discordAug 21, 2025

Discord for Business Vol. 2: Cannes-worthy ad product updates (opens in new tab)

Discord’s latest business update positions the platform as a major advertising channel for mainstream gaming audiences. The company introduced Orbs-based rewards, Kantar Brand Lift measurement, and mobile Quests to increase engagement and demonstrate campaign impact. It also highlighted recent brand collaborations and research emphasizing more social, immersive marketing experiences. ## Cannes Lions and Discord’s Advertising Growth - Discord made its Cannes Lions debut as its advertising business continues to expand. - Panels with Xbox, Kantar, and Unilever focused on Discord’s opt-in, community-first approach. - The company argued that gaming is now mainstream, with Discord serving as a place where audiences communicate and influence one another. ## Orbs and Brand Lift Measurement - **Orbs** are a new virtual currency users can earn by completing advertising Quests. - Users can redeem Orbs for Discord rewards such as profile cosmetics and Nitro. - Built-in incentives are intended to improve engagement, completion rates, and interaction time without requiring advertisers to create their own rewards. - **Kantar Brand Lift studies** measure campaign outcomes including awareness, recall, and purchase intent. - Third-party measurement gives advertisers a more credible way to evaluate return on investment. ## Mobile Quests Beta - Quests are expanding to mobile after an alpha featuring campaigns for Marvel Snap, Tank Blitz, and Brawl Stars. - The mobile beta begins in August and targets the fast-growing mobile gaming audience. - AppsFlyer will serve as the first mobile measurement partner. - Discord invited brands to apply for the remaining early-access positions. ## Recent Campaigns and Industry Research - Netflix and Mediahub promoted *The Old Guard 2* through a custom Discord server and a Video Quest featuring Uma Thurman. - The campaign was designed around fan communities and the spaces where audiences already interact. - Dentsu’s 2025 report, *Gaming: Your Marketing Cheatcode*, featured Discord as an example of the shift toward social and immersive gaming marketing. Brands seeking gaming audiences can use Discord’s new reward system, mobile campaigns, and independent measurement tools to create more engaging campaigns while better proving their effectiveness.

mobile-appsdiscordmobile-gamingvirtual-currency+4

discordJun 1, 2025

Go Beyond, Plus Ultra! with the My Hero Academia Collection (opens in new tab)

Discord has officially launched its first anime-themed collection in collaboration with Crunchyroll, featuring the popular series *My Hero Academia*. Released in anticipation of the 2025 Anime Awards, the collection introduces eleven new customization items that leverage character-specific "Quirks" and iconic gear. This partnership represents a direct response to high user demand for anime-centric profile aesthetics and immersive digital collectibles. ### Hero Gear and Avatar Decorations * The creative team focused on "Hero Gear" as the primary design element to ensure decorations remain instantly recognizable while avoiding excessive obstruction of the user’s avatar. * The production process followed a three-step workflow: conceptualizing the gear, applying color to establish mood and richness, and adding custom animations to bring the characters' unique Quirks to life. * The collection features eight distinct decorations, including Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Shoto Todoroki, Endeavor, Hawks, All Might, and Tomura Shigaraki. ### Dynamic Profile Storytelling * Designers utilized the larger surface area of profile effects to move beyond simple gear, focusing instead on "signature moves" and iconic moments from the anime. * The effects are designed for immediate impact, aiming to tell a story in seconds through high-energy animations like Deku’s electrifying "Full Cowling" and Bakugo’s "Cluster" explosions. * Three specific profile effects were created for this launch: Full Cowling, Cluster, and a dedicated League of Villains theme. Fans can now access the *My Hero Academia* collection through the Shop on both desktop and mobile platforms to personalize their digital identity with these limited-edition hero and villain aesthetics.

mobile-appsui-designux-designanimation+3

figmaMay 4, 2025

How Polaroid Is Building its Next Era of Innovation | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Polaroid is reinventing its iconic instant-photography business for the digital era while preserving its creative heritage. The company uses Figma to unify design across its website, camera products, and mobile apps, enabling faster collaboration and more consistent user experiences. A centralized design system and more capable prototypes help the team validate ideas early and reduce costly development changes. ## Preserving Polaroid’s Creative Legacy - Polaroid became culturally significant through Edwin Land’s instant-camera innovations and its use by artists such as Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, and David Hockney. - Digital photography threatened the company’s survival, leading to the closure of its last film factory in 2008. - The Impossible Project acquired the factory, recreated Polaroid film chemistry, and eventually obtained the Polaroid brand. - The modern company now combines instant cameras and film with photo printers, connected-camera apps, and other digital products. ## Building a Single Source of Truth - Before adopting Figma, designers worked in separate files and fragmented workflows. - The lack of shared components and a centralized design system caused duplication, slowed iteration, and limited the team to designing primarily for iOS. - Figma’s cloud-based collaboration gives designers and other departments shared visibility, supporting remote work and cross-functional discussion. - Design tokens and variables allow Polaroid to: - Support light and dark modes. - Adapt designs across iOS and Android. - Change default fonts by platform. - Match an app’s theme to a camera’s colorway. - Show users only the camera model they own during device setup. - Figma UI kits provide starting points, while plugins such as Autoflow help map user journeys. ## Using Prototypes to Validate Ideas Earlier - More powerful Figma prototypes let the team test realistic user flows before development. - Users can navigate freely and change settings, producing more natural feedback than earlier prototype methods. - User testing reveals actual behavior instead of relying on assumptions. - Early validation improves product quality, saves time, and prevents expensive revisions later. Polaroid’s experience suggests that a shared design system combined with realistic prototyping can help legacy brands modernize efficiently while maintaining a recognizable creative identity.

mobile-appsfigmadesign-systemsprototyping+4

discordFeb 26, 2025

Discover More Ways to Play with Apps – Now Anywhere on Discord! (opens in new tab)

Discord is expanding access to apps so users can play, create, and socialize from virtually anywhere on the platform. The App Launcher now works across desktop and mobile, in voice calls, text chats, servers, and DMs, while supported apps can be added to an account for use across Discord. The goal is to make interactive experiences easier to discover and launch, whether users are alone or with friends. ## Apps for Entertainment and Utility - Discord apps provide games, media, music, creative tools, and utility features within chats. - Examples include: - **Gartic Phone** for party drawing games - **YouTube Watch Together** for shared video viewing - **Rythm** for music - **Stat Tracker** for game statistics - **Midjourney** for image generation - Apps can help fill downtime before friends join a call or add activities to an existing conversation. ## The App Launcher - The App Launcher is available on desktop and mobile. - It appears: - Next to the chat bar in text chats - At the bottom of voice calls - Users can access both Activities and bots from the same interface. - On mobile, a visual command interface lets users select app commands without typing them manually. - Apps can be launched directly from text chats, allowing activities such as chess or mini-golf outside voice calls. ## Image Editing in Chats - Users can select the App Launcher from a shared image to access image-related commands. - Apps can describe images, turn them into stickers, animate them, or add captions. - For example, the esmBot app can add a humorous caption to an uploaded image. - Results appear as new messages in the chat. ## Using Apps Across Discord - Supported apps can be added directly to a user’s account rather than being restricted to a single server. - Users can add an app from its profile in a chat or member list by selecting **“Add App.”** - Launching and authorizing an eligible app through the App Launcher can also add it automatically. - Account-level apps appear in the App Launcher’s **Recents** section for quick access in servers and DMs. ## A Growing App Ecosystem - Discord says its developer community is continually creating new apps. - Users can explore thousands of apps for games, social activities, creative work, and practical tools. - Developers can learn how to build Discord apps through Discord’s developer resources. Discord’s updates make apps more portable and easier to use, reducing the need to search for commands or remain in a particular server. Users can start by opening the App Launcher in a chat or call, adding useful apps to their account, and exploring the broader app directory.

mobile-appsdiscordvoice-chatdesktop-apps+2

figmaNov 13, 2024

8 Ways to Craft an Unforgettable Config Talk | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

The post presents memorable Config talks as a source of inspiration and a practical rubric for future speakers. Its central lesson is that standout presentations challenge conventional thinking, tell a personal story, and show genuine care for the people affected by the work. The excerpt focuses on taking creative risks rather than blindly following industry best practices. ## Taking Risks and Rejecting Convention - Josh Wardle’s talk, **“Opting for the opposite,”** explains how he created Wordle by deliberately ignoring common growth tactics. - Wordle: - Could be played only once per day. - Did not link back to the game when shared. - Was built as a personal gift for Wardle’s partner, not as a viral product. - The talk resonated with Config speakers because it demonstrates that: - Simplicity can outperform metrics-driven optimization. - Conventional wisdom is not always appropriate for a specific audience. - Building with deep care for users can matter more than maximizing engagement. - The broader message is to show how a meaningful product decision emerged from a willingness to do things differently. ## Creating an Inspirational Presentation - The article frames memorable talks as more than informational sessions: they should change assumptions and leave audiences thinking differently. - Other referenced Config sessions include: - **“An Infinite Canvas,”** by Linda Dong and Mike Stern, about spatial-computing design. - A discussion between George Kedenburg III and Humane co-founder Imran Chaudhri about the development and vision of the Ai Pin. - These examples suggest that strong talks combine: - A distinctive perspective. - A compelling story about the work. - Clear attention to users and real-world impact. When preparing a Config talk—or any presentation—focus on a genuine insight or unconventional decision, explain the reasoning behind it, and connect it to the people you are building for.

mobile-appsfigmaproduct-designweb-development+2

figmaFeb 25, 2024

David Hoang on how AI brings design and development together | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

AI is reshaping creative tools by making interfaces more dynamic, multimodal, and less fully controlled by designers. David Hoang argues that design and engineering are converging as AI augments both disciplines, enabling more people to move from learning and prototyping to shipping real products. Replit’s focus is “Artificial Developer Intelligence” (ADI), aimed at increasing autonomy, productivity, and collaboration rather than pursuing general intelligence. ## Dynamic Interfaces and a New Design Paradigm - Like the rise of mobile, AI is resetting the field and giving designers an opportunity to rethink how people interact with technology. - Interfaces will increasingly adapt across modalities and form factors instead of presenting a fixed, fully designed experience. - Designers must relinquish some control over presentation while shaping how systems behave and respond. - AI, spatial computing—including Apple Vision Pro—and other emerging technologies are converging to create new interaction models. ## Design and Engineering Converge - AI can augment both designers and engineers, making the boundaries between the disciplines less distinct. - Product development is evolving toward a tightly integrated design-and-engineering practice. - Replit frames this strategy as Artificial Developer Intelligence, or ADI, rather than Artificial General Intelligence. - ADI is intended to give people greater autonomy and productivity through collaboration between humans and AI. ## Replit’s Vision for Artificial Developer Intelligence - Future ADI agents could: - Generate code and complete code automatically. - Build complex software architectures. - Orchestrate advanced tools deployed on Replit. - Understand how teams work and improve organizational collaboration. - Hoang describes Replit as a potential “technical co-founder” for people with ideas but limited technical expertise. - The goal is to accelerate the path from learning to coding, launching a business, and scaling an idea. ## Lowering the Barrier to Building Software - AI-powered tools can enable nontechnical users to create technically sophisticated applications. - A Replit hackathon example showed a nontechnical product manager producing work that surpassed projects built by teams of engineers. - Prompting becomes an important skill because translating goals into effective instructions resembles the product manager’s role in defining what should be built. AI’s practical impact may be greatest when it helps people combine product judgment, design, and engineering execution. Rather than replacing creative or technical roles, tools like ADI are positioned to expand who can build software and shorten the distance between an idea and a working product.

mobile-appsaiprompt-engineeringcode-generation+4

figmaDec 6, 2023

36 Questions to Fall (Back) in Love with Tech | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Technology once felt playful, creative, and limitless, but constant notifications, social comparison, and digital distrust have made it feel burdensome. Figma’s article explores this changing relationship through interviews with more than 20 product and technology professionals, using 36 questions inspired by the psychology of vulnerability and connection. Their stories suggest that technology remains most meaningful when it enables creativity, community, and human connection rather than merely increasing consumption or efficiency. ## Early Encounters with Technology - Many interviewees remember technology as an open frontier for experimentation and self-expression. - Cristina Cordova discovered college pathways through the College Confidential forum, finding peers and practical guidance unavailable in her family. - Kristy Tillman credits early design software with shaping her career and recalls a period of “pure creativity.” - Mig Reyes remembers customizing AOL Instant Messenger profiles as a playful way to experiment and express himself. - These experiences illustrate how early technology often encouraged curiosity, discovery, and personal agency. ## When the Digital Honeymoon Ends - The web’s promise has been complicated by advertising, fear of missing out, endless notifications, and social-media pressure. - Lauren McCann describes the alienation of seeing friends gather without her. - Shyvee Shi notes that social platforms present polished versions of people’s lives, encouraging unhealthy comparison. - Peter Yang argues that creating things is generally more valuable than passively consuming social content. - As digital tools became essential to work and daily life, they also introduced new obligations, including “Slack-lash” and constant availability. ## Technology as a Source of Community - Despite its problems, technology can create lasting relationships and communities. - Lenny Rachitsky met his wife through the dating site howaboutwe.com. - Sho Kuwamoto formed enduring friendships through the online forum Midwest Raves. - Forums, dating platforms, and other digital communities can connect people with mentors, friends, and partners who share their interests. - At its best, technology helps people overcome geographic and social barriers and build a sense of belonging. ## AI, Creativity, and the Future - AI dominates conversations about technology’s future, bringing both excitement and caution. - Mihika Kapoor sees creative AI tools as a way to help people turn ideas into reality and unlock broader innovation. - Marcel Weekes emphasizes that developers should consider whether and how something should be built—not only whether it can be built. - Automation could reduce tedious work and allow people to focus more on craft, judgment, and interesting problems. - Jenny Wen argues that technology should also make room for joy, rather than optimizing every experience solely for speed or productivity. ## Reflecting on Your Own Relationship with Tech - The article invites readers to use its 36 questions as a tool for reflection and conversation. - Questions explore first usernames, early technology experiences, online identity, creativity, connection, and hopes for the future. - Sharing these stories is intended to create the same vulnerability and intimacy that inspired the original “36 Questions That Lead to Love.” Technology is worth embracing when it helps people create, connect, and express themselves. The practical challenge is to design and use digital tools more intentionally—prioritizing human value and joy over endless consumption, engagement, and optimization.

mobile-appsaisoftware-developmentautomation+2

figmaApr 20, 2021

Coming together at Config 2021 | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Figma’s Config 2021 announcements focus on making design more collaborative and accessible to broader teams. The company introduced tools for brainstorming, safe experimentation, mobile review, live discussion, and large-scale participation. Together, these updates reflect Figma’s shift from a specialized interface-design tool toward a broader collaborative workspace. ## FigJam for Brainstorming - FigJam is a new whiteboard space for brainstorming, diagramming user journeys, and exploring ideas. - It includes features such as emotes and chats to recreate some of the spontaneity of in-person collaboration. - Released in open beta, it was initially free through February 2022, with planned free and paid tiers afterward. ## Branching for Safer Iteration - Branching lets users create independent versions of a file to explore ideas without changing the main design. - Teams can collaborate within branches using Figma’s multiplayer tools. - Completed work can be merged back into the main branch. - The feature is available in beta for Organization-plan customers and is intended to support design-system contributions and large-team workflows. ## Mobile Access and Review - New iOS and Android apps make files and prototypes easier to access from anywhere. - The apps improve the mirrored playback experience, helping designers preview how work appears on actual devices. - The mobile app was launched in beta, with a broader release planned. ## Audio Collaboration - Audio allows teammates to start calls directly inside Figma or FigJam. - It supports live design critiques, group brainstorming, and discussions without leaving the editor. - The feature was planned for Professional and Organization plans. ## Larger Multiplayer Sessions - Figma increased its limit to 500 concurrent users: 100 editors and 400 viewers. - The company planned to raise the limit to 1,000 users across Figma and FigJam, with 200 editors and 800 viewers. - These limits support large presentations, workshops, classrooms, and other emerging collaborative uses. ## Publishing to the Figma Community - Everyone can publish files, templates, techniques, and other resources to the Figma Community. - Users can both discover work from others and share their own contributions. - FigJam templates were highlighted as an early example of this expanded community ecosystem. Figma’s Config 2021 updates recommend a broader model of design collaboration: teams can ideate in FigJam, experiment through branching, review work on mobile, communicate through audio, and share results with the wider community.

mobile-appsfigmadesign-systemsfigjam+3

figmaApr 20, 2020

How Inneract Project empowers brown and black designers | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Inneract Project, founded in 2004 by Maurice Woods, introduces Black and brown students to design as a path for creative expression, community impact, and future careers. Its curriculum evolved from hands-on paper exercises to professional digital design training as students’ interests shifted toward UX/UI. Figma became especially valuable because its browser-based, free-to-start platform removed cost and access barriers while enabling collaboration and continued practice outside the classroom. ## Building a Foundation Through Hands-On Design - Early courses avoided software and hardware, emphasizing critical and creative thinking through paper-based activities. - As students requested more formal training, Inneract developed **Pathway to Design**, a curriculum for students as young as middle school. - The program initially focused on graphic design, then introduced professional software and hardware. - Expensive licenses and limited equipment often meant students had to share computers. ## Finding Figma - As the industry moved toward mobile apps and interfaces, Inneract updated its curriculum to teach UX/UI design. - Figma was free to get started, reducing financial barriers for students and the program. - Its beginner-friendly tools were also relevant to professional design workplaces. - Because Figma runs in a browser, students could access their files from libraries, schools, and other public computers. - Students practiced outside class more easily, accelerating their skills. - Collaborative Figma projects expanded opportunities to work with classmates, volunteers, and community partners. ## Student Growth and Real-World Projects - Inneract offers workshops, multi-day courses, hackathons, company partnerships, and an expanding student community. - Students have pursued design education and careers, including graphic design and design research. - Student projects address practical community needs: - Sierra designed a more usable walker concept for elderly people and created a music-focused mobile app. - Noah developed an ad campaign supporting homeless youth and created a zine about Oakland graffiti and street art. - Leigh created posters and graphics for her high school before studying graphic design. - The projects demonstrate how early design education can build confidence, creativity, and an interest in solving real-world problems. Inneract’s experience shows that accessible tools, combined with early mentorship and community-focused projects, can help underrepresented students envision and pursue careers in design.

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figmaFeb 26, 2018

Figma prototyping: now with transitions | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Figma’s 2018 update introduced transitions to its prototyping tool, allowing designers to create more realistic, communicative app experiences. Users could connect frames with dissolve, slide, or push animations, customize duration and easing, and preview results directly in the toolbar. The update aimed to reduce ambiguity among designers, engineers, clients, and other stakeholders. ## Why Transitions Matter - Prototypes help teams evaluate high-fidelity app experiences before development. - Animation between frames can significantly affect how an interface feels. - Adding transitions reduces back-and-forth by communicating interaction details more clearly. - The feature was developed in response to extensive community feedback. ## New Transition Features - Apply **dissolve, slide, or push** effects between frames. - Set animation durations down to a few milliseconds. - Adjust easing so animations accelerate or slow down at different points. - Preview frame transitions in the prototyping toolbar. - Use transitions to reproduce platform-specific interactions, such as iOS-style motion. ## Existing Prototyping Advantages - **Live design:** Prototypes remain synchronized with the underlying web-based designs, eliminating the need to re-export after edits. - **Mobile presentations:** Presentations can be controlled from Android or iOS browsers, while stakeholders can follow along from their own computers. - **Components:** Prototype interactions assigned to a component automatically apply to its instances, making repeated navigation—such as a home button—easy to maintain. ## Continued Product Development - Figma positioned transitions as another step toward making prototyping faster and easier. - The company planned to continue expanding prototyping to better support everyone involved in software development. Transitions made Figma prototypes more polished and useful for communicating both static designs and interactive behavior before implementation.

mobile-appsfigmaprototypingui-design+2