Bookum is a social reading platform designed to bring readers together through shared books, discussions, and feedback. The goal was to move beyond passive reading and create a space where readers can actively engage with stories, authors, and each other.

Role: Product Designer (UI/UX)

Deliverables: Mobile App Design, Design System, Prototyping

Tools: Figma

Client: Bookum

Reading is inherently solitary, but the best part of a book is talking about it afterward. Bookum is a dedicated social platform that connects readers through digital book clubs.

Unlike Goodreads (which focuses on tracking) or Discord (which is often too chaotic), Bookum needed a bespoke interface that balanced structured discussion with casual social interaction.

The first hurdle in digital book clubs is discovery. Users need to find communities that match not just their genre preference, but their reading pace.

The Solution: I designed the Explore feed to be visually immersive, using book cover art as the primary anchor. We implemented "Smart Tags" to filter clubs by genre (e.g., fiction, romance, Horror).

Once a user joins, the My Clubs screen acts as their digital club library. I prioritized clarity here, using lock on club cards so users can instantly see if a club is private or public.

The biggest UX challenge was spoilers. How do you let people discuss Chapter 10 when others are on Chapter 5?

The Solution: We moved away from a single "Group Chat" model. Instead, discussions are Chapter-Locked.

The Thread System: Users click into specific chapters to see discussions relevant only to that section.

The Interface: The chat UI borrows from modern messaging apps for familiarity but adds specific lock on each chapter. Users are meant to unlock chapters as they read.

While Dark Mode is popular, a text-heavy app requires a pristine Light Mode for daytime legibility.

Paper White: Instead of a stark #F0F0F0 white, I used a softer "Orange White" background to mimic physical pages and reduce eye strain.

Hierarchy: We used high-contrast typography to ensure that even in bright sunlight, the navigation and reading progress remain clearly visible.

Bookum is now a home for thousands of readers who finally have a dedicated space to connect. The chapter-based discussion system has significantly reduced user complaints regarding spoilers, and the robust Host tools have encouraged creators to build larger, sustainable communities.