Kibixy is an interactive children’s library - a playful space, a character-led brand and a companion app that bring kids back to physical books.
45% of the kids we surveyed read for fun only rarely. Libraries feel passive next to screens.
Kids already read on screens; parents still want books. 80% would read more with interactive features.
One experience in three layers: a playful space, a character-led brand and an app that leads back to the shelf.
2012: 38% of kids read for fun every day.
2021: just 25% - and 1 in 5 never do.
The library barely changed in between.
Source: Farshore Consumer Insights research, reported by ReadingZone.
In our survey, 44.8% of children read for pleasure only rarely - and more of them read on devices (35%) than in a library (15%). Libraries still offer quiet rows of shelves.
Reading for pleasure · Children 0-17 · 2012 vs 2021
Read daily for pleasure
−13 pts in under a decade
Never read for pleasure
+7 pts - 1 in 5 children
Problem statementChildren are drifting from physical books because digital entertainment is simply more engaging - and traditional libraries offer few hands-on, playful reasons to visit.
The opportunity: if kids already live on screens, use them as the doorway - and make the library the place they want to end up.
How I got here · 12 weeks, Feb → Apr
Survey · Children + parents · Google Forms
of kids read for pleasure only rarely - on special occasions or for assignments
read mostly on devices, versus in a library
would read more if the library had interactive digital features
sometimes or often struggle to find books that interest them
of parents rate interactive elements as very important
of parents still prefer physical books for their child
Interviews
“Uninspired by traditional methods - I want interactive and creative learning.”
“Children struggle to stay engaged in learning beyond school.”
“Outdated resources and few interactive materials reduce engagement in class.”
The tension that shaped everything: kids live on screens, parents want books. Kibixy had to use the first to get to the second.
+ Multilingual books, audio narration, animated illustrations, affordable
− No physical presence; needs devices and internet
+ Storytelling workshops and digital content, strong partnerships
− Relies on donations; limited reach and spaces
+ Wide range, memberships, branches across India
− Little children’s programming or interactive learning
+ Dedicated kids’ libraries, storytelling and literacy focus
− City-only; affordability barriers
The gapNo one combines a playful physical space, hands-on programmes and a digital companion for kids - that’s where Kibixy sits.
80% of kids would read more with interactive features.
→ Interactive zones, AR, sessionsKids read on devices; parents want books.
→ An app that leads back to the shelf60% struggle; signage was the #1 pain in the visit.
→ Wayfinding + discovery in the appParents lack time; teachers lack material.
→ Programmes + a parent space“Less screen time - but not less fun.”
NeedsEngaging, playful and educational time together
“Can reading feel like a game?”
NeedsInteractive, fun ways to learn through play
“How do I make lessons stick?”
NeedsFresh, hands-on material beyond the textbook
“Can we keep busy days calm?”
NeedsClear zones, signage and simple programme tools
Storyboard · A family’s visit, today
A family hears about the library from a friend and decides to visit.
They reach the library and are greeted by friendly staff.
Kids rush to the exhibits - but can’t tell where anything is.
The family checks the schedule: storytelling, crafts, STEM.
Kids gather their favourite books and materials to take home.
On the way home they share favourite moments and plan the next visit.
Families can’t find specific areas, so kids lose interest and parents get frustrated - the visit feels confusing, not exciting.
Clear, colourful signs at every key point, colour-coded zones - and a map in the app that shows exactly where a book lives.
Design goalCreate an interactive library that pairs traditional reading with modern technology - so every visit feels like play and builds a lifelong reading habit.
Each layer answers a different insight - and every one of them points kids back to a book.
One kid · three layers · One goal: read more physical books
Colour-coded zones, reading nooks, interactive displays and signage kids can read.
Answers Insights 01 + 03Six characters, a library card and rewards that make Kibixy feel like a friend.
Answers Insight 01Discover books, find them on the shelf, earn rewards, book sessions - with parents in the loop.
Answers Insights 02 + 03 + 04The loop: discover in the app → find it in the space → borrow with your character card → earn a reward → come back
Open, inviting, clearly defined areas
Wheelchair access, low shelves, multisensory
Furniture and spaces that adapt to programmes
Sanitising, child-safe exhibits and restrooms
Parents can see; kids explore freely
Zones and content by developmental stage
I blueprinted every step of a visit before drawing a single wall - so the space fixes the moments where families got lost.
User interactions · One visit, four stages
Interactive elements and signages guide and engage kids through the space
From a page of pencil marks to a logo a child could draw - and a cast of characters that carries Kibixy into the space, the app and home.
Type
Antipasto Pro
Rounded, friendly headlines - Thin to Extra Bold
Custom rounded wordmark + star mascotCharacters · 6 mascots · One cast everywhere
Brand palette · Soft, high-energy, kid-safe
iPad first, for kids aged 6-10 - big enough for small hands, easy to share with a grown-up, and at home on the library kiosks. Desktop and mobile follow as ideas.
Why an app · Straight from the survey
of kids read mostly on devices
→ Meet them where they already arestruggle to find books that interest them
→ Discovery by mood + a map to the shelfmost-wanted features: audiobooks + interactive storytelling apps
→ Story previews that unlock the real bookNo endless feeds. Each flow finishes with a book to borrow or a visit to plan.
Big targets, characters, voice and icons for kids; controls and progress for parents.
Stickers and badges unlock for books read and sessions joined - never for minutes in-app.
UX process · Flows → IA → Wireframes → UI → Test
Step 03 · User flows Drafted
Draft flows - rename, add or cut steps. Purple = screen, yellow = decision, outlined = happens in the real library.
If not available → “Reserve it” or “Similar books on the shelf now”. [Decide]
Step 04 · Information architecture Drafted
The kid space is the default; the parent space sits behind a grown-up gate. Map lives inside Book detail, not as its own tab.
Decided: Map sits inside Book detail (split view). [Open: does the library kiosk skip the gate and accounts?]
Ellie picks one story for today (Headspace-style), and a Duolingo-style reading path leads to the week’s sticker - one big button to start.
Kids pick a feeling - each one is a library zone with its own colour, icon and name - and get real stories that are on the shelf right now.
A split view made for iPad: the book on the left, the library map on the right - with the shelf highlighted.
Challenges and a sticker book turn reading into progress kids can see - and collect for real at check-out.
A kid-safe AI buddy: it suggests real books that are on the shelf, explains tricky words simply and reads them aloud.
Shown as mockups, not designed in full.
The same system, stretched to two more contexts.
Ideas for later - for grown-ups only. Kids stay on the iPad; desktop and mobile handle the planning and reminders around a visit.
Blueprinting the visit showed the real pain (signage) - and the app’s best job: getting kids to the right shelf.
Kids need delight; parents need trust. The app splits into a kid space and a parent space for that reason.
Every digital touchpoint earns its place only if it ends at a shelf.
“Kids don’t need to be told to read - they need a place that makes them want to.”Mehnaz Basheer