Designed by bookclubs, for bookclubs.
We started by surveying 70+ ideal users as the foundation for our brand & product strategy. In addition to distilling these responses we completed a comprehensive market teardown and SWOT analysis of book organization platforms such as; Goodreads, Bookclubz, Fable, The Lounge, BookClub, Book Movement, and Book Clubs. Additionally, non-book specific products being used as a communication tool (such as Slack, Instagram, and Facebook) were taken into consideration.
The result was a series of must-haves and solutions that readers were looking for. This allowed us to crystalize a product strategy and roadmap for development.
Brand Development
Responsible for Quinn’s brand & marketing, I started by developing a brand system from the ground up. This included naming, identity design, art direction, and messaging.
The name ‘Quinn’ comes from the idea of a main character. Someone who both shares and listens to stories. Someone you can trust, a safe, gender-neutral space to connect and discuss. Creating this persona gave the brand a warm, humanistic feel as opposed to feeling like a tool. The name also stands out against the competition, favoring plays on the word ‘bookclub’ or other literary devices.
The results was a brand identity that felt like the smell of opening a new library book, the coziness of a reading nook—of friendship rooted in storytelling.
Product Strategy
Market research and user testing identified common pain points and desires that informed Quinn’s primary features. My co-founder, Chelsea Chappell, was responsible for leading Quinn’s product experience and visual design. Together we conceptualized the key features below.
Clubhouse
Each group has their own Clubhouse where they connect and conduct club business all in one place.
Users can update their personal progress, vote for the next read, or pin discussions to utilize IRL at the next meet.
Bookmark
To unlock chapters and leave comments, readers must update their bookmark with their most recent progress.
Low engagement users only have to update their chapter to continue, while more engaged readers have the ability to add more granular detail.
Chapter Gatekeeping
Readers must log progress in order to see or leave comments, so they can interact with other members at their desired pace. No more waiting until the end of the month to see what your friends think about that insane plot twist, and no spoilers. Ever.
Democratic Voting
A large feedback from the discovery phase, was a club member’s need to care about the next book being read.
To solve for this, every reader in the club gets one recommendation and one vote; the chosen book selected by winning demand.
Quinn is currently in development
For more information or investment inquiries, please contact: readwithquinn@gmail.com