We entered 2022 with the aim of resolving a bunch of our repeated UX/UI issues. I was hoping we could do this without any large redesign effort.

I was wrong!

As soon as I started to play around with where to put extra functionality, or how to make existing features easier to spot and use, I realised I was fighting with the constraints of the current layout.

Even though I knew what needed to be done, I was scared! We have millions of users, and while you can never please everyone, the worst case scenario would be to upset the active users who were currently happy with the product, and not improve, or even worsen, the experience for those who had previously tried the product and found it confusing.

I did months of usability testing, with a variety of cohorts, to help increase our chances of success, but despite the results being overwhelmingly positive, indicating our redesign proposal would be well-received and solve some current pain points, the closer we got to launch, the more doubtful and nervous I got.

Will people actually like it or were the results of my customer research a lie...?? 😬 😅
 

I have to give a massive shoutout to Rob's wife, Saron Yitbarek, for all the work she did on this! She's an incredible friend to have. I'm so lucky to have her in my life. 🥰

And here's what the same view looks like now: 

And here are the same series of screenshots for the book page:

We also released one of our most-requested features:
 

And the reception to all of this has been incredible:

I needn't have been worried at all!

Hindsight, eh? 😆

I should remind myself of this once we get on to Phase 2, 3, and beyond!
 

It's time to go back to the stats work we were doing at the end of last year.

We'll also be starting to develop our upcoming reading streak feature!
 

I've decided to do one reading challenge this year: @aishathebibliophile's 23 Short Story Collections in 2023.

Rather than saying "short stories aren't for me", I've decided I just haven't read enough of them to find the best ones for me! After all, human connection and conversation revolve around short stories! I think this challenge will help me on my quest to discover my first five-star collection.

To that end, I've picked up Kirsty Logan's Things We Say in the Dark to cover the "Horror-esque collection" prompt!
 

Have a great week,

Nadia

P.S. Know somebody who's an avid reader or would enjoy following along with this journey? Please do forward this email to them! Thank you. :-)
 

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