Scan a Book Before Buying
Design a book discovery flow that recognizes a cover and compares reviews, editions, prices, and library availability.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
A shopper may recognize a cover but still need to know whether the edition, translation, and format match what reviewers discussed. Aggregate ratings alone rarely explain who a book suits.
User context
Ravi finds a novel on a shop display. He wants a recent translation, prefers an ebook, and would borrow it from the library if the wait is short.
Product problem
The app must identify the correct work and edition, then summarize several sources without blending them into one misleading score.
Objective
Create cover capture, edition confirmation, review comparison, and acquisition options for a discovered book.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Cover or barcode recognition
- Edition confirmation
- Review source comparison
- Buy, borrow, or save decision
Screens and states
- Camera capture
- Book match
- Review overview
- Availability options
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Ravi scans the cover
- 02
He confirms the title and translation
- 03
He compares reader and critic themes
- 04
He saves the ebook and joins a library hold list
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Distinguish work, edition, format, and language
- Attribute every review source
- Summarize recurring praise and criticism
- Show retailer and library availability separately
Constraints
- Cover art can be shared across editions
- Review services use different rating scales
- Library availability may be delayed
Reality check
States worth considering
Ready-to-use content
Mock data
Use this content to test hierarchy and realistic data states. You can expand it when the concept needs more depth.
Book match
- The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
- English translation by Stephen Snyder
- Paperback, ISBN 9781101911815
- Library hold: about 9 days
- Ebook from $9.99
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four mobile screens
- A review summary card with clear source attribution
If you want more
Optional extensions
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Libre Baskerville & Josefin Sans
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Libre Baskerville & Josefin Sans
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.