Resonate App
Anonymous Book Chat App for Instant Reader Connections
Sep 2024 - Jan 2025
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team
3 designers
2 developers
1 product lead
Outcome
Redesign and preview led to 5x more downloads
OVERVIEW
What is Resonate?
Resonate is a lightweight, anonymous chat app that helps readers connect instantly after finishing a book.
The Challenge
“No one was really on there.”
Resonate v1 struggled to gain traction. One-off chats felt impersonal, and users didn’t have a reason to stay. That challenge drove a full redesign, from product flow to App Store preview.
🌀 Low Retention
Users had no reason to return after a single chat
🕵️ Lack of Connection
Anonymous, one-off chats lacked depth or continuity
❓ Unclear Value Proposition
Users couldn’t tell how Resonate was different from other platforms
SURVEYS & INTERVIEWS
We gathered feedback from 12 in-app responses and reached out to 25 users who dropped off after initial use.
User feedback and interviews shaped the v2 redesign
USER INSIGHTS
🔁 Conversations Need Momentum
Reactions, message indicators, and icebreakers help keep conversations flow.
🔍 Matching Felt Limited
One match per book and slow discovery made it hard to stay engaged.
🧭 UX Was Confusing
Repetitive prompts and unclear UI hurt trust and ease of use.
BRAINSTORMING
Before finalizing any features, we collaboratively brainstormed across team meetings and a shared doc, exploring ways to move from fleeting anonymous chats to something more lasting and social.
We aligned on three big goals:
Create space for more intentional and lasting conversations
Encourage continued engagement beyond the first message
Help users understand and trust how connections are made
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We held several team sessions to prioritize features based on user feedback and impact. Here were some that we decided on:
Mind map of main and complementary features we prioritized
TASK FLOWS
We created task flows to map out key journeys like starting a book chat or co-reading, ensuring each new feature felt intuitive and satisfying to complete.
Task flows for features
and now introducing Resonate 2.0…
Spark meaningful conversations after every read
We redesigned the 1:1 chat experience to feel less anonymous and more engaging. AI-generated prompts helped ease users into meaningful conversations right after finishing a book - no awkward small talk needed.
Make connections through shared reading identities
We moved away from pure anonymity. Users could now opt into lightweight profiles with their library, reading stats, and favorite genres, creating a sense of identity, visibility, and connection.
Improved Match Discovery
We redesigned the match system to reduce wait time and increase meaningful chats.
Now, users can 1) view books with active pending matches, so they can jump into conversations immediately.
2) See expiration windows on invites, setting clearer expectations and urgency for chats.
IMPACT
Although the app is still under development, our early design changes already showed strong signs of improvement:
📈 5x increase in downloads after updating the App Store preview
💬 Higher user clarity on the value of Resonate thanks to better onboarding and clearer book match visibility
🤝 Reduced drop-off through a shift from anonymous chats to profile-based matching
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These early results helped reposition Resonate as more than just a chat app. It's a space where meaningful book-driven connection could begin.
TAKEAWAYS
Working on Resonate v2 taught me how to design for social engagement in a nuanced, reader-first space. Through rounds of user feedback, team brainstorms, and messy iteration, I learned:
1) Balance clarity with flexibility
Shifting from anonymous chat to lightweight profiles wasn’t just a design update - it reshaped how users connected and stayed engaged.
2) Small UX tweaks can have big impact
From expiration timers to visible book matches, we reduced friction and made conversations feel more immediate and intentional.
3) Good ideas come from honest constraints
Even though we couldn’t implement every idea (like gamified rewards), it helped us focus on building a strong foundation first.
This project reminded me that good UX isn’t just about polish; It’s about staying grounded in user needs, collaborating closely, and not being afraid to rethink the original concept.
