Balancing gamification and concise insights for seamless user engagement with classic literature.
Type
Personal Project
Engaging challenges, insights, and progress tracking for difficult books.
Case Study Goal
Project Overview
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Project Overview 〰️
Classic books often lose readers' interest. Readio uses gamification to keep you engaged with key insights in bite-sized pieces, making literature an exciting journey, not a challenge.
Using gamified, step-by-step
approaches to set clear short-term goals.
Rewards and progress tracking to encourage ongoing user engagement.
PROBLEM
Someone eager to learn more
Why is it so hard to remember what I read or even finish a book?
A lover of knowledge
What makes people feel burdened when reading difficult books?
Before Reading
PROBLEM
Many struggle to start reading due to too many book choices, the complexity of classics, and busy schedules limiting their time.
During Reading
Social media distractions and lack of context lead to loss of focus, causing 50% of books to be abandoned midway.
After Reading
Readers forget up to 80% of content within weeks, missing chances for reflection and discussion, which reduces long-term engagement.
User Interview Insights
Q
Tell me about your reading habits: Do you enjoy classics? Does background help, and do you prefer paper or e-books? Would tracking, quizzes, or discussions motivate you?
Enjoys classics and prefers paper books, but likes the idea of gamified features to stay motivated.
Aaron | Developer, 27 yrs
Passionate about learning classics; values background knowledge and prefers paper books. Interested in community discussions.
Brian | Music college student, 29 yrs
Reads less often, appreciates background context for classics, and finds e-books convenient. Likes progress tracking.
Kyounghun | Biology researcher, 27 yrs
Reads infrequently; open to classics with guidance, prefers e-books, and is interested in quizzes to boost motivation.
Wonsuk | Army sergeant, 28 yrs
Curious about classics but finds them complex; prefers e-books and would benefit from community discussions to stay engaged.
Sarah | Marketing consultant, 30 yrs
Pain points & Goals
Identifying Key Pain Points and Goals for Readio Through Research
After interviews, observing and surveying customer behavior in the classic literature sections of three bookstores (surveying a total of 41 people), and conducting reference research, we identified two key pain points and goals for Readio.
Pain point
Loss of Motivation and Engagement During Reading
Pain point
Difficulty Understanding and Retaining Knowledge
Goal
Use gamified progress tracking and bite-sized insights to keep users engaged and motivated throughout.
Goal
Provide context-rich summaries, quizzes, and community discussions to improve comprehension and long-term retention.
Feature Matrix
Are the current apps on the market meeting these users' expectations?
Not Really.
Mission Statement of Readio
To inspire a lifelong love for classic literature by making reading engaging, accessible, and achievable. Readio transforms reading into an enjoyable journey through gamification, bite-sized learning, and community-driven reflection, empowering users to complete books, improve comprehension, and retain knowledge.
This case study will focus on the following points.
Gamification, bite-sized learning
So, what do other gamification apps do?
Progress Tracking and Streaks
Many apps, like Duolingo, use streaks and progress bars to show users how far they've come, motivating them to keep going daily.
Rewards and Points
Many apps offer points, rewards, or in-app currency for completed tasks (e.g., StepBet or Fitbit). These points can be redeemed for perks, creating a tangible sense of accomplishment.
Levels and Achievements
Apps such as Habitica and Headspace have levels, badges, or achievements that reward users for reaching certain milestones, encouraging users to accomplish specific goals.
Personalized Challenges and Goals
Apps like MyFitnessPal let users set individual goals, tailoring the experience to their specific objectives, which helps maintain interest.
Leaderboards and Social Interaction
Fitness and learning apps like Strava or QuizUp offer leaderboards, allowing users to compete with others. This creates a sense of community and friendly competition.
Target Audience & User Persona
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This demographic values personal growth and intellectual engagement but often struggles with limited reading time due to work and life commitments. Additionally, frequent digital distractions tend to reduce their ability to focus deeply on longer texts. Readio's bite-sized insights help them efficiently engage with classic literature. (Source: The Guardian)
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Many students encounter classic literature academically but find it challenging to fully appreciate these works without historical or cultural context. Studies show that students have increasing difficulty with long-form reading in the digital age. Readio aids in making these texts more approachable and enjoyable by providing relevant background information. (Source: The Times)
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This group is motivated by self-improvement through meaningful reading, yet the length and complexity of classic works can feel overwhelming, especially amid digital distractions. Readio’s structured, contextual approach aligns with their desire to engage with classics in a more profound way.
(Source: Emerald Insight) -
Frequent digital interruptions make it hard for this audience to maintain focus on long texts. Research highlights the impact of digital distractions on sustained reading and learning. Readio’s concise and engaging content helps users build consistency in reading classics, making these works more accessible and enjoyable. (Source: Springer Link)
"Progress over perfection."
Emily Cho (28)
Master’s in HCI / UX Researcher in Bay Area
Challenge
Often abandons books midway and forgets key points, aligning with the 80% knowledge loss trend.
Persona Traits
Curious, goal-oriented, easily distracted, focused on self-improvement, seeks motivation.
Pain Point
Struggles to finish books, especially classics, due to distractions and limited time.
Goal
Overcome distractions to complete books and retain knowledge.
What she want?
How Emily Stays Motivated with Readio’s Gamified Approach
Quick Progress
Completes bite-sized goals during her commute or lunch to stay consistent.
Retention Tools
Uses summaries and quizzes to remember key points and reduce knowledge loss.
Engaging Reminders
Receives gentle prompts and rewards for staying on track.
Social Motivation
Engages with leaderboards or friend challenges for motivation and a sense of community.
Task Flow
Emily Want to Registering a Challenge and Starting a Book
Goal: User registers a book as a challenge, tracks progress, and receives tailored content.
Guide Users to Start: Focused Challenge Start CTA with Clear Hierarchical Structure on Main Screen
Minimize Settings and Options per Page: Enhance User Comfort While Maintaining Customization Ease
Motivate Participation by Displaying Upcoming Rewards and Stacks to Highlight Current Progress
Implement a Familiar Game-Style Stage Selection UI for Easy User Navigation
Motivate Users by Displaying Progress and Rewards
Final Design
Progress Bar: Enable Users to Effortlessly Track Their Reading Progress
Ensure Readability in Mobile by Limiting Content to 8 Lines per Page, Reducing User Overload
Streaked Motivation: Boosting User Engagement through Layered Gamification
Place a Thumb-Reachable Search Bar: Optimizing Ease of Access for Comfortable Navigation
Display Large Book Covers: Simplify Book Selection to Avoid Information Overload
Use Confirmation Overlay Pop-Ups: Provide Detailed Info to Prevent Accidental Book Selection
Provide an Initial Sense of Achievement: Allow Users to Review and Confirm Their Settings
Provide Concise Summaries and Chapter Highlights to Reinforce Knowledge and Encourage Engagement
Visualize Information to Allow Users to Absorb Content Easily and Achieve Readio’s Goals Seamlessly
Boost Motivation with Friendly Phrases to Create a Companionable Reading Experience with the App
Utilize Button Hierarchy to Encourage Continuous User Engagement
Takeaway
Key Learnings
Balancing Engagement & Learning: Gamified elements like reading challenges and interactive quizzes motivate users without overwhelming them.
Importance of Simplicity: A minimalistic design makes the experience approachable, allowing users to focus on the content without distractions.
Community Engagement: Encouraging meaningful interaction among users requires thoughtful integration of discussion spaces without making it feel forced.
Areas for Growth
Seamless Flow: I need to refine how learning and interaction integrate naturally without interrupting the user experience.
Personalization: There's potential to better tailor the app to individual users’ preferences, which requires deeper research into adaptive learning.