Case Study: Find books with ease with "Booknerd"

Introduction

Books remain an irreplaceable source of knowledge and leisure, and finding a specific title or discovering bookshops nearby can often be challenging especially in this part of our world. Booknerd is an app designed to connect readers with local bookshops in their city, enabling easy access to books and fostering a thriving community of book lovers.

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Problem Statement

Readers face these challenges:

1. Difficulty locating bookshops nearby.

2. Trouble finding specific books in stock.

3. Uncertainty about when sold-out books will be available again.

4. Inconvenience in accessing bookshop services such as delivery or browsing collections online.

Booknerd addresses these problems by combining location-based services, inventory tracking, and communication tools in one platform.

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User Research

We conducted interviews with 3 book lovers, bookshop owners, and casual readers to understand their pain points and preferences. Key insights included:

1. Readers want to save time by knowing where to get a specific book.

2. Bookshop owners desire a platform to showcase their inventory and connect with customers directly.

3. Both value a seamless communication channel for inquiries and orders.

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Core Features of Booknerd

1. Search and Locate:

   • Search for bookshops within your city.

   • Filter shops by proximity or special collections (classic books).

2. Book Availability Checker:

   • Search for specific books to see which shops have them in stock.

   • If unavailable, subscribe for notifications when the book is restocked.

3. Integrated Directions and Delivery:

   • Get GPS directions to the bookshop or arrange for delivery directly within the app.

4. In-App Messaging and Calling:

   • Chat or call bookshops to inquire about books, negotiate prices, or confirm delivery details.

5. Wishlist and Alerts:

   • Create a wishlist of books and get notified of price drops, discounts, or availability updates.

6. Community and Reviews:

   • Leave reviews for bookshops and specific books.

   • Join forums or discussion groups to share recommendations with other readers.

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Additional Features

1. Events and Book Clubs:

   • Discover book-related events, signings, or meetups hosted by local shops.

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Design Process

1. Wireframes:

   • Focused on a clean, intuitive layout with minimal steps to perform core actions like searching for a book or contacting a shop.

2. Prototyping:

   • Created an interactive prototype in Figma to test user flows such as searching for a book, checking availability, and placing an order.

3. Visual Design:

   • Developed a warm and welcoming color palette inspired by bookshops, using soft browns, greens, and cream tones.

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Challenges and Solutions

1. Challenge: Synchronizing real-time inventory from multiple bookshops.

   • Solution: Developed a lightweight API integration for bookshops to update stock easily.

2. Challenge: Managing communication between users and shops.

   • Solution: Implemented a secure messaging and calling feature that protects user privacy.

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Impact

Booknerd has the potential to revolutionize the way readers interact with bookshops by:

1. Reducing the time spent searching for books.

2. Increasing sales and visibility for local bookshops.

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Conclusion

Booknerd bridges the gap between book lovers and bookshops, creating a unified platform that fosters convenience, connection, and community. Whether you're searching for a rare gem or just want to explore bookshops in your area, Booknerd makes it effortless.

See the link to the interactive design: