Florilegium

Florilegium is an innovative web application that revolves around books and reading, seamlessly integrating the social aspect with comprehensive cataloging features. This groundbreaking concept was born out of the pressing need to counter the current monopolization within this domain. While some competitors have emerged in recent years, attempting to address the gaps, they fall short when it comes to providing a user experience (UX) that truly resonates. With Florilegium, our aim was to delve deep into the desires of our users and identify any critical functionalities absent from existing platforms.

Methods and Tools:

Survey & Survey Analysis
User Interviews
Architecture Diagraming

Axure 10 RP
Figma
Invision Whiteboard

Competitor Analysis
Wireframing
Prototyping

Foundation

To gain comprehensive insights into user preferences and the current landscape, I took meticulous steps to ensure a thorough and unbiased analysis, particularly considering my involvement in the online reading community.

Firstly, I conducted a survey that garnered 28 responses from individuals hailing from six diverse countries, with a predominant focus on the United States. The survey participants ranged in age from 17 to 60, though the majority fell within the 26-29 age bracket, shedding light on the demographics of online reading enthusiasts.

Additionally, I performed an in-depth competitor analysis, evaluating platforms like Goodreads and Storygraph, and noting the unique features and offerings of each platform.

By synthesizing the insights from the competitor analysis and survey results, I was able to effectively compare user preferences against the existing functionalities provided by these platforms.

I successfully identified the key target audience for Florilegium, distinguishing between primary and secondary users:

Primary Users:

Readers: This group encompasses individuals seeking to conveniently track their reading progress, discover new books, and engage with friends who share their reading interests.

Online Influencers: These are users who possess a significant social media following, such as Booktube or Bookstagram personalities. They desire a platform that allows them to interact with their followers and cultivate a personal 'community' channel on their profile.

Secondary Users:

Local (State) Community: This category comprises organizations, independent bookstores, and local event organizers. They can leverage Florilegium to connect with their local literary community, promote their offerings, and engage with their target audience.
Literary Contributors: This group includes authors, bloggers, and publishers. Florilegium offers them a platform to showcase their work, connect with readers, and foster collaborations within the literary sphere.

Approach

Having gained a comprehensive understanding of the existing landscape, user preferences, and the gaps that needed to be addressed, I embarked on mapping out the essential pages for Florilegium. To ensure a well-structured foundation, I proceeded to create an Architecture Diagram, solidifying the key functionalities and features that Florilegium would offer.

Once the framework was in place, I delved into crafting low-fidelity wireframes for the pages. Throughout this process, I prioritized the user interface (UI) aspects, taking into account the valuable feedback received from survey respondents who highlighted the significant issues they faced in enjoying existing platforms.

Outcome

The final stage involved transitioning the initial low-fidelity wireframes to a higher fidelity, enabling the creation of a prototype. While the prototype does not represent the finalized design, it serves as a powerful tool to showcase the diverse ways in which both primary and secondary users can effectively utilize Florilegium.

Conclusion

During an intensive two-week sprint, I diligently identified the key aspects that users, already immersed in the online book space, were lacking on existing platforms. Drawing upon the insights gathered from the initial research phase, I refined and solidified the profiles of the primary and secondary users for Florilegium. With a clear understanding of user expectations, I proceeded to create the Architecture Diagram, meticulously incorporating the desired aspects into the blueprint of the application. Subsequently, I focused on developing comprehensive wireframes, which served as the foundation for a robust and interactive prototype.