BookBase

Online repository and search tool for books — 3-hour design challenge

bookbase cover
bookbase cover
bookbase cover

Overview

At the Innovation Labs 2020 Cluj Hackathon, each participant was given a random design prompt. Mine was to create a mobile app for an online book repository with robust search and categorization. I came up with BookBase and had 3 hours to turn the brief into a working concept. I designed an app structure that balanced powerful search functionality with an intuitive browsing experience, allowing users to discover books through multiple paths, whether they knew exactly what they wanted or were open to exploring.

Client

Role

UX & UI Design

Responsabilities

Research, Wireframing, Prototyping

Timeline

2020

The Process

With only 3 hours on the clock, every minute counted. I split my time across research, ideation, wireframing, and prototyping, moving fast but staying focused on solving the core problem.

The prototype

The final deliverable was a clickable prototype demonstrating the main user flows, from browsing and searching to the scan-to-add feature.

About me

Hi, I'm Sorin. I'm a product designer, and I think design is at its best when it's both beautiful and measurable.

I've spent 5+ years working on products that sit at the intersection of complexity and clarity, taking messy problems and making them make sense. I care deeply about craft, but I also want to know if what I made actually worked.

About me

Hi, I'm Sorin. I'm a product designer, and I think design is at its best when it's both beautiful and measurable.

I've spent 5+ years working on products that sit at the intersection of complexity and clarity, taking messy problems and making them make sense. I care deeply about craft, but I also want to know if what I made actually worked.

About me

Hi, I'm Sorin. I'm a product designer, and I think design is at its best when it's both beautiful and measurable.

I've spent 5+ years working on products that sit at the intersection of complexity and clarity, taking messy problems and making them make sense. I care deeply about craft, but I also want to know if what I made actually worked.

©2026 Sorin Alexandru Gurz

©2026 Sorin Alexandru Gurz

©2026 Sorin Alexandru Gurz