Identifying the Problem
Goodreads is one of the most popular platforms for readers, but it hasn’t kept up with user expectations. The site feels outdated, cluttered, and hard to navigate, especially compared to newer competitors like StoryGraph. I wanted to figure out how to make it simpler, smarter, and more enjoyable for users.
Research & Methods
To understand the issues, I combined several UX research methods:
- Site Evaluation: Flagged problems like messy navigation, text-heavy layouts, and irrelevant ads.
- Personas, Interviews & Surveys: Captured the perspectives of different types of readers and authors.
- Card Sorting: Explored how users naturally group and categorize content.
- Usability Testing: Observed where users struggled, such as finding trending books or submitting author questions.
- Heuristic Evaluation & Diary Study: Ranked usability problems and explored long-term engagement.
Key Insights
Across these methods, the feedback was clear. Users want a cleaner homepage, smarter book recommendations, and an easier way to engage with community features. The current design overwhelms new users and frustrates long-time members.
Proposed Solutions
My redesign focused on:
- Simplifying the homepage layout
- Adding a “Trending Now” section
- Improving recommendation algorithms with AI
- Making reviews easier to filter
- Streamlining author Q&As and friend activity tracking
Skills Developed
This project gave me hands-on experience in:
- User research and interviews
- Survey design and analysis
- Card sorting platforms and usability testing protocols
- Applying heuristic evaluation frameworks
- Turning research into actionable design recommendations
Takeaway
This case study reinforced how important it is to pair empathy with research. By listening to users and testing solutions, I was able to propose a redesign that feels more modern enjoyable for the readers who use Goodreads every day. If you want to read the blog post that went along with this project, it’s linked here. The full project is attached below.
Mia Krysa 