Rabbit: Hop Back Into Reading
Research Study & Lo-Fi App
A human-centered solution that supports readers in completing the books they begin.
Role
UX/UI Researcher
Tools
Canva
Timeline
1 week
Skills
UX Research
Wireframing
The Problem
The challenge: starting books, not finishing them.
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Many readers begin books with excitement but lose momentum
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Causes include digital distractions, busy schedules, and inconsistent habits
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This leads to frustration, guilt, and unread stacks of books
I’m tackling a problem that I personally struggle with—starting books with enthusiasm but often failing to finish them.
By using the Design Thinking framework, my goal is to develop a solution that keeps readers engaged, motivated, and on track to finish the books they start.
The Goal
To solve this problem, I’m applying the Design Thinking process, which is a human-centered approach broken into five key phases:
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Empathize
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Define
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Ideate
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Prototype
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Test
This approach will ensure the solution I create is grounded in real user needs and feedback.
Empathize
Survey
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Designed a survey incorporating multiple choice, rating scales, and short response questions
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Distributed through a QR code in classes and student spaces, encouraging peers and professors to participate
Collected 52 responses, including students, young professionals, and adults.
Interviews
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Conducted 30-minute interviews with 4 individuals, exploring a variety of reading habit-related questions
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Received informed consent to use their responses and quotes, with aliases for confidentiality
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Collected valuable insights from diverse perspectives, enhancing the depth of my research
Results
Top Reasons for Not Finishing Books
*out of 52 responses, participants could select more than one reason
66%
distracted by life or digital noise
44%
lost interest mid-way
32%
forgot where they left off
28%
overwhelmed by obligations
Interview Highlights
*using aliases and stock images
Maya, 20
college student
“I forget where I left off when school gets busy.”
Linda, 58
stay-at-home mother
“I love reading, but it’s hard to stay consistent.”
Jayden, 18
high school student
“School reading makes fun reading feel like work.”
Olivia, 23
data analyst
“I want to read, but I end up scrolling instead.”
Define
Key Pain Points
From the research, I defined four main pain points:
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Too many distractions
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Lack of time
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Forgetting plot details
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Reading feeling like a chore
Based on this, I will create a solution that helps readers overcome these barriers and stay motivated to complete the books they begin.
Proto-Personas
*based on each of my four interviews
Maya, 20
college student
Linda, 58
stay-at-home mother
Jayden, 18
high school student
Olivia, 23
data analyst
Potential App Components
I brainstormed several concepts based on research, pain points, and personas that could address these issues.
The ideas I’m exploring include:
Gentle streak tracking (like Duolingo)
Non-pressuring streak system to encourage consistent reading without stress.
AI-generated chapter recaps
AI-created summaries to quickly review chapters, aiding memory and comprehension.
Reading buddies for light accountability
Pair up with a buddy for casual check-ins and motivation.
Gamified goals and badges
Earn badges and achieve reading milestones through gamified challenges.
Ideate
Prototype
Based on my research, I developed a low-fidelity wireframe prototype for an app to encourage reading.
Introducing Rabbit:
Slogan: Hop back in.
Tagline: The app designed to help you hop back into reading—and finally finish what you start.
With features like My Stack to organize your books, Hop Back In recaps for quick refreshers, Streak Builder for motivation, Reading Buddies for light accountability, and Progress Badges for fun incentives, Rabbit provides everything you need to stay on track and make reading a habit.
Test
User Feedback on Lo-Fi Prototype
✅ “The recap feature is a game-changer for staying on track.”
Jayden, 18
✅ “The buddy system adds a fun & supportive aspect to reading.”
Olivia, 23
⚠️ “Would be helpful to integrate with existing apps like Kindle.”
Linda, 58
⚠️ “Offline reading mode would be great!”
Maya, 20
✅ “Streaks would definitely work on me.”
Maya, 20
Key Takeaways
From this process, I’ve learned that:
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Readers need low-pressure ways to build reading habits
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Recap tools help overcome memory barriers
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Accountability is best when it’s soft and optional
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Playful concept makes it more engaging
Looking ahead, I can:
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Build a high-fidelity prototype
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Integrate Rabbit with popular reading apps like Kindle and Libby
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Expand avatar customization for personal motivation
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A/B test different motivational styles
Rabbit has the potential to change how we approach reading, making it more accessible, engaging, and ultimately helping readers finish what they start.