CONCEPT & VISION
Next-Gen Reader
COMPANY
NDA B2B Client
ROLE
Product Designer
TEAM
Designers, Stakeholder
TIMEFRAME
2025
Description
A visionary redesign of the core reading experience, shifting from a utility-focused interface to a content-first immersive environment. This concept explores how modern interaction patterns—like vertical scrolling and floating controls—can revitalize digital publishing for the 2026 era.
Timeline
4-week Design Sprint
Background
The existing viewer was functional but visually dated. Its rigid layout and "heavy" controls competed with the content, making it feel more like a database than a magazine. As user expectations shifted towards fluid, app-like experiences (inspired by iOS and YouTube), we needed a "North Star" concept to guide the future roadmap.
R&D Process
I treated this as a clean-slate experiment, unburdened by legacy code but grounded in extensive market research.
Deep Dive Analysis
Analyzed over 50 competitor services and adjacent media readers (FlipSnack, Issuu, FlipHTML5, etc.) to identify modern consumption patterns.
Exploration
Developed 3 distinct conceptual directions—ranging from conservative evolution to radical minimalism—before converging on the final "Liquid" direction.
Prototyping
Built a local, high-fidelity library of interactive components based on our existing Design System. This allowed me to test complex interactions (like menu reveal animations) that felt real, not just static.
Solution
A modernized UI language inspired by iOS "Liquid Glass" aesthetics, prioritizing accessibility and content immersion.
Maximized Content
I removed the fixed bottombar in favor of a floating top menu and control dock. This reclaimed 20% more screen real estate for the actual document.
Vertical & Horizontal
Introduced a seamless vertical scroll mode alongside the traditional page-flip, catering to users accustomed to "infinite feed" scrolling.
Floating Controls
The UI now "floats" above the content with a glassmorphism effect (blur + transparency), providing context without blocking the view. Large, rounded buttons improve touch targets on all devices.
Mobile Re-imagined
A completely rebuilt mobile experience that abandons the desktop metaphor, using native bottom sheets and gestures for a natural, app-like feel.
Results
While initially a concept, the design received strong internal validation and is shaping the future product roadmap.
Stakeholder Buy-in
The "Liquid" aesthetic demonstrated that B2B/B2C tools don't have to look boring. It set a new visual bar for the engineering team.
User Feedback
Early testing sessions with a focus group revealed a preference for the "Vertical Scroll" mode, validating our hypothesis that users want flexible consumption habits.
Roadmap Integration
Key elements of this concept (specifically the floating menu logic and mobile navigation) are currently being adapted for the production pipeline.