I've Read That
Social book discovery
Brand
Website
Photo
We created as a social book discovery platform built around personal recommendation. Part Pinterest, part recommendation engine, the project was backed by Invest NI’s Propel programme and later received Techstart NI Proof of Concept funding.
The Problem:
Book discovery was fragmented, impersonal and often driven by generic bestseller lists or algorithms. Research consistently showed that personal recommendation was one of the most trusted ways people discovered new books, yet there was no dedicated platform built around that behaviour. Readers lacked a modern, visual and community-led space to curate, recommend and discuss the books they loved.
The Solution:
We created I’ve Read That as a social-first book discovery platform focused on human recommendation and visual curation.
Users could build collections of books, recommend titles directly to friends and discover new reads through a beautifully designed, community-led experience. Alongside the platform itself, we led the full brand, product, UX and growth strategy from concept through to launch.
The Results:
I’ve Read That received backing through Invest NI’s Propel programme and later secured Techstart NI Proof of Concept funding to support the platform’s development.
The project gained recognition within the publishing and startup space, including industry award shortlists, conference exhibitions and partnerships with publishers including Pan Macmillan, Picador and Faber & Faber.
Although the platform remained an early-stage venture, it provided invaluable experience across branding, digital product development, community building and startup growth, shaping much of the strategic and creative approach Ross & Adam apply today.