CLIENT
Dreamwriters
INDUSTRY
Education
Creativity tool (Storytelling)
TIMELINE
Mar 2022 - May 2024
PLATFOM
Responsive Web-based
Project Overview
Dreamwriters is an online platform fostering creativity in young children by enabling them to write and design their own illustrated storybooks.
I contributed to enhancing the user experience by improving the signup process, developing a child-friendly, interactive drag-and-drop storybook editor, and streamlining the checkout process, resulting in a more intuitive and enjoyable experience for young users and their families.
How might we create a storytelling experience for young children that is intuitive, engaging, and easy to use?
CHALLENGES
The platform was difficult for young children to use independently due to unclear instructions and broken functionality.
The confusing and unengaging platform resulted in a 90% user abandonment rate after the first try.
KEY DESIGN ACHIEVEMENTS
Conducted user interviews and usability tests with current users and their parents to discover valuable insights into their needs and pain points.
Streamline the signup and checkout process by reducing unnecessary steps and fields to enhance user engagement and boost conversions.
Improve platform navigation by using simpler words and visual cues for a more intuitive experience, allowing young children to use it independently.
Designed a user-friendly drag-and-drop storybook editor lets users customize backgrounds, characters, stickers, and colors. A built-in "My Story Planner" tool provides guidance and prompts to overcome creative blocks.
A gamified experience with daily missions rewards users with in-app currency for avatar customization, challenge progression, and community engagement.
Collaborative storytelling and peer sharing build community and inspire creativity on the platform.
OUTCOME & IMPACT
User feedback overwhelmingly praised the redesigned Dreamwriters platform as significantly more child-friendly,
The redesign resulted in a 35% increase in active users and a 22.3% decrease in churn rate.
Key Findings from Initial Usability Testing and User Interviews
Based on testing & interviews with four mother-child pairs, our user journey map points to the need for a simpler app and easier processes. Kids struggled to use the app independently, and parents found sign-up and checkout too complicated.
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Usability and Engagement Enhancements
We completely overhauled the platform, making navigation super easy to use.
Then, we iterated on the information architecture and new features, adding fun gamification and helpful writing tools to really boost engagement.
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Interactive Dashboard for Insights
Diving deeper into each feature, we will consider various user flows for both subscribers and free users.
The goal is to ensure intuitive navigation and seamless experience across all features, particularly for children.
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Usability Testing
To confirm the new design's effectiveness, we conducted additional usability testing with current users to gather feedback on its ease of use and enjoyment.
The positive feedback noted that the design is now much more truly child-friendly.
Child-friendly, Simplified Navigation
To address the challenge of complex navigation, the main page has been redesigned with simpler and more straightforward language, along with large visual cues like buttons. This will create a more intuitive and child-friendly experience.
Get Start with Step-by-step Guide
Users can easily find the ideal book template with our intuitive, step-by-step guide, which walks them through each decision point.
Overcome Writer's Block & Create Amazing Stories
An intuitive drag-and-drop book editor allows users to unleash their creativity, offering flexibility to customize layouts, positions, and backgrounds. The built-in "My Story Planner" tool provides guidance and prompts to help users improve their writing skills and overcome creative blocks. Parents and teachers can give feedback and track progress.
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Gamified Rewards for Creative Engagement
This gamified reward system enhances user engagement by encouraging story creation and community interactions.
Users earn in-app currency to unlock stickers for their storybooks and personalise their avatars, fostering a fun and rewarding creative experience.
Faster, Easier Signup & Checkout
We've significantly improved the signup and checkout experience by minimising steps and fields. This results in a faster, more efficient, and ultimately more enjoyable process for users.
Improved User Journey in Dreamwriters
A holistic approach to UX improvement in Dreamwriters has streamlined navigation, book creation, and community interaction. This journey map illustrates the optimised user journey.
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Applying UX methodologies to the storybook editor was rewarding, and exploring gamification highlighted its potential to enhance engagement beyond traditional game contexts by creating clear, enjoyable, and goal-oriented user experiences.
This project successfully showcased the importance of clear visuals and simple language in UX design, particularly for younger users, greatly enhancing their comprehension and engagement. Although there is always room for further simplification for younger audiences, the project effectively addressed the challenges posed by changing business requirements, leading to a functional and user-friendly design.
Prioritising clear information architecture and minimizing cognitive load proved crucial for accessibility and usability.
