top of page
Discord: Image
ROLE
Discord: Text
December 31st, 2021 - February 10th, 2022
I served as the sole User Researcher for this particular Discord Usability Evaluation. During the study, I utilized 1:1 interviewing, Affinity Diagramming, Kano Model, Surveying, and Secondary Research.
Discord: Text
CONTEXT
Discord: Text
Discord was released in 2015 as a voice communication, content delivery, and instant messaging platform. Currently, it has evolved into an area where individuals with a variety of interests can from on 'servers', which are consist of voice, video channels for communication, and screen share. There are over 350 million registered in total and users 150 monthly.
My interests in Discord as an application began when first moving to Barcelona to attend school. Being 6 hours away from my home location, New York, I found an easily accessible form of communication to voice/video call without the usage of cellphone data. I also enjoyed the benefit of screen sharing with the option to include audio to share work. Due to its video sharing and server capabilities, it can maintain user loyalty from a variety of groups such as academic, professional, and social. Thus, finding value in Discord as a brand as well as conducting further investigation on it. After developing a detailed research plan, I have conducted various studies on current, former, and new Discord users on their experiences with the application.
Discord: Text
GOAL OF STUDY
Discord: Text
Currently, Discord users are able to register for an account on their computer (Mac or PC) and mobile device. I utilize the chat function to send messages to friends/loved ones as well as screen sharing for school work, videos, and video games. After careful observation, I discovered there are challenges within the mobile platform of Discord, where new time users face limitations with screen share, gifs, and voice calls. Specifically, software restrictions in voice communication in Mac to Mobile, and chat functions.
​
I have developed a research plan that was completed on December 30th, 2021. Initially, my predicted findings within the application were based on the following questions.
How can a user can properly navigate technical issues when they utilize the audio function between different types of devices (PC, Mac, and Mobile) ?
Are users satisfied with the support (FAQ) when navigating new or existing features in the application?
Why have users within my personal network switched back to other traditional messaging platforms?
What type of users are typical in Discord?
What type of features do users look for in well used social platform?
What other communication platforms are used apart from discord and why?
Discord: Text
METHODOLOGY
Discord: Text
SURVEY
Google forms
Sent to: Anonymous Discord/Social Media users
Recruitment sources: Messages to friends (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Discord)
USABILITY TESTING
Think Aloud
Users freely explore discord as they usually do for 5 minutes and think aloud about their navigation process
Performative
After users freely explore the application, they were given a series of 4 tasks that are listed on the Discord Support Page. Each task is measured on heuristics (severity) of how difficult (low to high) it ranks in completion.
DESK RESEARCH
Competitive Analysis
Feature comparison popular of messaging platforms
Discord: List
PROCEDURE + PARTICIPANTS
Discord: Text
Discord: Image
Discord: Video
Discord: Video
Discord: Video
Discord: Video
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS
Discord: Text
Discord: Image
NEXT STEPS
Discord: Text
Discord: Image
bottom of page