++ Next Call for Entries, 1 Sept. ➜ Set Up Profile ++ Nominees Announced ➜ View

++ Next Call for Entries, 1 Sept. ➜ Set Up Profile ++ Nominees Announced ➜ View

Designers

Emma Bergman

Year

2025

Category

New Talent

Country

United States

School

Montana State University

Teacher

Minjee Jeon

Please accept functional cookies to watch this video.

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
A major challenge was designing an experience that felt trustworthy and intuitive for families who might not be familiar with services like this. I knew that if the app felt confusing or intimidating at any point, people might not come back. That meant using friendly, welcoming language in the branding and “holding users’ hands” through the process, making sure each step was clear, supportive, and never overwhelming. Even small things, like keeping the bus locator easily accessible, made a big difference.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
The real “aha!” moment came when I started designing the genre characters. Until then, I was focused on logistics of getting books to families, but I realized that if I wasn’t helping kids want to read, I wasn’t solving the right problem. Creating playful characters helped give the project heart. It made the experience about discovering one's interests and identity, not just access.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
The real “aha!” moment came when I started designing the genre characters. Until then, I was focused on logistics of getting books to families, but I realized that if I wasn’t helping kids want to read, I wasn’t solving the right problem. Creating playful characters helped give the project heart. It made the experience about discovering ones interests and identity, not just access.

XXX

Please first confirm that you are a human being.