Le Cercle des Lecteurs

A Virtual Reading Community

A platform designed for passionate readers and community engagement

Overview

ROLE
Product Design (UX/UI)
‍
Tools used:
Figma / Midjourney / Adobe Suite

Story

Sophie is an avid reader who loves sharing her thoughts about books.
Until now, she had to juggle multiple sites, social media groups, and personal notes to keep track of her reading journey and discuss her favorite books.
She wanted a solution that was centralized, social, and tailored to her tastes.
Le Cercle des Lecteurs was born : a virtual book club where users can create profiles, share notes, explore recommendations, write articles, and participate in a vibrant community.

The Problem

  • Scattered reading experience
    Sophie had to manage book notes, recommendations, and discussions across different platforms, which was time-consuming and confusing.

  • Limited personalization
    Existing platforms did not provide reading suggestions tailored to her preferences.

  • Community engagement challenges
    Finding events, discussions, and active participation was complicated, with no central hub for connecting with like-minded readers.

Result : frustration, loss of motivation to engage, and a fragmented reading experience.

Our Solution : Le Cercle des Lecteurs

  • Personal profiles & reading notes
    Each member can create a profile, document their reading journey, and write notes or reviews for each book.

  • Personalized recommendations
    Users receive book suggestions based on their tastes, previous notes, and interests.

  • Community participation
    Members can write articles, join discussion forums, and communicate with others in dedicated spaces.

  • Events & calendar
    Virtual or in-person community events are organized, with a clear calendar to track and participate.

01 / User Research

Overview

  • Research approach

  • Empathy Map

Research approach

I conducted interviews with readers and book club members and analyzed user feedback to better understand the needs.

Pain points

  • scattered notes

  • lack of personalization

  • difficulty finding community interactions

03 / Ideate - Wireframes & User Flows

  • Main flow

  • Focus on simplicity, discoverability, and engagement

Initial tests showed users could complete tasks with ease.

  1. Adjustments : simplified and harmonized layout, cleaner visual hierarchy, more intuitive navigation

  2. Testers found the platform comprehensive, engaging, and community-focused

Type of study : Moderate usability study

Participants : 5

Duration : 1 hour

“As a reader, I want to track my books and notes in one place.”

“As a member, I want to discover new books and events that match my interests.”

05 / Time to test !

04 / Prototyping Figma !

  • Interactive screens tested on desktop and mobile

  • Features highlighted: personalized feed, intuitive forum navigation, event participation flow

02 / Defining Needs

Overview

  • Persona development

  • Problem statements

Final Design

User-centered and immersive : clear blocks for Profile, Notes, Recommendations, Community, and Events

  • Balanced visuals & text: readable articles, highlighted notes, and carefully sized book covers

  • Interactive community: forums, article creation, and commenting encourage engagement

  • Event participation: calendar view for virtual and in-person events, with easy registration

Le Cercle des Lecteurs allows users to track their reading journey, explore tailored recommendations, and actively participate in a vibrant community, all in one cohesive platform.

Impact & Next Steps

Expected impact:

  • Centralized reading experience with notes and articles

  • Increased engagement through forums and events

  • Enhanced discovery of books aligned with user preferences

Next iterations:

  • Recommendation engine powered by AI for smarter book suggestions

  • Gamification elements to reward participation and community contribution

  • Improved event management for hybrid (virtual + in-person) participation