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Patreon·Product Manager·Onsite - Product Sense / Strategy·Intermediate

Intermediate
Jun 2026

Summary

Patreon PM interview with a product design prompt around reading habits. Pretty open-ended, which I wasn't fully prepared for.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Design an app that helps people read more.

Product Sense & IdeationProduct StrategyAdaptability & Ambiguity
Author's notes

I jumped straight into features and the interviewer kind of just waited for me to finish before asking who the app was even for.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the goal and target user, then frame the problem around Patreon's ecosystem of creators and fans. Propose a solution that leverages Patreon's unique strengths—exclusive content and community—to drive reading habits, and outline how you'd measure success and iterate.

Pro tip: Anchor your solution in Patreon's core value proposition: helping creators build direct relationships with fans. Show how reading can deepen that connection, rather than just adding a generic reading tracker.

1. Clarify the goal and user

Ask questions to understand what 'read more' means: is it about reading books, articles, or creator content? Identify the primary user—Patreon creators or their patrons—and their motivations.

2. Define the problem and opportunity

Articulate why people struggle to read more (time, motivation, discovery) and how Patreon is uniquely positioned to solve it through its creator-patron relationships.

3. Brainstorm and prioritize solutions

Generate a few ideas (e.g., curated reading lists from creators, reading challenges with rewards, social reading groups) and prioritize based on impact and feasibility for Patreon.

4. Design the MVP and key features

Detail the core features of your proposed app, focusing on how it integrates with Patreon's existing platform (e.g., creator tiers, exclusive content, community posts).

5. Define success metrics and iterate

Outline how you'd measure success (e.g., engagement, retention, creator revenue) and describe a plan for testing and learning from user feedback.

Key Points to Mention

  • Leverage Patreon's creator-patron relationship to drive reading motivation (e.g., creators recommend books, fans discuss).
  • Focus on exclusive content or experiences as rewards for reading milestones.
  • Integrate with existing Patreon features like tiers, posts, and community chat.
  • Consider both creators (who can share their reading lists) and patrons (who want to engage more deeply).
  • Define clear metrics: daily active readers, time spent reading, creator engagement, and retention.
  • Address potential challenges: content discovery, time constraints, and competition from Goodreads or Kindle.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.