Speechify Books
Crafting an immersive audiobook listening experience
Crafting an immersive audiobook listening experience
Crafting an immersive audiobook listening experience
Overview
Speechify is a company that leverages voice AI to create tools, including Text-to-Speech Reader, Speechify AI Studio, and Audiobooks. The Speechify Books project aimed to leverage the success of Speechify’s existing text-to-speech reader to enter the audiobook market, enhancing accessibility and convenience for users.
Speechify is a company that leverages voice AI to create tools, including Text-to-Speech Reader, Speechify AI Studio, and Audiobooks. The Speechify Books project aimed to leverage the success of Speechify’s existing text-to-speech reader to enter the audiobook market, enhancing accessibility and convenience for users.
Team
1 Product Manager
4 Engineers
1 Product Designer
1 Product Manager
4 Engineers
1 Product Designer
Role
As the sole designer on the Speechify books team, I led all design efforts. My role covered various end-to-end responsibilities, including mapping out the UX architecture for the core user flow, crafting UI designs, iterating on concepts based
on feedback, and developing interactive prototypes for user testing and team discussions.
As the sole designer on the Speechify books team, I led all design efforts and handled various end-to-end responsibilities, including mapping out the UX architecture for the core user flow, crafting UI designs, iterating on concepts based on feedback, and developing interactive prototypes for user testing and team discussions.
Business goals
Expand market reach
Expand market reach
Leverage the success of Speechify’s existing text-to-speech reader to enter the growing audiobook market, attracting new users.
Monetization
Monetization
Generate new revenue streams through a subscription model, in-app purchases, and partnerships with publishers and authors.
Brand positioning
Brand positioning
Position Speechify as a leader in innovative reading solutions by providing a unique, high-quality user experience.
To first introduce the audiobook feature, we implemented an integration that allows users to connect their Kindle accounts. This provided users with immediate value by transforming their existing Kindle libraries into audiobooks, without Speechify needing to maintain its own extensive book library. To further enrich the offering, we included a selection of public domain books, ensuring users had access to a broad range of content right from the start.
To first introduce the audiobook feature, we implemented an integration that allows users to connect their Kindle accounts. This provided users with immediate value by transforming their existing Kindle libraries into audiobooks, without Speechify needing to maintain its own extensive book library. To further enrich the offering, we included a selection of public domain books, ensuring users had access to a broad range of content right from the start.
We made the switch from a tab bar to a bottom navigation bar to provide easier access to the apps' core features and make it easier to switch between sections. This also aligned with common design patterns in other mobile apps and ensured a more familiar experience for users.
We made the switch from a tab bar to a bottom navigation bar to provide easier access to the apps' core features and make it easier to switch between sections. This also aligned with common design patterns in other mobile apps and ensured a more familiar experience for users.
As Speechify's design system evolved to include dark mode, I decided to transition to utilising dark mode. My rationale being that the darker background allowed the vibrant colors and intricate details of the book covers to stand out more prominently, creating a visually striking experience.
As Speechify's design system evolved to include dark mode, I decided to transition
to utilising dark mode. My rationale being that the darker background allowed the vibrant colors and intricate details of the book covers to stand out more prominently, creating a visually striking experience.
Personalizing the book discovery experience
As the audiobook feature gained traction, the next strategic move was to onboard the five major publishing houses to significantly enhance the library’s offerings. With this move, one of the things we tackled was enhancing the book discovery experience for our users. I explored and tested several ideas with our users to improve the book discover experience.
As the audiobook feature gained traction, the next strategic move was to onboard the five major publishing houses to significantly enhance the library’s offerings. With this move, one of the things we tackled was enhancing the book discovery experience for our users. I explored and tested several ideas with our users to improve the book discover experience.
Introducing the immersive experience
We introduced immersive listening to allow users read and listen to audiobooks simultaneously. This dual-mode approach mode approach aimed to make the content more accessible and enjoyable. I used clear visual cues to enhance user navigation and help users quickly identify immersive content at a glance. Immersive samples also allowed users to experience the combination of reading and listening before committing to a purchase.
We introduced immersive listening to allow users read and listen to audiobooks simultaneously. This dual-mode approach mode approach aimed to make the content more accessible and enjoyable.
I used clear visual cues to enhance user navigation and help users quickly identify immersive content at a glance. Immersive samples also allowed users to experience the combination of reading and listening before committing to a purchase.
Communicating subscription model
I used a credit status chip to provide users with a quick, at-a-glance view of their current credit balance to easily track credit status. The chip also expands into
a modal when tapped to provide detailed information about the user's subscription. This helped to improve user understanding and management of their subscription
With the audiobook feature now an app of its own, the primary challenge was to improve user understanding and management of the subscription model.
I added a credit status chip to provide users with a quick, at-a-glance view
of their current credit balance to easily track credit status. The chip also expands into a modal when tapped to provide detailed information about the user's subscription, including remaining credits, and what their subscription plan included.
Accommodating Audio-Only content
Being a text to speech reader, Speechify didn’t account for audio-only content. The integration of audio-only audiobooks from publishing partners, meant we needed to ensure that the listening experience accounted for the new content format. I iterated on several ideas tailored to the audio-only experience.
Being a text to speech reader, Speechify didn’t account for audio-only content. The integration of audio-only audiobooks from publishing partners, meant we needed to ensure that the listening experience accounted for the new content format. I iterated on several ideas tailored to the audio-only experience.
Extras from the app
Bundle Africa
Introducing users to advanced trading tools, with a focus on user education
Introducing users to advanced trading tools,
with a focus on user education
View project