Reader Tools

>

How can we offer a service that improves the reading & annotative experience of PDFs on mobile devices?

PDF documents are not naturally suited for responsive design, which is crucial for mobile experiences. To address this, we initially developed a minimum viable product (MVP) aimed at meeting our users' basic requirements for improved text accessibility from our collection of PDFs.

As we progressed, we refined and expanded this MVP based on user feedback, transforming it into a comprehensive tool. This enhanced product now offers a wide range of functionalities, catering to the evolving needs of our users.

Team Composition

2 Android Engineers
2 iOS Engineers
1 Product Manager
1 Engineering Manager
1 Data Scientist
1 Product Designer

Results

Resize (later renamed ‘Reader Tools’) launched. Performing at roughly 400 upgrades a month.

Sifting out User Needs

For a while, we had been aware that improving the reading experience of PDFs on mobile screens has been a very strong user need. However, due to the difficulty of PDF objects, creating a custom solution was too expensive…until we found PDF Tron. This technology allowed us to re-render PDFs in our app as native text. And, it came with a bunch of other technologies that we could custom tailor into a robust product experience.

1st Iteration: MVP

TEAM Goal

Build initial MVP version of Reader Tools, guerrilla test for usability and interaction issues.

Guerilla UX Testing

Usability testing…with gift cards

illy Caffè, 220 Montgomery

Equipped with a prototype from my engineers, I went downstairs to the nearest cafe and asked patrons to work through our prototype to uncover various gaps in the experience. This feedback was used to address core issues in the design and further refine what was needed for next step in interations.

Further Explorations

2nd Iteration

TEAM GOALS

Evaluate other needs expressed by users and add other prioritized features. Address gaps in the existing UX, improve accessibility and improve the interaction experience overall.

Expanded Reader Tools feature additions: paper settings & in-page search.

>

What I learned from this project

The project was run lean, without a user researcher, making do with informal user tests. The introduction of a drawer was successful, offering a flexible space for new products and facing minimal user testing issues. This effort also started the standardization of the UI, eventually leading to the creation of the Academia Design System, which was applied to desktop experiences.

If I were to try this again, I would try to get a dedicated user researcher such that my testing methodologies were more robust in order to uncover the best possible kind of data in making informed design decisions.

<Return to projects