UX design that makes book discovery effortless

Industry:

Education & e-Learning

Timeline:

2,5 months

Impact:

+83% increase in monthly website visits

Collage of tablet and phone mock-ups showing the House of Books subscription website interface

Context

Some websites shout. House of Books wanted theirs to whisper, with confidence. As a subscription-based book curator in the UAE, they didn’t need flashy gimmicks. They needed a site that felt calm, premium, and easy. Something that lets readers focus on their next page-turner, not on figuring out how to subscribe.

They partnered with us for book subscription website design and custom development. No WordPress, no WooCommerce, just a smart, modern system tailored to their needs. With a focus on minimalist literary website design, we created a platform that’s as seamless as it is elegant. Oh, and the deadline? Let’s just say we had to move fast.

The challenge

This project had a short runway, with the client needing:

  • A fully custom-designed frontend and backend
  • A clean UX tailored for a subscription-based book platform
  • Smooth subscription logic and seamless checkout integration
  • Space for book summaries, blog posts, and seasonal boxes
  • A backend dashboard to manage orders, users, and content


The goal was to create a high-end, minimalist design with an editorial edge. Through our expertise in book subscription website design and custom development, we delivered a platform that perfectly blends style and functionality for an exceptional user experience.

Tablet hero section of the House of Books homepage with green branding and featured bestseller
Two mobile library screens displaying book list, filters and navigation on the House of Books site

Our approach

We split the project into three tight sprints to deliver a seamless book subscription website design and custom development solution:

1. Wireframing & visual concept

We began with wireframes to clearly map the customer journey, from the homepage to subscription signup, all the way to email confirmation. Once approved, we transformed these into a clean, content-led design inspired by the client’s brand materials, creating a minimalist literary website design that resonated with their audience.

2. Custom development

We coded the front-end from scratch, lightweight and optimized for speed. No bloated themes or prebuilt plugins here. On the backend, we developed a custom admin dashboard, giving the client complete control over:

  • Subscriptions
  • Orders
  • Product content
  • Blog posts
  • User base

3. Launch & maintenance

After launch, we integrated tracking tools, validated all forms, connected emails, and tested the checkout experience across devices. The client also subscribed to our SLA support plan, allowing us to assist weekly with content updates, feature enhancements, and hosting needs.

Tablet product-detail page for the novel “You Only Live Once” on the House of Books website
Related-books carousel with multiple book covers on the House of Books site

Final results

The new House of Books site went live on time, elegant, intuitive, and tailored down to the last pixel. This project highlights our expertise in book subscription website design and custom development, delivering a platform that meets the client’s exact needs.

Key features include:

  • A full-featured subscription system
  • A custom CMS that’s as easy to use as their reading list
  • A solid base for future features (gift cards, loyalty, language switch, etc.)
  • A managed hosting setup with fast support and updates


No fluff. Just a premium subscription-based book platform UX that works seamlessly and sets the foundation for growth.

Three mobile screens showing membership plan selection and book details on House of Books
Dual tablet views of the House of Books account dashboard for profile and payments

Tech stack we used

  • Frontend: HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox & Grid), JavaScript (ES6+)
  • Frameworks & Libraries: Bootstrap 5, jQuery (selective use), Alpine.js
  • Backend: Custom PHP (no WordPress or CMS)
  • Database: MySQL
  • Payments & Integrations:
    • Stripe (secure subscription billing)
    • Custom email confirmation & notifications
  • Infrastructure:
    • Hosted and maintained on Studio Ubique’s private server
    • Regular backups, weekly updates, and uptime monitoring
Mobile subscription summary and sign-up form on the House of Books website
Tablet shopping-cart page with delivery details and order list on House of Books

FAQs

Q.1 What was delivered for House of Books

A fully custom subscription-based book platform, including UX design, custom front-end, backend dashboard, and subscription billing integration.

Q.2 Why not use WordPress or WooCommerce

Because the client needed speed, flexibility, and a premium look. Custom development avoided plugin bloat and gave them a tailor-made CMS.

Q.3 How are subscriptions managed

Through a custom admin dashboard where the team controls subscriptions, orders, product content, blog posts, and the user base.

Q.4 Which payment system was integrated

Stripe powers secure subscription billing with custom confirmation emails and automated notifications.

Q.5 Is the platform scalable for future features

Yes. The system is built to support gift cards, loyalty programs, language switchers, and more without costly rebuilds.

Q.6 How is hosting and support handled

The site runs on Studio Ubique’s private server with backups, updates, and SLA support for weekly assistance and fast fixes.

Curious how we’d build yours?

Let’s talk about how we can elevate your book subscription website design and custom development. Book a quick 30-min video call, we’ll break down what’s holding your site back (in plain language) and discuss solutions like subscription-based book platform UX or custom e-commerce subscription site development.

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