INSTRUCTIONS
PROJECT 1
For this assignment, I selected Goodreads as the focus of my website redesign proposal. While Goodreads is widely known as an online community for book lovers, its current design and user experience feel outdated and uninspiring. This project challenged me to not only evaluate its existing design critically, but also to propose a refreshed layout and UX concept that enhances both performance and emotional engagement.
Presentation Slides + Google Drive Link
goodreads website redesign by Zara Sophia
Current Website Evaluation
Goodreads’ layout is simple and functional, but it suffers from several design limitations. The homepage is visually cluttered and lacks hierarchy, making it difficult for users to find important features like the Bookshelf or Goodreads Choice Awards. The color palette relies on neutral tones, but feels dated, and the typography—though readable—is generic and lacks brand personality.
Imagery is minimal, and there's very little visual storytelling. The website also feels static due to the absence of animation or micro-interactions, which can make the experience feel monotonous. In short, while the layout supports basic functionality, it doesn’t reflect the vibrant, community-driven energy of its users.
User Experience
From a UX perspective, navigation on Goodreads is confusing. There are too many options in the top menu, and key features are buried within dropdowns or hard to access. The site is responsive and accessible on multiple devices, but the lack of clear visual hierarchy and user guidance reduces its usability. New users in particular may find it overwhelming to explore or customize their experience.
Functionality
Technically, Goodreads performs well in terms of load speed and device compatibility. Pages load quickly and the layout adapts across desktop and mobile. However, the site lacks interactivity—there are no hover states, animations, or transitions that help guide users or make browsing feel dynamic. Its performance is solid, but the experience is flat.
Redesign Goals
Objectives
- The primary goal of this redesign is to:
- Improve usability through clearer layout and hierarchy
- Modernize the visual design with a refreshed brand identity
- Enhance discoverability of features (e.g., reviews, shelves, genre lists)
- Create a more engaging, community-driven atmosphere with visual storytelling
I also aim to preserve what Goodreads does well—like speed and responsiveness—while improving its emotional resonance and sense of personality.
Target Audience
- The redesign is intended for:
- Avid readers and bookworms
- Casual readers who want to track their reading
- Authors looking to promote their work
- Creative users who enjoy visual inspiration
This audience values readability, emotional connection, and ease of navigation. The redesign will support their needs with clearer structure, personalized content areas, and an overall warmer aesthetic.
Design Proposal
Visual Design Concepts
For this project, I combined a Minimalist + Illustrative design approach. Minimalism ensures simplicity and speed, while illustrative elements add character and align with Goodreads’ identity as a space for creatives.
To establish the visual direction, I created a mood board using Pinterest and Adobe Color. I focused on organic, cozy visuals—like bookshelf illustrations and storybook-style icons—to reflect a warm, bookish tone. Typography pairing includes:
- Playfair Display (for classic, literary headings)
- Inter (for clean, modern body text)
The color palette (which was created on Adobe Color) blends neutral tones and rich earth tones:
- #E9E5CD (parchment beige)
- #F4F3F3 (light background for space)
These choices reinforce readability while adding personality and warmth to the site.
Moodboard & Brand Kit
Visual references were drawn from award-winning websites and illustration-forward design. My brand kit includes font styles, color swatches, and layout examples to maintain consistency throughout the redesign.
Wireframes
I created low-fidelity wireframes for four key pages:
- Homepage – A cleaner dashboard with a personalized welcome, discovery feed, and “Latest Buzz” section for community activity.
- About Page – A narrative-style layout that tells Goodreads’ story and highlights its mission, values, and users.
- Contact Page – A new addition with a structured form, map, and contact info to improve communication.
- Book Description Page – A reorganized layout featuring large cover visuals, genre tags, user reviews, and related book suggestions.
These wireframes focus on visual hierarchy, improved CTA placement, and better content grouping for faster user comprehension.
Reflection
This project pushed me to think critically about how a website’s design can support both function and emotion. From UX evaluations to moodboarding and Figma wireframes, I had to draw on many skills I’ve developed over the course—and learn new ones too.
More than anything, this project made me more intentional in my design thinking. I didn’t just want Goodreads to “look better”—I wanted it to feel better, for the people who use it every day.
I'm proud of how it turned out and excited to continue building on these skills for future projects.
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