DISCUTO
A discussion & ideation platform with more than 20.000 users.
visual design / ux
THE CHALLENGE
As an already existing platform to discuss documents and ideas, Discuto had the objective to revamp, grow and become the reference tool for group discussions and dominate market. To achieve, a redesign of the platform was necessary, aswell as as other marketing elements such as a new website, a new landing page and new visual imagery.
THE WORK
My work on this project for Discuto was in three key areas:
-All visual design, including illustration, look and feel, iconography, video, physical products (posters and banners)
-Work on UX/UI, including analysis of the existing UX; creation and development of the new UX, and prototyping of it.
-As well work on: Competitor & Customer research & analysis, Customer journey, Use Cases, Flows.
THE PROCESS & OUTCOME
Discussion & Ideation platform
The objective was to improve the usability of the platform so that users would be able to effectively and easily discuss ideas and documents. This new attractive framework would allow users to freely express their ideas.
The process started with objective definition. After that, different phases were tackled like competitors analysis, the customer journey or the customer personas. Then by arriving at the Solution Research, the terrain was prepared for later storyboarding and creation of the structural UX. (Visit "About my methodology" to learn about the methodology and the process that I follow)
User needs, business needs, UX analysis, story boarding, structure, skecthing for the UX
It was in this phase that we arrived to the solution of create separates tabs between description and discussion. In the old version (see below), an unique page contains both elements, with the consequent overcrowding of information. In addition, potentially useful information was not shown, to prevent the page from becoming too long and for the user to find the discussion too low on the page.
So, the first tab, "description", would include the general info, timing, main description, latest activity of the people and works like high view. The second tab brings the user to the discussion itself, 100% focused on the paragraphs, comments, likes, etc. Of course, user can go to one to the other tab easily.
As well, on the tab "discussion", user has a specific tools to navigate through the document, going directly to the desired paragraph, or going to the beginning of the chapters. An small box showing the profile strength was added too.
The idea was offer to the user the appropriate and necessary information relevant to the discussion and the best possible way to interact with it; that means, an easy and quick way to access the discussion itself in order to participate through proper navigation. Once the user was on the discussion, he had to be able to easily perform all the commonly required actions (such as to see and comment on paragraphs) but also the non-commonly required actions (such as to see "further info").
All of this should be contained in a clear, readable interface that is both appealing and visually attractive.
Next video shows the behavior of the platform (for discussions):
Surely, the creation of proper usability for the platform on all devices as well as screens resolutions was taken into account:
Along with the platform, the management interface was redesigned in order to provide the user the necessary ease to share, manage and administrate all discussions and ideations.
Besides the improvement of the platform through the previously commented areas, gamification and onboarding were also included too, in order to increase the engagement within the platform.
Website
With the website, the objectives were to explain the features in order to allow prospects to understand the product and give them sufficient reasons to choose Discuto against others options in the market. Also to showcase the high quality of the product. The key to reaching these objectives were visual appeal along a proper UX, information architecture and clear and direct copywriting.
Illustrations/Iconography/elements
Behind the style of the illustrations, the idea was create something exciting, fun, easily adaptable in any kind of resolution and very communicational. Colors were chosen in keeping with the branding of Discuto, but adding differentiation and dynamism. The intention of showing the appeal of the illustration was again, to show quality, and to connect good-worth-quality to the inner workings of the platform.
Related to the icons, clarity was the main objective, but also to maintain the style of the website/product and so order create a coherent and homogeneous experience.
Finally, work was made in different areas like social platforms, creating banners and adapting elements and the creation of signs and posters for use in conventions and other sales meetings.
