LEEYO

UEM, Master’s thesis

Product Designer

2024-2025

Reimagining the book-buying and reading community experience in the digital age, connecting readers, writers, and bookstores.

THE PROJECT

Leeyo is born from the idea that reading is no longer just about turning pages: it is about discovering, feeling, and sharing. Today, digital platforms separate what should belong together and forget the magic of physical books, bookshops, and the people who read.

After listening to young readers and studying what already exists, a simple idea emerges: to create a place where you can keep track of your readings, find books nearby, attend events, and connect with others. A platform that brings the digital and the human together.

Leeyo aims to be that bridge: a space where reading once again feels like a community experience, not a solitary act in front of a screen.

THE CHALLENGE

The challenge arises from the desire to bring together two worlds I love: digital design and reading. The opportunity to create a hybrid experience sparked a concern that had been present for some time—understanding how technology can be humanized and placed at the service of culture.

As a reader and advocate for independent bookstores, I am concerned to see them disappear due to their inability to integrate into the digital sphere. For this reason, the challenge lies in imagining new ways for innovation to strengthen their role: hybrid experiences, greater visibility for local authors, and a community that connects readers, authors, and bookstores in a world increasingly lost between screens and endless scrolling.

THE RESULT

At the end of the project, it is clear that the challenge has shown how reading remains alive in the digital world and how many young people continue to enjoy books. Leeyo, which began as a simple idea, has become a space where reading builds connections and fosters community.

The process demonstrates that technology, when used effectively, can enhance tradition and culture. In essence, Leeyo is an invitation to read in a different way and to rediscover bookstores, and this project is only the beginning of a broader and more functional future development.

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PRODUCT DESIGN

SEP 2025

designbyaso*

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