Project Context:
Responsibilities:
Visual Design, Brand Design, UI/UX
Timeline:
8 weeks
Quory's Vision
Welcome to the Quory creative community! A mobile app and a social network designed exclusively for writers and hobbyists. This app is the perfect platform to explore short stories and poems from many aspiring and creative writers.
Problem + Opportunity
Writing on your own can be challenging to navigate without access to community, support, and guidance writers need to grow. Finding a supportive community of fellow writers to share work with and get feedback from can be difficult for our average user.
Design a platform where writers can connect, share work, and receive feedback in a welcoming and supportive community empowering writers to improve their skills and achieve their writing goals.
The Process
Research
Understanding my users
There aren't many spaces designed for writers to connect, build a following, AND work on their craft.
During my research phase of development, I focused on determining what resources common writers use to connect with each other, what are their pain points with creating stories and poems, and how they currently interact with the platforms they use now.
During my research phase of development, I focused on determining what resources common writers use to connect with each other, what are their pain points with creating stories and poems, and how they currently interact with the platforms they use now.
I conducted surveys to see the following:
• what writers use to ... well write (haha)
• are writers comfortable with sharing their work
• do writers currently share their work consistently with others
• is writer's block a consistent problem
• are writers comfortable with sharing their work
• do writers currently share their work consistently with others
• is writer's block a consistent problem
I also conducted user interviews to gain more insight and to have users interact with an older conceptual mockup.
This is the question guide I used to conduct these interviews:
This is the question guide I used to conduct these interviews:
• Are you a writer or someone who enjoys reading short stories and poems? If so, can you describe your experience using social media platforms or other writing apps for your writing or reading activities?
• What do you find most frustrating about your current experience when it comes to sharing your writing with others or reading content from other writers?
• How important is community engagement for you as a writer or reader? What do you think that would like on a platform?
• How do you think this app could support the growth of aspiring writers? What kind of tools or resources would be helpful to have on this platform?
• Are there any challenges or pain points that you anticipate encountering when using this app as a writer or reader? How do you think these challenges can be overcome?
• What kind of content would you like to read or write on this app? Are there any particular genres or themes that interest you?
• What features or functionalities would you like to see in a social network or writing app that is specifically designed for writers?
• How do you think this app can stand out from other social media platforms or writing apps that exist in the market? What unique features or functionalities can this app offer to its users?
Wireframes and Iterations
I started to think about how the content should be structured. I created some paper wireframes that considered features and desires my users talked about during their interviews and translated the ideas into medium-fidelity designs in Figma.
The Design
Key Themes
Through various conversations with users and rounds of usability testing, I was able to determine 4 main themes that were desired for this platform and incorporated them into the final design solution.
Connection with other writers | Discover stories that inspire their craft | Support to aid in improving skills | Ability to share their work
Connect With Fellow Writers
Quory provides a welcoming and supportive community for writers of all levels to connect and grow together.
Discover Inspiring Stories
On this platform aspiring and creative writers and hobbyists can explore short stories and poems from other writers and discover their next favorite writer or piece of writing with ease. Quories get featured daily on the platform's Discover and Search pages.
Writing Tips and Support
This app offers writing tips to help users elevate their craft. And with the daily prompt feature, writers can make steady progress toward their writing goals. And by connecting with others users can get feedback on their writing.
Share Their Writing
Users now have a platform specifically designed to showcase their writing talent and creativity. Quory's user-friendly interface makes it easy to upload and share your work with other writers and readers.
Visual Identity
Basic Design System
My Reflections
The Impact
In a final focus group, users reported that the daily writing prompts and access to a community of supportive writers made them feel like they could finally overcome writer's block and push themselves to create new and exciting work.
If I had more time
In future iterations of this product, I'm excited to explore new opportunities for cultivating a platform where writers can grow and thrive:
• Further explore the boundaries or opportunities to provide writers with writing tips and prompts, so writers can hone their skills and explore new creative avenues
• Add more flexibility in discovering new Quories that allow users to search for them based on their preferred genres, topics, and formats. Giving users more control over their Quory discovery experience may make it easier for writers to find the perfect Quory to inspire their next masterpiece.
• Consider ways writers can collaborate on quories
• Add more flexibility in discovering new Quories that allow users to search for them based on their preferred genres, topics, and formats. Giving users more control over their Quory discovery experience may make it easier for writers to find the perfect Quory to inspire their next masterpiece.
• Consider ways writers can collaborate on quories
