What made Risto important was its ability to eliminate the fragmentation found in existing platforms by offering a single space where users could read, listen, and visually engage with stories. It supported different learning styles and content preferences, making storytelling more inclusive and accessible. Our target market primarily included Gen Z millennials and digital natives who enjoyed on-the-go reading, binge-listening to stories, and engaging with visual storytelling like comics and animations.
Key features we built into Risto included a smooth eBook reader with night mode and bookmark options, a scroll-based webtoon viewer optimized for mobile, and an audiobook player with speed control and background play. We also included a personalized library for saved content and offline access, user preference filters to help tailor recommendations, and a simple tabbed interface for intuitive navigation. Risto is a new way to experience stories, all in one place.
We started with extensive user research, speaking to readers, comic lovers, and audio story enthusiasts to understand their habits, frustrations, and wishlists. Their feedback shaped our core features and informed our decisions at every stage. From there, we moved into wireframing and prototyping, mapping out user journeys and ensuring the interface was clean, mobile-first, and easy to navigate across different formats.
Once the clickable prototype was in place, we tested it with early users to gather real-time insights, then refined the user experience based on their feedback. Our design approach prioritized minimalism and usability, while our development team focused on optimizing performance for low-bandwidth areas critical for our African market. We also collaborated with storytellers, comic artists, and voice talent to populate the platform with culturally resonant content.
We are currently testing the app and fixing bugs as we refine the experience for our users. Throughout the process, we keep returning to our north star: creating a storytelling space that feels personal, immersive, and accessible. Risto is more than a tech build, it is a labor of love shaped by the community and powered by the belief that stories, in all their forms, deserve to be heard, read, and seen. Here is a sneak-peek of Risto