Author’s Republic
A new digital platform for authors and publishers to produce and distribute audiobooks at scale
A redesigned website experience and dashboard UI that enables authors, narrators, and distributors to monetize audiobooks globally.
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Project
Website + Dashboard UX/UI, 2021Services
Art Direction, Information Architecture, Product Design, User Experience Design, User Interface Design, Web DesignIndustry
Digital PublishingRoles
Tiffany Smith - Web/UX/UI Designer, William Mauricio - Senior Web/UX/UI Designer, Logo Designer
Client
About Author’s Republic
Author’s Republic is a global audiobook production and distribution service on a mission to help small creators make more money through audiobooks.
Costs can add up when creating an audiobook. Hiring narrators, cover designers, sound production, or a studio that can do it all is challenging for small publishers and independent authors. On top of that, some larger audiobook distributers take a large chunk out of the royalties and charge for administration fees, making it even more difficult for new and independent authors to sell their books.
On average, audiobook production has gone up 18% year over year since 2015. Likewise, ISBN’s for self-published books has increased by 263% since 2013. To meet that demand, Author’s Republic offers an accessible marketplace where publishers, authors, or anyone can simply create an online account to get started producing and selling audiobooks. Through the online web app, Author’s Republic aims to democratize audiobook production and distribution by offering access to professional narrators, tutorials, and global retail distribution channels, making it possible for anyone to affordably sell their audiobook.
Objective
Easy End-to-End Experience
Author’s Republic initially had a basic website and user dashboard that had reached its limit. Content on the website was cluttered, unresponsive, and visually inconsistent. Likewise, the user dashboard for creating and distributing audiobooks was disorganized, making it confusing to navigate — the after-effects of a small company playing catchup after a growth spurt.
The goal was to better communicate Author’s Republic’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible audiobook publishing through their easy-to-use online dashboard to the right audience. Along with co-designer William Mauricio, we sought to create a cohesive user experience across Author’s Republic’s multiple digital channels with a new visual identity, a completely redesigned website, and a user dashboard designed for authors and publishers to sell and distribute audiobooks with ease.
DELIVERABLES
Styleboards
Wireframes
High-fidelity Prototypes
Visual Identity System
The original Author’s Republic Website.
Hurdles
Problems to Solve
Updating the visual identity to build from
Author’s Republic wanted a visual style that remained familiar to those that already loved the brand, but more vivid and inviting that would help define them as the go-to brand for audiobook production.
Decreasing friction for audiobook newbies
Both the original website and user dashboard had a confusing navigation menu. The new designs needed to simplify, making it easy for those new to audiobook creation to get started, and to find tutorials and information if they got stuck along the way.
Unifying the user experience through multiple digital products
As a studio alternative for audiobook production and distribution, Author’s Republic wanted to connect with indie authors, small publishers, and independent voice actors in a way that was friendly and genuine, while offering a wealth of industry expertise. The flow between the website, user dashboard, and socials had to be seamless and welcoming, with minimal barriers and filled with just enough resources to turn a complicated DIY solution into something painless.
Creating a dashboard design for different users
The process in which authors, narrators, distributors, rights holders, and publishers create audiobooks is different for each. We had to design a dashboard that made audiobook creation intuitive and logical, and enable users to easily view stats.
Target Audience
Audiobook Community
Producers
Manages the audiobook pipeline from creation to sales for multiple authors and publishers, producers looking to produce more audiobooks need access to quick customer service, a variety of professional voice actors, a wide distribution network, and a platform that can keep everything in one place.
Authors
Keen on selling their books without selling their soul, authors with little audiobook experience need a platform that’s easy to navigate, provides high-quality audio with professional voice actors, and handles audiobook distribution. Wants to keep costs down and have the ability to set their own MSRP.
Publishers
Responsible for publishing multiple books a year and wants to create audio versions now, but doesn’t need the full suite of services offered by studios. Already has distribution setup, but looking for a platform that has a pool of narrators and keeps audiobook project communication all in one place.
Narrators
Has previous audiobook narration experience and is looking for more opportunities that offer flexible scheduling and secure payments.
Design Process
Known ⇄ Unknown
Getting the visual tone just right
To bring the brand to life, we began exploring different ways of balancing wisdom and wit to set a tone that would help audiobook creators feel confident and at ease about using the platform. Simple shapes and a new extended complimentary palette carried throughout the website, socials, and user dashboard interplay with colourful photography to bring an intentionally playful vibe.
Kondo-ing the klutter
From the first time an author lands on the website, to the time when a narrator uploads their audio files for payment, to when a producer reviews their YTD sales, every design choice was made with the intention to keep the process for any type of user simple and friendly in mind.
The information architecture of the website and user dashboard were organized and slimmed down so that anyone using the platform could intuitively find what they needed.
Turning audiobook creation into a call to adventure
Author’s Republic aimed to make audiobook creation and distribution as easy as possible, but had so much information that a lot of it got buried within the website. We took the important bits that explained the process of creating an audiobook, simplified it, and turned it into a start to finish journey infographic to educate audiobook creators with text and visuals right on the homepage.
Designing for functionality
Sales data, inventory count, earnings reports, a growing roster of voice actors, links to tutorials, and platform messaging displayed in a visual dashboard relieve any pain around overseeing payments and multiple projects.
Details
Designing a Natural Flow
First-time audiobook creators have many questions; How do I find a voice actor? Where can I sell my book? How much will this cost? And seasoned creators are looking to quickly maximize production. Bright buttons, a simple interface, familiar icons, and clean text guide user actions on their journey from website to dashboard home to creating an audiobook — as efficiently as possible.
Results
Metamorphosis
Author’s Republic needed a new look and better digital experience built on what audiobook authors, publishers, narrators and distributors needed most; an affordable way to easily create and sell audiobooks globally.
Inspired by Author’s Republic’s values of freedom, fairness, and accessibility, we defined a new visual identity with bright colours, playful shapes, and friendly typography. We then paired that with colourful photography and simple icons and threaded it all into a newly designed website and dashboard. With information easier to find on the website, and audiobook creation simplified in the user dashboard with intuitive design, anyone can now create, narrate, and sell an audiobook through Author’s Republic.
Impact
So how does the hero’s journey end? An updated look and feel that still feels familiar, and a new digital experience that enables anyone to get their stories out to the world.
