REFLECTION & IMPACT
This project challenged me to think beyond design screens and consider the systems behind creative freedom. Balancing the needs of authors and readers required thoughtful UX decisions rooted in real constraints. I had to move fast, adapt constantly, and stay grounded in purpose. In the end, Atypical became more than a concept—it was a test of clarity, conviction, and craft.
REFLECTION & IMPACT
This project challenged me to think beyond design screens and consider the systems behind creative freedom. Balancing the needs of authors and readers required thoughtful UX decisions rooted in real constraints. I had to move fast, adapt constantly, and stay grounded in purpose. In the end, Atypical became more than a concept—it was a test of clarity, conviction, and craft.
REFLECTION & IMPACT
This project challenged me to think beyond design screens and consider the systems behind creative freedom. Balancing the needs of authors and readers required thoughtful UX decisions rooted in real constraints. I had to move fast, adapt constantly, and stay grounded in purpose. In the end, Atypical became more than a concept—it was a test of clarity, conviction, and craft.
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPES
Once the structure was locked in, I translated every screen into polished high-fidelity mockups. This included both the author dashboard and the tablet reading experience. Every element, from typography to spacing, was refined to reflect Atypical’s bold and intentional tone. I focused on making each interaction feel smooth, purposeful, and human.
PLAY
PLAY
DASHBOARD OVERVIEW (VIDEO)
READER EXPERIENCE (VIDEO)
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPES
Once the structure was locked in, I translated every screen into polished high-fidelity mockups. This included both the author dashboard and the tablet reading experience. Every element, from typography to spacing, was refined to reflect Atypical’s bold and intentional tone. I focused on making each interaction feel smooth, purposeful, and human.
PLAY
PLAY
DASHBOARD OVERVIEW (VIDEO)
READER EXPERIENCE (VIDEO)
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPES
Once the structure was locked in, I translated every screen into polished high-fidelity mockups. This included both the author dashboard and the tablet reading experience. Every element, from typography to spacing, was refined to reflect Atypical’s bold and intentional tone. I focused on making each interaction feel smooth, purposeful, and human.
PLAY
PLAY
DASHBOARD OVERVIEW (VIDEO)
READER EXPERIENCE (VIDEO)
Designing Atypical meant balancing two distinct needs. The creator dashboard gave writers the tools to manage their work, while the tablet app turned those stories into immersive reading experiences. Every screen was designed with intention; it needed to feel accessible, honest, and human. This wasn’t just a UX project. It was a challenge to rethink what publishing could feel like.
BRIDGING THE EXPERIENCE
Designing Atypical meant balancing two worlds — empowering authors while engaging readers. The creator Dashboard gives writers the tools to manage their work, while the Tablet App turned those stories into immersive reading experiences. Every screen was designed with intention: accessible, honest, and human. This wasn't just a UX project— it was about rewriting the publishing rules.
BRIDGING THE EXPERIENCE
Designing Atypical meant balancing two worlds — empowering authors while delighting readers. The creator Dashboard gives writers the tools to manage their work, while the Tablet App turned those stories into immersive reading experiences. Every screen was designed with intention: accessible, honest, and human. This wasn't just a UX project— it was about rewriting the publishing rules.
BRIDGING THE EXPERIENCE
Atypical’s reader experience is designed for comfort, clarity, and discovery. Readers explore curated digital shelves in a distraction-free tablet app that feels more like a cozy bookstore
than a chaotic feed. Each book is formatted for smooth scrolling and clean typography. No popups, no gimmicks, just stories. Whether someone is reading casually or diving deep, Atypical creates a space where content takes priority.
READER EXPERIENCE
Atypical’s reader experience is designed for comfort, clarity, and discovery. Readers explore curated digital shelves in a distraction-free tablet app that feels more like a cozy bookstore than a chaotic feed. Each book is formatted for smooth scrolling and clean typography. No popups, no gimmicks, just stories. Whether someone is reading casually or diving deep, Atypical creates a space where content takes priority.
READER EXPERIENCE
Atypical’s reader experience is designed for comfort, clarity, and discovery. Readers explore curated digital shelves in a distraction-free tablet app that feels more like a cozy bookstore
than a chaotic feed. Each book is formatted for smooth scrolling and clean typography. No popups, no gimmicks, just stories. Whether someone is reading casually or diving deep, Atypical creates a space where content takes priority.
READER EXPERIENCE
CREATOR DASHBOARD
Atypical’s creator dashboard is built for clarity and control. Authors can submit, organize, and edit their manuscripts through a clean, structured interface. Each step is streamlined to reduce friction and help creators stay focused on writing instead of wrestling with confusing tools. This part of the platform was designed to feel calm, capable, and empowering.
CREATOR DASHBOARD
Atypical's creator dashboard offers a clean. intuitive space of authors to submit, track, and manage their work with ease. Every step is streamlined to minimize friction and eliminate distractions. The interface is thoughtfully designed to support focus- so creators can spend less time navigating and more time writing. Its publishing made practical.
CREATOR DASHBOARD
Atypical's creator dashboard offers a clean. intuitive space of authors to submit, track, and manage their work with ease. Every step is streamlined to minimize friction and eliminate distractions. The interface is thoughtfully designed to support focus- so creators can spend less time navigating and more time writing. Its publishing made practical.
THE SOLUTION
Atypical simplifies publishing for both authors and readers. Authors use a focused desktop dashboard to submit, manage, and track their work. Readers explore curated digital shelves through a minimalist, tablet-friendly app designed for clarity and calm. No ads, no noise, just stories.
THE SOLUTION
Atypical simplifies publishing for both sides: creators and readers. Authors get a clean, focused desktop dashboard to submit, manage, and track their work. Readers browse curated digital shelves through a minimalist, tablet-friendly reading app. No noise, no barriers-just stories, shared.
THE SOLUTION
Atypical simplifies publishing for both authors and readers. Authors use a focused desktop dashboard to submit, manage, and track their work. Readers explore curated digital shelves through a minimalist, tablet-friendly app designed for clarity and calm. No ads, no noise, just stories.
CHRISTINA
Self-published author
Age: 33
Occupation: Former English teacher, full-time writer
Tech comfort: Intermediate- uses Canva, Word, basic site builders
Pain Points:
Felt lost on Kindle Direct Publishing
No feedback or editing support
Overwhelmed by platform complexity
Goals:
Find a straightforward way to publish
Get basic editing and cover design help
Reach real readers without gaming algorithms
“I just want to write, not decode confusing publishing tools.”
DEON
Aspiring novelist, no publishing experience
Age: 24
Occupation: Bartender by night, writer by day
Tech comfort: High- digital native, always online
Pain Points:
Has drafts but never submitted anything
Doesn’t know how or where to start
Feels the industry is gate kept and intimidating
Goals:
Submit his first novel
Feel seen and supported as a new voice
Have options for book design without needing a full budget
“I’ve got stories - I just need a path forward..”
RESEARCH & PERSONAS
To understand the struggles of first-time authors, I conducted user interviews and
competitor analysis. Most self-published writers, particularly those without a tech or marketing background felt overwhelmed by platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Wattpad, and Substack.
Common frustrations included:
• Confusing submission processes
• Lack of editing or feedback support
• Algorithm-heavy platforms that favored visibility tricks over good writing
Persona insights helped clarify the problem:
• Christina, "I just want to write, not decode confusing publishing tools."
• Deon, "I've got stories; I just need a place to start."
• Javier, "I want reading to feel like a bookstore, not social media."
These frustrations became the foundation for Atypical's key features, which prioritize simplicity, support, and visibility for emerging voices.
JAVIER
Self-published author
Age: 45
Occupation: Digital Marketer
Tech comfort: Advanced
Pain Points:
Feels overwhelmed by algorithms- driven platforms
Wants curation, not ads
Can’t stand popups or cluttered UX
Goals:
Discover unique books, not bestsellers
Read in a calm, focused app
“I want reading to fell like a bookstore, not social media.”
RESEARCH & PERSONAS
To understand the struggles of first-time authors, I conducted user interviews and competitor analysis. Most self-published writers-especially those without a tech or marketing background- felt overwhelmed by platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Wattpad, and Substack.
Common frustrations included:
• Confusing submission processes
• Lack of editing or feedback support
• Algorithm-heavy platforms that favored visibility tricks over
good writing
Persona insights helped clarify the problem:
• Christina, " I just want to write, not decode confusing
publishing tools."
• Deon, "I've got stories; I just need a place to start."
• Javier, "I want reading to feel like a bookstore, not social media."
These frustrations became the foundation for Atypical's key features, which prioritize simplicity, support, and visibility for emerging voices.
CHRISTINA
Self-published author
Age: 33
Occupation: Former English teacher, full-time writer
Tech comfort: Intermediate- uses Canva, Word, basic site builders
Pain Points:
Felt lost on Kindle Direct Publishing
No feedback or editing support
Overwhelmed by platform complexity
Goals:
Find a straightforward way to publish
Get basic editing and cover design help
Reach real readers without gaming algorithms
“I just want to write, not decode confusing publishing tools.”
JAVIER
Self-published author
Age: 45
Occupation: Digital Marketer
Tech comfort: Advanced
Pain Points:
Feels overwhelmed by algorithms- driven platforms
Wants curation, not ads
Can’t stand popups or cluttered UX
Goals:
Discover unique books, not bestsellers
Read in a calm, focused app
“I want reading to fell like a bookstore, not social media.”
DEON
Aspiring novelist, no publishing experience
Age: 24
Occupation: Bartender by night, writer by day
Tech comfort: High- digital native, a;ways online
Pain Points:
Has drafts but never submitted anything
Doesn’t know how or where to start
Feels the industry is gate kept and intimidating
Goals:
Submit his first novel
Feel seen and supported as a new voice
Have options for book design without needing a full budget
“I’ve got stories - I just need a path forward..”
RESEARCH & PERSONAS
To understand the struggles of first-time authors, I conducted user interviews and competitor analysis. Most self-published writers, particularly those without a tech or marketing background- felt overwhelmed by platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Wattpad, and Substack.
Common frustrations included:
• Confusing submission processes
• Lack of editing or feedback support
• Algorithm-heavy platforms that favored visibility tricks over good writing
Persona insights helped clarify the problem:
• Christina, " I just want to write, not decode confusing publishing tools."
• Deon, "I've got stories- I just need a place to start."
• Javier, "I want reading to feel like a bookstore, not social media."
These frustrations became the foundation for Atypical's key features, which prioritize simplicity, support, and visibility for emerging voices.
Has drafts but never submitted anything
Doesn’t know how or where to start
Feels the industry is gate kept and intimidating
Submit his first novel
Feel seen and supported as a new voice
“I’ve got stories - I just need a path forward..”
Goals:
Pain Points:
Tech comfort: High- digital native, a;ways online
Occupation: Bartender by night, writer by day
Age: 24
Aspiring novelist, no publishing experience
DEON
Have options for book design without needing a full
budget
JAVIER
Self-published author
Age: 45
Occupation: Digital Marketer
Tech comfort: Advanced
Pain Points:
Feels overwhelmed by algorithms- driven platforms
Wants curation, not ads
Can’t stand popups or cluttered UX
Goals:
Discover unique books, not bestsellers
Read in a calm, focused app
“I want reading to fell like a bookstore, not social media.”
CHRISTINA
Self-published author
Age: 33
Occupation: Former English teacher, full-time writer
Tech comfort: Intermediate- uses Canva, Word,
basic site builders
Pain Points:
Felt lost on Kindle Direct Publishing
No feedback or editing support
Overwhelmed by platform complexity
Goals:
Find a straightforward way to publish
Get basic editing and cover design help
Reach real readers without gaming algorithms
“I just want to write, not decode confusing publishing tools.”
CONTEXT
Atypical Publishing was designed to simplify the journey for first-time authors and casual readers. Traditional publishing is often gatekeeper and is confusing, while digital platforms prioritize algorithms over authenticity. Atypical bridges that gap with tools that center the creator, not the feed.
CONTEXT
Atypical Publishing was designed to simplify the journey for first-time authors and casual readers. Traditional publishing is often gatekeeper and is confusing, while digital platforms prioritize algorithms over authenticity. Atypical bridges that gap with tools that center the creator, not the feed.
CONTEXT
Traditional publishing can be hard to navigate—especially for new authors without connections. Meanwhile, digital platforms often prioritize algorithmic content over emerging voices. Atypical bridges that gap by making submissions simpler and stories more discoverable—for both writers and readers.
We are not your typical publishing company
We are not your typical publishing company
We are not your typical publishing company