Problem

Only a small percentage of children choose to read books in their free time. This isn’t just a concern for libraries; kids are missing out on incredible stories and opportunities to expand their imagination and understanding.

Process

To understand what prevents children from reading, we conducted a research study with children aged 6-12. We spoke with over 100 kids, as well as parents, teachers, YouTubers, gamers, and more. All of our findings were distilled and presented to different groups of stakeholders from Danish libraries continuously throughout the project.

The libraries were thrilled with the insights and decided to create a digital tool based on our findings. The goal was to make it easier for children to discover stories (not just "books") that they would enjoy immersing themselves in (not just "reading").

Throughout the design project, we challenged the libraries’ tone of voice, shifting from an inside-out to an outside-in approach. To engage children, the libraries needed to adopt the children’s perspective rather than their own.

My role

At the start of the project, I managed the project, designed the research, conducted and distilled the insights, and translated them into concepts, which we then tested with children. We iterated, prioritized, and designed the entire journey of exploring books from a child’s perspective. I was responsible for the research, UX design, documentation, and all project presentations—one of which took place on a boat!