This project highlights how important it is to ground design decisions in both qualitative stories and quantitative evidence. Talking to book lovers like Sarah revealed emotional motivations. But, while anecdotal insights were good, I recognized the need for broader research to validate assumptions and ensure the solution scales beyond individual stories.

Another discovery was that reading, though often seen as a solitary activity, is deeply social at its core. Our book journeys are shaped not only by personal taste but by the influence of others; As René Girard's theory of mimetic desire suggests, "as humans, we don’t generate desires in isolation — we borrow them from others.

Working within four weeks showed me the importance of prioritization. Not every idea can fit into a first release, and focusing on the features most tied to community and discovery sharpened my ability to make intentional trade-offs under constraints.