AccessPie
Affordable Reading for All
A platform that helps book lovers access affordable books through second-hand buying and selling, community book clubs, and vodcast sharing — making reading more social and sustainable.
Role: UI/UX designer
Industry: Community & Social Platforms
Platform: Mobile App
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Zoom, Adobe Suite
Duration: Jan 2025 – Apr 2025
Introduction
AccessPie is a mobile-first platform designed to make reading more accessible, affordable, and social—especially for students and book lovers. By enabling users to buy and sell second-hand books, join book club, share vodcasts, and note taking.
Research Insights
Competitor Analysis:
Read Flow: Strong in mood-based recommendations and habit tracking.
Book Deals: Good for comparing prices
Read Pro: Offers solid AI suggestions but lacks gamification.
ThriftBooks / PangoBooks / AbeBooks: Useful marketplaces, but limited user interaction and social features.
Problem Areas
The Challenge in Today’s reading Apps:
Don’t know what to read next.
Buying/selling is functional, not fun.
Miss social interaction around books.
Lack of motivation to read regularly.
Solution
Create a social, gamified, AI-powered platform where users:
Discover books via community and AI
Join clubs, take notes, and engage in discussions
Buy, sell, or swap books effortlessly
Get personalized goals, badges, and daily motivation
How might we use seamless and enjoyable experiences to encourage book lovers to engage more?
Project Goal
Enhance Book Discovery
Promote Sustainable Reading
Increase User Engagement
Foster a Reading Community
Support Habit-Building
Core Features
AI-Powered Discovery
📚 Smart recommendations based on mood, genre, and habits
🤖 AI circles: Match users with similar tastes for peer recommendations
🎧 AI book summaries (text + voice format)
Community Engagement
📝 In-app note-taking + public annotations
- 📖 Book clubs, threaded discussions, and spoiler filters
- 🎥 Instagram-style content feed (quotes, reviews, videos)
Gamified Reading Experience
🔥 Reading streaks & XP levels
🎯 Personalized reading challenges from AI
🏅 Badges: “Classic Conqueror”, “Daily Reader”, etc.
Smart Book Marketplace
📦 Buy/sell/swap books locally and globally
🔄 AI-matched book swaps based on interest/value
💵 Real-time price suggestions + resale prompts
Reflection
This project is still a work in progress. We are continuing to iterate and refine it through multiple improvement cycles.
Designing AccessPie helped me explore how UX, AI, and habit psychology can transform passive marketplaces into thriving communities. I learned how to balance functionality, fun, and frictionless design while addressing real user needs.
