Inspiration
The idea came while visiting the Winter Fair at Bryant Park, where I saw a shop selling mini-bookshelves. Since I’ve always loved arts and crafts, I decided to make one together with my daughter as a fun project. The process was so enjoyable that I thought: why not turn this into an app? That’s how the DaliCollab Bookshelf Builder was born — a mix of creativity, technology, and the joy of building something playful together.
What it does
The app lets users build a custom bookshelf with up to 12 books — books they’re reading, want to read, or recommend. Each book can be shown as a cover or spine and placed anywhere on the shelf. Users can also add decorations (plants, sculptures, clocks) for a personal touch.
Once finished, they can: Export an image to share on social media. Download a PDF to fold into mini-books for a real-life DIY bookshelf.
How I built it
Started prototyping in Bolt.new, focusing on a clean and stylish design. Switched to Cursor AI code agents when I needed API connections and faster iteration. Built a Cloudflare Worker system with two layers: Client Worker (exposed to the app). Server Worker (handles secure Google Books API calls). Designed the UX flow so users could easily choose book views, drag and drop, and decorate shelves. Final outputs are generated either as a social-ready image or a printable PDF.
Challenges I ran into
Drag-and-drop complexity: Needed to balance freedom with usability. Shelf layout consistency: Early designs had uneven shelf heights. Fixed with a grid system. Google Books API restrictions: Solved with a worker-based architecture for security. AI code generation: Helpful but required guidance — Cursor sometimes produced code that needed restructuring.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
Created a tool that blends UX design, technology, and creativity into a fun user experience. Made a secure and scalable Cloudflare Worker architecture for handling APIs. Gave users a way to not only share their books online but also create a physical DIY bookshelf.
What I learned
AI tools like Bolt.new and Cursor can accelerate development, but human oversight is key to shaping UX and architecture. A layered API setup in Cloudflare improves both security and maintainability. People respond more to experiences that are playful and tangible, not just digital.
What's next for Untitled (Bookshelf Builder)
Add support for more books and different shelf sizes. Expand the decorations library with seasonal or themed packs. Add social features: share bookshelf templates, remix someone else’s design, or embed shelves on personal websites. Explore 3D/AR features so users can project their bookshelf into real spaces.
Built With
- bolt
- cloudflare
- cursor
- figma
- nextjs
- react
- tailwind
