Letting people read their favourite podcasts, not just listen to them.
A podcast app with transcripts built in, so you can switch between listening and reading — designed from zero based on real user research.
PodReads is an innovative app that changes how users interact with podcasts. Unlike competitors, it lets you both listen to and read your favorite shows — enhancing the experience for different contexts and needs.
Whether you prefer listening on the go or reading, PodReads offers a flexible way to enjoy podcasts like never before.
I used the design thinking framework, emphasizing research and empathy before touching the UI — making sure the product would be not only functional but aligned with real user needs.
8 participants. Gathered insights into user habits, preferences, and pain points around podcast listening.
Synthesised survey data into 6 core problem statements representing distinct user types and needs.
Mapped every path through the app, from discovery to segment saving — covering edge cases and decision branches.
Started with hand sketches to explore variations before moving to detailed Figma screens.
I aimed to gather insights into user habits, preferences, and pain points related to podcast listening — asking what people actually use today and what they're missing.
“It seems like having live podcasts would be a great feature, but also having the ability to save and replay them would be even better. Maybe even allowing listeners to ask questions during the live session would make the experience more interactive.”
“I personally haven't found any good podcast apps, so I just listen to them on Telegram or watch them on YouTube if I have premium. To me, podcasts are just like short audiobooks.”
“Other podcast apps I've tried are okay, but they all seem to have limited topics. I usually just create a “podcasts” folder in Telegram and add channels that cover topics I'm interested in, like history, space, and motivation. It's all there, and it's free.”
“Sometimes, it's hard to understand what the speaker is saying, so having the option to read the text while listening would be helpful.”
“Being able to save specific parts of the audio or video would be great for future reference.”
Quantitative data
What is your main goal when listening to podcasts?
Quantitative data
Can you envision a life without podcasts?
Podcasts are often background listening — so the app shouldn't demand attention, but should make it easy to catch up on what you missed.
A podcast app will allow users to discover and listen to podcasts tailored to their specific interests, which will positively affect them by enhancing their knowledge, personal growth, and entertainment experience.
The goal is to create a user-centred podcast app that caters to diverse user needs. Through personalised features and efficient content organisation, we aim to enhance user satisfaction. Success will be measured by positive user feedback reflecting their satisfaction with the app's content and features.
Using all available data, I crafted an IA to organise information effectively. By understanding user behaviours and needs, this IA guides the design toward a user-friendly app that enhances the podcast listening experience.
Based on the gathered data, I created a user flow illustrating every step within the app — ensuring a smooth and intuitive journey by analysing user behaviours and covering decision branches.
I realised the first ideas that come to mind aren't always the best. Whiteboarding and hand sketches became the first step — helping me explore variations before committing to any direction in Figma.
Once the sketches settled the structure, I turned them into Hi-Fi wireframes in Figma — detailed versions of every screen.
Alex is a busy marketing specialist who needs a podcast app that offers efficient content organisation because of limited time.
The episode menu puts Add to playlist one tap away from the player.
Problem solved for Alex →Pick an existing playlist or create a new one without leaving the episode.
Problem solved for Alex ←Library: Playlists, Notes, Saved and Download keep everything a listener collects in one place.
Emily is a student who needs a podcast app with subtitles because the language barrier sometimes makes it difficult to understand spoken content.
One toggle switches the player between listening and reading.
Problem solved for Emily ←The transcript shows timestamps and a language picker, and highlights the words being spoken.
Problem solved for Emily ↓
Sarah is a self-development person who needs a podcast app that makes it easy to manage subscriptions because it helps her find content faster.
The All / Following switch separates discovery from shows you already follow.
Following is sorted alphabetically, with an A–Z index for quick jumps.
Problem solved for Sarah →Ed is a writer who needs a podcast app with easy-to-save segments because he wants to capture important information he often misses while listening.
Saved episodes live in playlists, with a filter for quick retrieval.
Problem solved for Ed ←
Copied passages become notes that keep the segment’s timestamp, with simple text formatting.
Problem solved for Ed →
Michael is a back-end developer who needs a podcast app with personalised recommendations because of a lack of content diversity in existing apps.
Home opens with Live podcasts, then Playlists for you and Trending podcasts.
Problem solved for Michael ↓
Maria is a podcast enthusiast who needs real-time interaction during live podcast sessions because she wants to engage with hosts as the podcast unfolds.
Before a live session: event details, speakers and a Join button.
Problem solved for Maria ←
During the session, the Comments tab becomes a live chat with hosts and listeners.
Problem solved for Maria →
Splash and welcome screens: the brand palette in use, with one clear action, Get Started.
Based on gathered data, I created the visual identity for the app — deciding on colours, fonts, and images that give PodReads its unique look and feel. Bold red energy, dark navy depth, yellow warmth.
Typeface: SF Pro Display · Regular, Medium, Bold
I'm available for senior Product Designer roles and select freelance work. Let's build something together.
