful when it came to editing animated icons for various screens across my app.
Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of this project. I was able to create an app prototype in Libro that combined my experience with a school reading program with my background in art and illustration. Moreover, it showcases the wireframing and UX research skills I’ve acquired from my university course and placement experience. These skills, which I’ve been able to refine and implement in this project, will be valuable assets in my future career.
Find Libro's prototype here