Smartales
AI-UX SOLUTION DESIGN
We were brought on the Design Buddies x STRATMINDS teams to rapidly come up with a solution for an AI-UX design challenge addressing e-book reader activities between parents and their kids aged between 4 - 9.
Smartales is an educational platform with AI-driven features that innovate the process of finding books to read to children. By leveraging generative AI technology, our solutions aim to shorten the time users spend on searching for desirable contents and create enjoyable reading experiences. Ultimately, Smartales missions are to empower the quality of family bonding time through reading-related activities, and contribute to the positive development of young minds.
We were brought on the Design Buddies x STRATMINDS teams to rapidly come up with a solution for an AI-UX design challenge addressing e-book reader activities between parents and their kids aged between 4 - 9.
Smartales is an educational platform with AI-driven features that innovate the process of finding books to read to children. By leveraging generative AI technology, our solutions aim to shorten the time users spend on searching for desirable contents and create enjoyable reading experiences. Ultimately, Smartales missions are to empower the quality of family bonding time through reading-related activities, and contribute to the positive development of young minds.
We were brought on the Design Buddies x STRATMINDS teams to rapidly come up with a solution for an AI-UX design challenge addressing e-book reader activities between parents and their kids aged between 4 - 9.
Smartales is an educational platform with AI-driven features that innovate the process of finding books to read to children. By leveraging generative AI technology, our solutions aim to shorten the time users spend on searching for desirable contents and create enjoyable reading experiences. Ultimately, Smartales missions are to empower the quality of family bonding time through reading-related activities, and contribute to the positive development of young minds.
My role
My role
Lead UX/UI designer and mentor to design team of 2
Conducted discovery and ideation activities
Rapid prototyping, UI design, Visual Identity design
Lead UX/UI designer and mentor to design team of 2
Conducted discovery and ideation activities
Rapid prototyping, UI design, Visual Identity design
Lead UX/UI designer and mentor to design team of 2
Conducted discovery and ideation activities
Rapid prototyping, UI design, Visual Identity design
Team
Team
Nhi Padgett
Nhi Padgett
Iqbal Rahman H
Iqbal Rahman H
Timeline
Timeline
Dec 2023
Dec 2023
THE GOAL
THE GOAL
Understand the problem
Understand the problem
Many parents find it time-consuming when selecting appropriate and engaging books to read to their children. The reasons vary and not limit to finding the right ones in a vast library of books, or having to read the contents themselves before reading to the kids.
Being brought onto Smartales to help with designing solutions, we realized understanding the project’s existing findings was needed for us to get onboarded with the team. As we learned that the previous interviews were done not thoroughly enough, we decided to quickly conduct extensive research with qualified participants to gain better insights of the problem.
Many parents find it time-consuming when selecting appropriate and engaging books to read to their children. The reasons vary and not limit to finding the right ones in a vast library of books, or having to read the contents themselves before reading to the kids.
Being brought onto Smartales to help with designing solutions, we realized understanding the project’s existing findings was needed for us to get onboarded with the team. As we learned that the previous interviews were done not thoroughly enough, we decided to quickly conduct extensive research with qualified participants to gain better insights of the problem.
User paint points
It is time-consuming for parents to find appropriate and engaging books to read to their children
Hard to find contents that fit both the parents' and the children's comprehensive level
Uncertainty about the contents (appropriate? valuable? etc.) is challenging for parents to make informed decision about what books to choose
User paint points
It is time-consuming for parents to find appropriate and engaging books to read to their children
Hard to find contents that fit both the parents' and the children's comprehensive level
Uncertainty about the contents (appropriate? valuable? etc.) is challenging for parents to make informed decision about what books to choose
An approach for rapid deliverables
An approach for rapid deliverables
Google Venture’s Design Sprint framework was adopted and adjusted for our rapid solution design process, given its effectiveness in streamlining product development. This approach is particularly crucial as we have a tight 7-day timeline for project completion.
To keep our work organized and on track, I created a collaborative Notion page to guide the sprint direction and better assign tasks for both of us. This project plan includes all documentations and any notes we collected during all the phases from Day 1 - 7.
Google Venture’s Design Sprint framework was adopted and adjusted for our rapid solution design process, given its effectiveness in streamlining product development. This approach is particularly crucial as we have a tight 7-day timeline for project completion.
To keep our work organized and on track, I created a collaborative Notion page to guide the sprint direction and better assign tasks for both of us. This project plan includes all documentations and any notes we collected during all the phases from Day 1 - 7.
DAY 1 & 2: DISCOVER AND UNDERSTAND
DAY 1 & 2: DISCOVER AND UNDERSTAND
User Interviews
User Interviews
Started this phase with the goal of recruiting the right participants for our project, I reached out to my social connections as well as professional network. A total of 6 moderated interviews were conducted remotely, with all participants meeting the requirements we set out:
parents that have kids aged approximately between 4 - 9 years old and have a habit of reading books to/with their kids (required)
parents that are interested in finding books to read to/with their kids (optional)
parents that have an intent to try out AI applications (optional)
Started this phase with the goal of recruiting the right participants for our project, I reached out to my social connections as well as professional network. A total of 6 moderated interviews were conducted remotely, with all participants meeting the requirements we set out:
parents that have kids aged approximately between 4 - 9 years old and have a habit of reading books to/with their kids (required)
parents that are interested in finding books to read to/with their kids (optional)
parents that have an intent to try out AI applications (optional)
I often need to find books that match my kids' understanding levels, and sometimes mine too!
Too many children books, thousands of them—it's just not possible to buy everything…
My children insists on me reading to them, but the books they picks aren't my usual choice.
I might know the children books better than my kids (laughs), because I usually need to read the whole story to evaluate its content before reading it to the kids.
Data Synthesis
Data Synthesis
A fitting User Persona
A fitting User Persona
Building upon the findings of a number of emerging themes from the interview data, we created a persona to represent the user groups that were identified as parents who often read books to their children.
Building upon the findings of a number of emerging themes from the interview data, we created a persona to represent the user groups that were identified as parents who often read books to their children.
Goals
• Spend less time finding a great book
• Find books that her children can both understand and enjoy
• Diverse reading tones
• Personalized book recommendation
• Ultimately motivate her children to learn to read
Frustrations
• Has to spend time reading the books before reading to her kids to make sure the contents are appropriate and valuable
• Conflict of interests between the family members when deciding which story to read
• Hard to find books that fit both her, Claire's and Finn's understanding level
Fiona
Fiona
Age:
Occupation:
Location:
Family:
34
Financial Consultant
Boston, MA
Mother of Claire (6 years old) and Finn (4 years old)
Fiona is a full-time financial consultant, who also values family time and early education. She often reads books to her children, before putting them to bed.
Fiona thinks reading to her kids is a good way for them to form a habit of learning and ask questions since early age, at the same time to have a good break from their screentime.
Fiona is a full-time financial consultant, who also values family time and early education. She often reads books to her children, before putting them to bed.
Fiona thinks reading to her kids is a good way for them to form a habit of learning and ask questions since early age, at the same time to have a good break from their screentime.
Goals
• Spend less time finding a great book
• Find books that her children can both understand and enjoy
• Diverse reading tones
• Personalized book recommendation
• Ultimately motivate her children to learn to read
Frustrations
• Has to spend time reading the books before reading to her kids to make sure the contents are appropriate and valuable
• Conflict of interests between the family members when deciding which story to read
• Hard to find books that fit both her, Claire's and Finn's understanding level
Fiona
Age:
Occupation:
Location:
Family:
34
Financial Consultant
Boston, MA
Mother of Claire (6 years old) and Finn (4 years old)
Fiona is a full-time financial consultant, who also values family time and early education. She often reads books to her children, before putting them to bed.
Fiona thinks reading to her kids is a good way for them to form a habit of learning and ask questions since early age, at the same time to have a good break from their screentime.
What could be the Solutions?
Possible Solutions?
How might we provide users features that assist with different comprehension levels?
How might we provide users features that assist with different comprehension levels?
How might we provide users features that assist with different comprehension levels?
How might we create personalized experiences where users can make informed decisions on choosing desirable books?
How might we create personalized experiences where users can make informed decisions on choosing desirable books?
How might we create personalized experiences where users can make informed decisions on choosing desirable books?
How might we reduce the time users spend only to try to assess the contents before reading to their children?
How might we reduce the time users spend only to try to assess the contents before reading to their children?
How might we reduce the time users spend only to try to assess the contents before reading to their children?
How might we make the book discovering phase feel more about family moment-conscious rather than time consumption-conscious?
How might we make the book discovering phase feel more about family moment-conscious rather than time consumption-conscious?
How might we make the book discovering phase feel more about family moment-conscious rather than time consumption-conscious?
DAY 3: MAKE A MAP
DAY 3: MAKE A MAP
User Journey but made-simple and fun
User Journey but made-simple and fun
A visualized version of user journey is made to demonstrate the critical routes users might take in order to achieve their tasks on Smartales, including their interactions with our AI-driven features.
For our persona’s case, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is to explore ways to find books and the end goal is to read books to her children.
A visualized version of user journey is made to demonstrate the critical routes users might take in order to achieve their tasks on Smartales, including their interactions with our AI-driven features.
For our persona’s case, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is to explore ways to find books and the end goal is to read books to her children.
Lightning Demos
Lightning Demos
Having lighting demos to analyze how existing products solve similar problems, we focused on benchmarking against highly rated e-book apps like Blinklist, Kindle, and Bookly.
By closely studying these leading competitors, we aspire to incorporate successful elements into Smartales.
Having lighting demos to analyze how existing products solve similar problems, we focused on benchmarking against highly rated e-book apps like Blinklist, Kindle, and Bookly.
By closely studying these leading competitors, we aspire to incorporate successful elements into Smartales.
Blinklist
Blinklist
Pros
• Intuitive user flow for all users
• User-friendly interface that provides a comfortable user experience
• Concise 15-minute story summaries
• Free daily books
• Easy night/day mode switch
• No mandatory account setup
Cons
• Premium plan is costly
Pros
• Intuitive user flow for all users
• User-friendly interface that provides a comfortable user experience
• Concise 15-minute story summaries
• Free daily books
• Easy night/day mode switch
• No mandatory account setup
Cons
• Premium plan is costly
Kindle
Kindle
Kindle
Pros
• Intuitive user flow suitable for non-tech users
• Syncs seamlessly across multiple devices
• Comprehensive book summaries and descriptions
Cons
• Inability to purchase books directly in-app; redirects to Amazon website
• Occasional overwhelming aspects in certain areas
Pros
• Intuitive user flow suitable for non-tech users
• Syncs seamlessly across multiple devices
• Comprehensive book summaries and descriptions
Cons
• Inability to purchase books directly in-app; redirects to Amazon website
• Occasional overwhelming aspects in certain areas
Bookly
Bookly
Bookly
Pros
• Detailed statistics providing insights into reading habits
• AI Assistant/Chatbox integration
Cons
• Initial difficulty for non-tech-savvy users to grasp navigation
• Overwhelming presence of icons and features, creating a scattered user interface
Pros
• Detailed statistics providing insights into reading habits
• AI Assistant/Chatbox integration
Cons
• Initial difficulty for non-tech-savvy users to grasp navigation
• Overwhelming presence of icons and features, creating a scattered user interface
DAY 4: SKETCH
DAY 4: SKETCH
Rapid ideation
Rapid ideation
To conceptualize possible solutions for our HMWs, we engaged in a Crazy 8’s brainstorming session, each building upon the strongest idea to implement AI functionalities for Smartales.
We also identified our design constraint, and for this case, iPad/Tablet was determined the primary device for e-book readers.
To conceptualize possible solutions for our HMWs, we engaged in a Crazy 8’s brainstorming session, each building upon the strongest idea to implement AI functionalities for Smartales.
We also identified our design constraint, and for this case, iPad/Tablet was determined the primary device for e-book readers.
Fun fact: Crazy8's got its industry standard name since each sketch is given a time limit of 1 minute. Hence, 2 persons, 16 sketches, within 8 minutes in total - crazy, isn't it!
In such fast-pace sprint, we found this method highly effective and engaging, as we learned that the idea was not to polish the drawings, but to quickly imagine and communicate sparks of the solutions.
Fun fact: Crazy8's got its industry standard name since each sketch is given a time limit of 1 minute. Hence, 2 persons, 16 sketches, within 8 minutes in total - crazy, isn't it!
In such fast-pace sprint, we found this method highly effective and engaging, as we learned that the idea was not to polish the drawings, but to quickly imagine and communicate sparks of the solutions.
DAY 5: DECIDE
DAY 5: DECIDE
Elaborating on critical solutions
Elaborating on critical solutions
Since we couldn't prototype and test all the plans within the tight timeline, it was important for us to critique each solution, and decide which ones would have the best chance of achieving our goal.
Incorporating Generative AI into UX has been the corner stone of this project, so we agreed on the pinned sketch being the solution that we would like to explore further. A set of three screens were then created from our chosen solution.
Since we couldn't prototype and test all the plans within the tight timeline, it was important for us to critique each solution, and decide which ones would have the best chance of achieving our goal.
Incorporating Generative AI into UX has been the corner stone of this project, so we agreed on the pinned sketch being the solution that we would like to explore further. A set of three screens were then created from our chosen solution.
Storyboard
Storyboard
The storyboard serves to provide a quick and digestible summary of the most critical flows, which highlight our Generative AI features and emphasize key functionalities that set Smartales apart.
The storyboard serves to provide a quick and digestible summary of the most critical flows, which highlight our Generative AI features and emphasize key functionalities that set Smartales apart.
Given current understanding and life-changing applications of today's large language models (LLMs), all these tasks above are achievable through Generative AI, which is capable of producing existing or new content such as text, voice, or images based on input data provided to the model, or by the datasets used to train and fine-tune the model.
For Smartales case in particular, the input can include various forms of information, such as book contents, audio contents, voice recordings or images.
Given current understanding and life-changing applications of today's large language models (LLMs), all these tasks above are achievable through Generative AI, which is capable of producing existing or new content such as text, voice, or images based on input data provided to the model, or by the datasets used to train and fine-tune the model.
For Smartales case in particular, the input can include various forms of information, such as book contents, audio contents, voice recordings or images.
DAY 6: PROTOTYPE
DAY 6: PROTOTYPE
High-fidelity Prototypes
High-fidelity Prototypes
Having laid out solid plans, we buckled up for Day 6 - Rapid Prototyping time.
Our Hi-fi prototype would focus on showcasing Smartales' three AI-driven features, each of which serves as specific proposed solution to our persona's needs and pain points:
• Summarize: to reduce the time spent on assessing the content of the book
• Audio Customize: to personalize the user's or her children's book listening experience
• Visualize: to provide the visual content of the book, which can enhance comprehension
Having laid out solid plans, we buckled up for Day 6 - Rapid Prototyping time.
Our Hi-fi prototype would focus on showcasing Smartales' three AI-driven features, each of which serves as specific proposed solution to our persona's needs and pain points:
• Summarize: to reduce the time spent on assessing the content of the book
• Audio Customize: to personalize the user's or her children's book listening experience
• Visualize: to provide the visual content of the book, which can enhance comprehension
Visual Identity & Style Guide
Visual Identity & Style Guide
Logo design
Logo design
martales
martales
Design system
Design system
Buttons
Regular state
Regular state
Listen
Read
Enhance
Hovered state
Listen
Read
Enhance
Light mode
Dark mode
Icons
Regular State
Home
Explore
Library
Profile
Pressed State
Home
Explore
Library
Profile
Colors and Accessibility
Colors & Accessibility
#FFFFFF
#323268
#393996
#7575C7
#323268
#E3D8C9
#D6D6EE
#F2EEE8
#FECE2F
Light
Dark
Primary CTAs
Primary Text
Secondary
Accent
Typography
Typography
Metropolis
Metro
polis
Me
tro
polis
Regular
Regular
SemiBold
SemiBold
Heading 1
H1
H1
54 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Heading 2
H2
H2
45 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Heading 3
H3
H3
37 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Heading 4
H4
H4
31 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Heading 5
H5
H5
26 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Title 1
T1
T1
22 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Title 2
T2
T2
18 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Body
15 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
Caption
Caption
Caption
12 px
12 px
12 px
I love reading
Reading
Book
DAY 7: TEST
DAY 7: TEST
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
The final day was all about validation and testing with potential users of our app. I touched base with the same six participants whom I got chances to interview during Day 1, and was able to conduct five moderated usability tests remotely.
Overall, all five participants found the app significantly intuitive and easy to navigate, yet the reactions on AI functionalities varied. For common interactions regarding the UI and app navigations, performance rate was totally error-free. For the AI-related functionalities, I asked participants for their thoughts and interpretations (if applicable) first before asking them to start exploring these features.
Critical Issue
Number of Encounters
Mistaking “Audio Customize” feature for technical adjustments like volume intensity adjustment
Confusion over the purpose of the “Summarize” feature, initially connected it with a “Description of the book”
Suspicion over how accurate and close-to-source the AI-generated contents are, compared to the original content of the literal book
2/5
3/5
3/5
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
What we learned
What we learned
In conclusion, the design sprint challenge dared us to take risks beyond our usual design thinking. Although Smartales only went through a 7-day development process, we take pride in the accomplishments it has achieved.
When building the prototype, our main focus was to make it workable. However, despite being the only one round of tests so far, the early usability testing has delivered us significantly valuable insights on our product's flaws and how feasible certain applications of AI can be.
In conclusion, the design sprint challenge dared us to take risks beyond our usual design thinking. Although Smartales only went through a 7-day development process, we take pride in the accomplishments it has achieved.
When building the prototype, our main focus was to make it workable. However, despite being the only one round of tests so far, the early usability testing has delivered us significantly valuable insights on our product's flaws and how feasible certain applications of AI can be.
What's Next for Smartales
What's Next for Smartales
Through the implementation of Generative AI, Smartales has proposed promising solutions to persistent issues such as time-consuming search, or uncertainties about book contents.
With that said, I look forwards to continuing to expand and develop the project in future sprints. One aspect I’d like to take steps further is how Smartales AI tools might address the concern on finding the right books that serve different comprehension levels.
Through the implementation of Generative AI, Smartales has proposed promising solutions to persistent issues such as time-consuming search, or uncertainties about book contents.
With that said, I look forwards to continuing to expand and develop the project in future sprints. One aspect I’d like to take steps further is how Smartales AI tools might address the concern on finding the right books that serve different comprehension levels.
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