Corbin Duncan

Tome

Tome e-readers by ten till fanned out in five colors, with the headline “Color is so back.” Jump to final product

the brief

Design an e-reader that makes the reading experience more personalized.

research

user interviews

  • “You can change the Kindle text size with a pinch?”
  • “I bought a kindle so I can read books in the dyslexic font”
  • “My iPad removed my book annotations”
  • “I like my Kobo because I can put books on it easier”
  • “I mis-swipe on my Kindle all the time”

what’s working

  • Preferred e ink to screens for reading
  • Users enjoy the small size and large storage
  • 1.5 hour sessions on average
  • Many users love the device

what’s not…

  • Screen refresh feels “blocky”
  • Interface is confusing for new and experienced users
  • Essential features being activated different ways
  • Many features left untouched

persona: alex

  • Junior in high school
  • BookTok enthusiast
  • Reads primarily for fun
  • Eco conscious
Alex, a smiling high-school student holding a notebook

opportunity space

  • Mid price point
  • Tactile experience
  • Focus on whimsy
  • More customization

hardware ideation

Sketchbook page of e-reader concepts (folio covers, clock stands, page-turn grips and remotes) above colored sketches of the reader on a night-light clock charger, a fold-out stand and a slim page-turn remote

cad development

CAD iterations of the reader's side grip: modular grip for rapid testing, button layouts, tilt lever and paddle mechanism
3D-printed grip prototypes in a row: original, modular buttons, first paddle attempt, dialing in tilt force, adjusting grip, final
Testing the final printed prototype in hand
CAD iterations of the charger: taller versions to fit phones, a clock face, and the final small-footprint design

physical model

Back of the yellow Tome model
Tome model held in one hand
Page-turn remote held between the fingers
Remote docked on the charger
Full set: clock charger, remote and reader

software ideation

kindle reading screen audit

Overlapping gestures frequently lead to accidental or incorrect input.

Smartphone style gestures break down due to low refresh rate.

Kindle reading screen with its overlapping tap and swipe zones color-coded

remapping menu items by use frequency

Wireframe board remapping the reader's menus by how often each item is used

detail refinement

Pencil sketches refining buttons, toggles and menu controls

final product

Comfortable for all hands, even lefties.

Tome held in a left hand, thumb resting on the page-turn lever

Greater than the sum of its parts.

Pair the folio and remote for ultimate comfort.

Tome standing in its folio with the remote in front

A charger you’ll want to show off.

When not in use, tome’s charger doubles as a clock

The charger, with a yellow analog clock face

Information at a glance.

When docked on its charger, tome turns into a standby clock that you can customize to show just about anything, from weather, to your favorite works of art.

Tome docked on its charger showing the date, weather and time

Flexible by design.

tome has an optional page turn remote, so you can read without even holding your book

The yellow page-turn remote

Meet Volume OS

A sight for sore eyes.

The library menu keeps everything tidy for you while still being at your fingertips

Volume OS library screen with books on shelves

Looking for something?

The pause menu allows you to check the time or your reading progress without distraction.

Volume OS pause menu over a page of text

Settings that set themselves.

The quick menu allows for easy adjustment to brightness and color temperature, as well as an automatic mode that adapts to your environment.

Volume OS quick settings with brightness and warmth sliders

More from me:

Radian Station

Tofu Tilted

LeafLink

Bella

Beam

Dizzy Driller

Work for OrthoIQ

Work for Motiv
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