Maple App
Maple App
Maple App
Improving Online Comics Experience via Tailored Viewing
Improving Online Comics Experience via Tailored Viewing
Improving Online Comics Experience via Tailored Viewing
Maple
Maple offers a fresh approach to discovering digital comics for readers and content creators alike. The platform is centered around user-curated comics as the primary content and I spearheaded the end-to-end design process - from user research and product strategy to interaction design, visual design, and branding.
I collaborated with another developer and a product manager to balance the technical aspects of the product with the business, design, and legal aspects that come with digital content licensing.
Maple
Maple offers a fresh approach to discovering digital comics for readers and content creators alike. The platform is centered around user-curated comics as the primary content and I spearheaded the end-to-end design process - from user research and product strategy to interaction design, visual design, and branding.
I collaborated with another developer and a product manager to balance the technical aspects of the product with the business, design, and legal aspects that come with digital content licensing.
Team
Me - UX Designer
Alex Lee - Software Engineer
Lori Huang - Product Manager
Team
Me - UX Designer
Alex Lee - Software Engineer
Lori Huang - Product Manager
Timeline
September ~November 2022
Timeline
September ~November 2022
Tools
Figma, Miro, and Google Suite
Tools
Figma, Miro, and Google Suite
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Online comic viewing experience is becoming more limiting.
There are several reasons for the decline and it can be attributed to the following:
Declining Sales: Publishers have struggled to find new readers, while retailers have faced challenges in staying profitable.
Market Saturation: With so many comics and graphic novels being released every year, it can be difficult for readers to keep up.
Creative Stagnation: Some critics argue that the comic industry has become too focused on nostalgia and rehashing old stories, rather than pushing the medium forward with new and innovative ideas.
Monopoly of Major Publishers: The industry is dominated by a small number of major publishers, who have the power to dictate the direction of the industry.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Online comic viewing experience is becoming more limiting.
There are several reasons for the decline and it can be attributed to the following:
Declining Sales: Publishers have struggled to find new readers, while retailers have faced challenges in staying profitable.
Market Saturation: With so many comics and graphic novels being released every year, it can be difficult for readers to keep up.
Creative Stagnation: Some critics argue that the comic industry has become too focused on nostalgia and rehashing old stories, rather than pushing the medium forward with new and innovative ideas.
Monopoly of Major Publishers: The industry is dominated by a small number of major publishers, who have the power to dictate the direction of the industry.
SOLUTION
Shared online platform for discovery based on subscription.
SOLUTION
Shared online platform for discovery based on linked artist is the key.
WHITE PAPER MARKET RESEARCH
Tailored experience and accessibility is the key
Starting with white paper research, I began to draw from research articles on the topic of webtoon, online readings, and comics when I stumbled upon an eye-opening excerpt from BusinessWire:
“Increasing popularity of smartphones has led to a rise in number of online comics viewers as they can easily view their favorite webtoons on their smartphones — but conglomerates like Amazon has monopolized the medium”
WHITE PAPER MARKET RESEARCH
Tailored experience and accessibility is the key
Starting with white paper research, I began to draw from research articles on the topic of webtoon, online readings, and comics when I stumbled upon an eye-opening excerpt from BusinessWire:
“Increasing popularity of smartphones has led to a rise in number of online comics viewers as they can easily view their favorite webtoons on their smartphones — but conglomerates like Amazon has monopolized the medium”
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS + THE GAP
The competition lacks tailored experience and multi-interactivity
After analyzing the five most popular apps related to online comics, I discovered that none of them offered a feature where users could receive tailored recommendations based on their viewing habits. This presented an opportunity for my solution.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS + THE GAP
The competition lacks tailored experience and multi-interactivity
After analyzing the five most popular apps related to online comics, I discovered that none of them offered a feature where users could receive tailored recommendations based on their viewing habits. This presented an opportunity for my solution.
USER INTERVIEWS
My interviewees were 4x more likely to use the platform when there are multiple ways to interact and have individualized experience.
Users want to find content that is new, insightful, and interesting. But they can’t because many of the competitors limits exploration and the contents being either being subscription based or need to be purchased demotivates the users from continuing on with the platform.
PAIN POINTS
Lack of accessibility to contents to try them out
Trial and errors to find relevant content
Unable to assess content prior to either subscribing or purchasing
Single mode interactivity - limited ways of viewing and consuming the content
USER INTERVIEWS
My interviewees were 4x more likely to use the platform when there are multiple ways to interact and have individualized experience.
Users want to find content that is new, insightful, and interesting. But they can’t because many of the competitors limits exploration and the contents being either being subscription based or need to be purchased demotivates the users from continuing on with the platform.
PAIN POINTS
Lack of accessibility to contents to try them out
Trial and errors to find relevant content
Unable to assess content prior to either subscribing or purchasing
Single mode interactivity - limited ways of viewing and consuming the content
MAIN INSIGHT
Exploration feature was too broad rather than being specific.
Based on the trends in my competitive feature analysis, users prefer onboarding experiences that help them easily navigate their desired genre and provide multiple ways to interact with the content. Audible's approach serves as a good example. When users are presented with random comics, they are more likely to leave the site rather than to stay and explore, as they can find copied or illicit versions on other platforms.
MAIN INSIGHT
Exploration feature was too broad rather than being specific.
Based on the trends in my competitive feature analysis, users prefer onboarding experiences that help them easily navigate their desired genre and provide multiple ways to interact with the content. Audible's approach serves as a good example. When users are presented with random comics, they are more likely to leave the site rather than to stay and explore, as they can find copied or illicit versions on other platforms.
KEY SOLUTION ELEMENTS
Combine online comic experiences and storytelling
After assessing impact and feasibility, we decided to address the issue of online comics discovery and exploration by proposing a solution that involves user-curated comics distribution based on relevancy, recommendations, and sub-features such as quick view.
KEY SOLUTION ELEMENTS
Combine online comic experiences and storytelling
After assessing impact and feasibility, we decided to address the issue of online comics discovery and exploration by proposing a solution that involves user-curated comics distribution based on relevancy, recommendations, and sub-features such as quick view.
KEY TAKE AWAYS
Exploration via Daily Recommendation
Based on secondary research, over 88% of viewers only stick to 2-3 topics. The most popular ones were: most viewed, short clips, and new chapters.
Our primary user research showed that over 5/8 people choose comics based on artists work who interest and inspire them.
KEY TAKE AWAYS
Exploration via Daily Recommendation
Based on secondary research, over 88% of viewers only stick to 2-3 topics. The most popular ones were: most viewed, short clips, and new chapters.
Our primary user research showed that over 5/8 people choose comics based on artists work who interest and inspire them.
TESTING + IMPROVEMENTS
3 major improvements in my design
Based on various feedback from usability testing and mentor feedback, we continually iterated on my design over the span of four weeks, with three major improvements.
Homepage Experience
Continuity
Discovery based on Past Searches and History
TESTING + IMPROVEMENTS
3 major improvements in my design
Based on various feedback from usability testing and mentor feedback, we continually iterated on my design over the span of four weeks, with three major improvements.
Homepage Experience
Continuity
Discovery based on Past Searches and History
FUTURE SCOPE
With more time, I would prioritize refining the identified aspects to ensure a more comprehensive and adaptable solution that covers a broader range of scenarios beyond our current discussions. This future exploration aims to address any remaining issues and enhance the solution's overall effectiveness.
FUTURE SCOPE
With more time, I would prioritize refining the identified aspects to ensure a more comprehensive and adaptable solution that covers a broader range of scenarios beyond our current discussions. This future exploration aims to address any remaining issues and enhance the solution's overall effectiveness.
Check out my other projects
Check out my other projects
