Author Website
Author Website
Author Website
UX/UI CASE STUDY
UX/UI CASE STUDY
UX/UI CASE STUDY
What does a YA writer need on their landing page to promote their work and build a fan base?
What does a YA writer need on their landing page to promote their work and build a fan base?
What does a YA writer need on their landing page to promote their work and build a fan base?
This is a short and sweet version of the case study. You can read the whole story here →
This is a short and sweet version of the case study. You can read the whole story here →
This is a short and sweet version of the case study. You can read the whole story here →
Project Details
Project Details
Project Details
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
Web designer
Solo side project
Web designer
Solo side project
Web designer
Solo side project
TOOLS
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
Canva
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
Canva
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
Canva
PROJECT DURATION
PROJECT DURATION
PROJECT DURATION
1 week
1 week
1 week
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
Fiction writers often shy away from setting up a base of operation
Fiction writers often shy away from setting up a base of operation
Fiction writers often shy away from setting up a base of operation
Unlike nonfiction writers, who almost always have blogs and thus a functioning website they update on a regular basis, most fiction writers shy away from setting up an online base of operations.
This is a wasted opportunity to connect with readers. Every creative pursuit needs an engaged community to be sustainable, both emotionally and financially. Having a website can help writers build a solid fan base.
Unlike nonfiction writers, who almost always have blogs and thus a functioning website they update on a regular basis, most fiction writers shy away from setting up an online base of operations.
This is a wasted opportunity to connect with readers. Every creative pursuit needs an engaged community to be sustainable, both emotionally and financially. Having a website can help writers build a solid fan base.
Unlike nonfiction writers, who almost always have blogs and thus a functioning website they update on a regular basis, most fiction writers shy away from setting up an online base of operations.
This is a wasted opportunity to connect with readers. Every creative pursuit needs an engaged community to be sustainable, both emotionally and financially. Having a website can help writers build a solid fan base.
GOALS
GOALS
GOALS
Create a flexible, yet simple design
Create a flexible, yet simple design
Create a flexible, yet simple design
Design a website for a fiction writer, that is simple enough so the writer can change and maintain it themselves, but also flexible enough to style it however they want by adding or removing needed content.
Design a website for a fiction writer, that is simple enough so the writer can change and maintain it themselves, but also flexible enough to style it however they want by adding or removing needed content.
Design a website for a fiction writer, that is simple enough so the writer can change and maintain it themselves, but also flexible enough to style it however they want by adding or removing needed content.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
Simple but powerful landing page
Simple but powerful landing page
Simple but powerful landing page
1. Responsive design
The website is easy to navigate and read on a phone, table and desktop.
2. Adaptable Brand
The website can be branded in many different ways. Here I picked a text logo and a bright color palette to match a YA author.
Research & Analysis
Research & Analysis
Research & Analysis
The initial research was supplemented with authors’ interviews and polls.
The initial research was supplemented with authors’ interviews and polls.
The initial research was supplemented with authors’ interviews and polls.
The questions each author needs to think about are these:
What does my reader expect to find on my website?
How to make them happy and engaged when they visit?
What do I want to share with my readers to help them fall in love with my characters and stories?
The questions each author needs to think about are these:
What does my reader expect to find on my website?
How to make them happy and engaged when they visit?
What do I want to share with my readers to help them fall in love with my characters and stories?
The questions each author needs to think about are these:
What does my reader expect to find on my website?
How to make them happy and engaged when they visit?
What do I want to share with my readers to help them fall in love with my characters and stories?
Personas
This case study is focused on the creation of a website for a YA author, who has one traditionally published book coming soon, three self-published books already out, and publishes a serialized novella for free on a weekly basis.
Personas
This case study is focused on the creation of a website for a YA author, who has one traditionally published book coming soon, three self-published books already out, and publishes a serialized novella for free on a weekly basis.
Personas
This case study is focused on the creation of a website for a YA author, who has one traditionally published book coming soon, three self-published books already out, and publishes a serialized novella for free on a weekly basis.
Sitemap
The main focus of this case study is the landing page. To make sure the most important information is seen and the intended actions are taken, information is displayed on the first level, reached easily through simple scrolling.
Sitemap
The main focus of this case study is the landing page. To make sure the most important information is seen and the intended actions are taken, information is displayed on the first level, reached easily through simple scrolling.
Sitemap
The main focus of this case study is the landing page. To make sure the most important information is seen and the intended actions are taken, information is displayed on the first level, reached easily through simple scrolling.
Goals of the website
help build a fan base around the characters and the stories
sell the author’s work
build the author’s brand and community around their personality
Goals of the website
help build a fan base around the characters and the stories
sell the author’s work
build the author’s brand and community around their personality
Goals of the website
help build a fan base around the characters and the stories
sell the author’s work
build the author’s brand and community around their personality
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
The landing page contains the most important information. Each additional page can duplicate this information and expand upon it.
The landing page contains the most important information. Each additional page can duplicate this information and expand upon it.
The landing page contains the most important information. Each additional page can duplicate this information and expand upon it.
High Fidelity Prototype
High Fidelity Prototype
High Fidelity Prototype
The main concept for this website is based on having modules authors can include or leave out depending on what they and their readers need at any given moment. The solution is built around this concept.
The main concept for this website is based on having modules authors can include or leave out depending on what they and their readers need at any given moment. The solution is built around this concept.
The main concept for this website is based on having modules authors can include or leave out depending on what they and their readers need at any given moment. The solution is built around this concept.
Branding
Branding
Branding
A mistake I see made time and time again by authors is going for flashy, overdesigned brands. These are usually distracting and look quite unprofessional.
A mistake I see made time and time again by authors is going for flashy, overdesigned brands. These are usually distracting and look quite unprofessional.
A mistake I see made time and time again by authors is going for flashy, overdesigned brands. These are usually distracting and look quite unprofessional.
Elements
Elements
Elements
I have used the Bootstrap grid system, with three breakpoints and I have made all three screens responsive and easy to resize.
I have used the Bootstrap grid system, with three breakpoints and I have made all three screens responsive and easy to resize.
I have used the Bootstrap grid system, with three breakpoints and I have made all three screens responsive and easy to resize.
The YA Author Website
The YA Author Website
The YA Author Website
The final solution for this YA fiction author is a minimal website peppered with bright color spots to guide the attention and the actions of the user/reader.
The final solution for this YA fiction author is a minimal website peppered with bright color spots to guide the attention and the actions of the user/reader.
The final solution for this YA fiction author is a minimal website peppered with bright color spots to guide the attention and the actions of the user/reader.
Takeaways
Takeaways
Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Even though no two authors are alike, most authors need the same core modules on their websites.
Authors ought to consider readers’ needs. They should put the stories and the characters front and center and highlight how they can inspire the readers.
An author’s website should be more about creating a fan base and a community, and less about selling books. Soft marketing is usually a better strategy than hard sales when it comes to promoting creative work.
Conclusion
The case study part may be over, but I will be sharing the results and the templates with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter so all current and future authors may benefit from them.
Key Takeaways
Even though no two authors are alike, most authors need the same core modules on their websites.
Authors ought to consider readers’ needs. They should put the stories and the characters front and center and highlight how they can inspire the readers.
An author’s website should be more about creating a fan base and a community, and less about selling books. Soft marketing is usually a better strategy than hard sales when it comes to promoting creative work.
Conclusion
The case study part may be over, but I will be sharing the results and the templates with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter so all current and future authors may benefit from them.
Key Takeaways
Even though no two authors are alike, most authors need the same core modules on their websites.
Authors ought to consider readers’ needs. They should put the stories and the characters front and center and highlight how they can inspire the readers.
An author’s website should be more about creating a fan base and a community, and less about selling books. Soft marketing is usually a better strategy than hard sales when it comes to promoting creative work.
Conclusion
The case study part may be over, but I will be sharing the results and the templates with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter so all current and future authors may benefit from them.
