bringing connection & conversation to audiobooks
Problem
Traditionally, social media has taken the form of 1-to-many, prioritizing performance & external expression over meaningful connection.
How might we shape a social experience that is richer and more intimate, creating digital space for sincere conversation and genuine knowing amongst friends?
Solution
'Read together' brings dimension to the audiobook experience, fostering fruitful conversations over literature on-platform. Built upon our existing audiobook experience, 'RT' introduces a bookclub-like layer, fostering the exchange of ideas & evolution of thought within curated, friendly communities.
Built upon the principles of the shared playlists, 'Read together' groups are invite-only & capped at 10, a curated community where readers can engage in sincere conversation over literature
'RT' brings the everyday user into a more central role on-platform - for the first time, enabling them to really engage with peers. Such paves the way for future opportunities surrounding social discovery, curation, & more
Giving the users meaningful voice voice in intimate environment, 'RT' posits a new, more empowered role for users on social platforms - establishing a space for expression & community in an otherwise consumption-driven social media landscape
With intention towards making discussion easy, 'RT' features a number of ways to share your option & join the conversation
It's easy to take forever to finish a book - 'RT' leverages the power of positive social pressure, sharing progress + unlocking commentary along the way to encourage readers to keep going while having fun along the way
A new type of digital environment, focused on engaging with few not many
A wide range of tools to encourage conversation however you like best
The momentum of co-reading & conversations keeps readers on track
Commentary is layered into the audiobook experience, minimizing entropy
Select from a range of co-readers, friends + public figures who've read before
Social experience focuses less on the community hub, & more on the conversation
Community grows richer over time, without the need to re-invite per book
Content unlocked at scheduled points + with reading progress
Low-Mid-High surface integration range proposed to test utilization
Built as a tab hub within audiobooks to lend the real-estate for evolution
Club admin control club visibility, whether semi-public, or invite only
Can support a range of component types, to test ideal level of complexity
Witness the groups reading progress as comments and discussions are added
No spoilers! Comments & reactions stay hidden until scheduled drop dates
Over time, commentary grows into rich accessible diary of thought + memory
1.
HMW create additional value for users on Spotify beyond personalized listening?
2.
HMW foster connections between our users that feel meaningful & delightful?
Create a social experience that is focused on connection & conversation, not output & performance
Our experience should encouraged quality connection with few over many, and safeguards against network bloat
Our social experience should integrate into current user behavior + desires, not radically changing Spotify's purpose
1.
Users are expected to generate the content themselves
2.
contributions are public, but response is not guaranteed
3.
Humans can only maintain so many quality connections at once
We started our creative exploration by brainstorming solutions that would fit into each of the following buckets of the matrix illustrated below, thinking of ways we might build upon natural solutions already existing within our ecosystem.
Collaborated with Eric & Barton in two-week sprint to design & prototype concepts for Spotify's first venture into on-platform social
I, specifically, owned the designs for our audiobook concepts
We delivered 4 social pitches, inclusive of bookclubs, which were used by Eric in conversations with leadership to drive conversations around social strategy
[Decisions non-public]
Eric Boam • Director of Product Design
Barton Smith • Senior Staff Product Designer
Design thinking & strategy
Mobile UX/UI in Figma
Rapid prototyping
Storytelling
