MOLESKINE CoLab

UX/UI Case study

Duration: 2 weeks project

Project Overview

In envisioning the future of Moleskine Smart Notebooks, we seek to seamlessly merge the brand's enduring legacy of analog creativity with the limitless connectivity of social networking. Our project aims to introduce a unique social networking function, enabling users to effortlessly share their personal journal entries, captivating sketches, and inspired notes, whether publicly to inspire or privately to connect. Through this integration, we aspire to preserve Moleskine's rich heritage while enhancing the journaling, drawing, and creative note-taking experience. By fostering a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, our goal is to cultivate a deeper sense of belonging and mutual inspiration among users, ultimately elevating user satisfaction and fulfilling unmet needs within the Moleskine community.

My Role

My Goals

• Introduce a unique social networking feature to Moleskine Smart Notebooks.

• Enable users to seamlessly share personal journal entries, sketches, and notes.

• Preserve Moleskine's heritage of analog creativity while embracing modern connectivity.

• Enhance the journaling, drawing, and creative note-taking experience.

• Foster a vibrant community of users for mutual inspiration and connection.

• Elevate user satisfaction and fulfill unmet needs within the Moleskine community.

Project Goals

Problem statements

• Paper-based sketchbook/notebook users face challenges organizing their notes effectively.

• Users lack efficient means to share their creative process and connect with others.

• There's a need for a solution that seamlessly integrates organization, collaboration, and sharing capabilities into the analog creative process.

• The problem calls for a solution that respects the tactile experience of traditional sketching and note-taking while leveraging the benefits of digital connectivity.

Problem solutions

• Collaboration facilitates the exchange of ideas and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity.

• Through networking, individuals expand their circles of influence and establish valuable partnerships.

• Collaborating allows for pooling of talents and resources to tackle challenges and pursue opportunities.

• Networking and collaborating empower individuals to achieve collective goals and realize shared visions.

• Engaging in networking and collaboration enhances personal and professional growth by exposing individuals to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Problem solutions

• Collaboration facilitates the exchange of ideas and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity.

• Through networking, individuals expand their circles of influence and establish valuable partnerships.

• Collaborating allows for pooling of talents and resources to tackle challenges and pursue opportunities.

• Networking and collaborating empower individuals to achieve collective goals and realize shared visions.

• Engaging in networking and collaboration enhances personal and professional growth by exposing individuals to diverse perspectives and experiences.

Discover Phase

After Knowing the problem statement, imagining the possible solutions and planning the further process I discover more things by doing more reasearch methods.
Qualitative/Quantitative Research

Brainstorming about the project

User Interview

I statements derived from the interviews

• I want to be freed of more admin-based tasks like organization, summarizing, social media management to create room for creative tasks, ideation, project work etc.

• I’m interested in a digital solution that feels like handwriting on paper but allows me to seamlessly transfer my notes to my digital devices in an editable format.

• I like learning from and sharing ideas with other people in my field and collaborating and networking in smaller, safer spaces/groups.

• I like to be able to collaborate and receive feedback (such as through comments/annotations) in realtime in a shared space.

• Cost is a significant factor in deciding to purchase note-taking/collaboration/productivity tools and I’m reluctant to buy a whole new device.

User Persona

Quote:

“I love sharing scratchy lyrics I’ve thrown onto a piece of paper at 2am with other creatives and seeing theirs as well, but sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything.”

• Age: 34

• Occupation: UX Designer / Bassist and songwriter in a band

• Education: Bachelor’s degree Graphic Design

• Location: Lives in London, UK

Helen is a talented creative with a passion for both design and music. By day, H works as a UX designer for a digital agency, where they craft intuitive user experiences for various clients. They are an avid note taker and prides themselves on their organization skills, both personally and professionally. Outside of work, H is a lead singer in a local metal band called “Pensieve.” Music has always been a central part of H’s life and despite being an introvert, they love performing.

Goals:

1. Collaboration: As part of a band, Helen values collaboration and effective communication. They seek tools that facilitate songwriting among bandmates to support their collaborative process.

2. Enhance efficiency: Helen aims to streamline her design process at work and songwriting process with her band by seamless integrating digital and analog tools. They want to leverage the benefits of both worlds to enhance productivity and creativity.

Needs and Expectations:

• I want to be freed of more admin-based tasks like organization, summarizing, social media management to create room for creative tasks like songwriting.

• I’m interested in a digital solution that feels like handwriting on paper but allows me to seamlessly transfer my songwriting notes to my digital devices in an editable format.

• I like learning from and sharing ideas with other musicians and collaborating and networking in smaller, safer spaces/groups.

• I like to be able to collaborate and receive feedback (such as through comments/annotations) in realtime in a shared space.

• Cost is a significant factor in deciding to purchase note-taking/collaboration/productivity tools and I’m reluctant to buy a whole new device.

Challenges

1. Digital overload: Helen often feels overwhelmed by the constant bombardment of digital information and notifications. They seek ways to minimize distraction and find a balance between online and offline work.

2. Organization: When writing songs with the band, Helen has a hard time keeping their and their bandmates’ notes and melodies organized. They’re looking for a solution that helps them and the band keep track of their notes, ideas, and melodies.

Behaviour

1. Helen expresses themselves through song writing collaboration sessions and texts/emails them to their bandmates and collaborators.

2. Through creative exchange with others, Helen fosters their creativity.

Affinity Mapping

Research about competitors

We conducted an in-depth analysis of competitors to Moleskine notebooks, focusing not only on product features but also on how these brands engage with their user communities. Through our research, we discovered that while many competitors excel in paper quality and aesthetics, there is a significant opportunity for Moleskine to differentiate itself by enhancing social and community features. We explored how competitors manage customer engagement through digital platforms, user-generated content, and social media integration. Recognizing the growing demand for products that foster creativity and connection, we identified the potential for Moleskine to introduce features that help users share their work, connect with like-minded individuals, and participate in challenges or collaborations. By integrating social features, such as a companion app that allows users to digitize and share their notes, join community groups, and track their creative journeys, Moleskine could strengthen its brand loyalty and build a vibrant, interactive community around its products. This approach would not only add value to the physical notebook but also create a unique ecosystem that blends traditional analog experiences with modern digital interactions.

HELEN

User journey map

HMW

• Can search for others using name, email, type of art/music, etc.

• Can follow specific users

• Full messaging section with inbox, send, spam

• Create and join smaller interest groups

• Chat and discuss feature

• Can tag people

• Post public statuses (can include imagery)

• Real-time editing, comments, track changes, suggestions
  Folders, databases, templates, collections, playlists, themes, tags, filters

• Daily challenges to spark creativity and learning
  AI generated art - prompts experimentation with the technology

• Permissions
  Widgets, timer, background music, team voting
  Onboarding questionnaire - if you’re looking for a mentor, want to be a mentor, who you’re looking to work with, the genres you’re working within, and a more specific statement about how you’re looking to collaborate, payment, and general bio

• Can put out specific ads - “we’re liking for this kind of person”

• Can get a copyright certificate for your work
  Educational resources

• Start for free or do business trial for 7-30 days

• Virtual meetings with annotation (enable annotation)
  Version history

Focused Competitive Analysis

Key Insights

HMW help Helen find and connect with collaborators who meet their project needs, enabling seamless networking and supporting collaboration in both digital and analog environments?

The Design Phase

Service design blue print

For our Moleskine collaboration, we carefully selected colors and typography that aligned with the brand's timeless and creative essence. We focused on clean, classic fonts and a refined color palette that evoked a sense of tradition while supporting modern usability. We created a moodboard that encapsulated these elements, showcasing the visual direction and ensuring consistency throughout the project. This approach helped us craft a cohesive and inspiring user experience that resonates with Moleskine's identity and enhances the creative journey for users.

Mid-fidelity wireframe

Hi-fidelity prototype

Key takeaways:

Key Learnings and Next Steps:

• Include the number of users interviewed when sharing key insights from user interview results.

• Carry out competitive analysis on the communities functionality and users who want to connect with communities.

• Carry out further user research and usability testing to confirm if the switch to desktop will work in practice and whether or not the Figjam-inspired workspace setup will work for all types of collaborators.

• Biggest Impact: Centralizing and streamlining the networking-to-production pipeline, enabling focus on creation over administration
  

Final Mobile and Desktop version