.png)
Clubhouse
A social audio app for iOS and Android redesigned to
enter into the online gaming market.
My Role
Project Manager
Lead UX Researcher
Team
Michelle
Kofi
Duration
July 2023
(2 Weeks)
Project Summary
Clubhouse is originally a social audio app for iOS and Android where users can communicate in audio chat rooms that accommodate groups of thousands of people such as relationship advice chats, health & fitness chats, and more.
My team and I were selected to improve the current design of the existing social audio app, and redesign the app in such a way to expand the app into the online gaming market. However, just how that would be done was yet to be considered before choosing my team and I to take on this project.
​
I found a solution to help Clubhouse enter into the online gaming market by finding out what the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) was, and the end results to our success shocked us.
Before
After
The Problem
Cyberbullying in games is an issue facing gamers worldwide. Bullied victims often face verbal harassment in multiplayer lobbies and in-game chats.
​
Gamers need a friendly monitored communication platform where they can have full controllability to block, mute, and report, so that they can have a safe, secure, and respectful environment while playing with other gamers.
Business Problem
-
The business had no idea what gamers needed most, in regards to features, when communicating with other gamers while playing together.
-
The majority of gamers from our interview used their computer, specifically a second monitor, for gaming. Clubhouse only offered a mobile app for iOS and Android. So we had to design this app to be accessible via desktop.
User Goals
-
To have a fun and safe environment while connecting with other gamers worldwide.
-
To have full awareness of his microphone to know when it's on or off.
-
To have full control over cyberbullying if ever faced with a situation.
Business Goals
-
To expand their app into the online gaming market.
Solution 1 of 2
We interviewed gamers to get some insight and empathize on the pain points they were facing when communicating on gaming platforms.
The key takeaways from our affinity map were:
With the problem figured out, this opened up the business opportunity to expand into the online gaming market by addressing and resolving these pain points with the improved Clubhouse app. Here's a powerful illustrated storyboard to showcase how the problem would be resolved with a toxic gamer.
Solution 2 of 2
Over 90% of the gamer interviewees kept referring to “Discord” (Discord is the current leader in the gaming communication platform). In other words, they were our competitor. And not just any competitor, but our BIGGEST competitor.
​
I had 26 gamers take a short survey on all the features Discord had, and we asked the gamers to give us feedback as to what features truly mattered to them during gaming. This was to see what was needed in order for this app to be the most minimal viable product needed to expand into the gaming market.
After gathering the information, the features that mattered most to gamers were:
Voice Chatting
Group Text Chats
Direct Messaging
Screen sharing
live streaming
game overlays
Video Chatting
Voice Changers
Sound boards
Custom emojis
bot support
file sharing
User-Centered Design
We addressed all the pain points gamers faced, along with implementing the features that mattered most to them.
Live Stream Feature
Group Chat Feature
Voice Chat Feature
Direct Messaging Feature
Users can report toxic gamers and an investigation will be made to see what further disciplinary actions will be justified, such as banning for a certain period of time
Users wanted to know that their mics were muted, so by default, upon entering a room, the mics are muted. Simply clicking on the icon will unmute their mic, and sound rings will appear when they speak to signify that their mic is unmuted and on.
Users can mute anyone of their choosing. This will only mute the person for the user, and not for anyone else.
Screen Sharing Feature
The Results
Once the sketches, site maps, service blueprints, user flows, wireframes, and prototype were completed, I conducted user test interviews to test the mid-fidelity prototype.
All users were successfully able to complete the task of:
-
Creating an account.
-
Reporting a verbally abusive gamer in chat.
​
A few simple design iterations from the user test interviews, I conducted 3 more user tests and the results were successful.
​
​
Not only did I receive feedback of how much users loved the simplicity and convenience of the site, but this proved that we have solved the problem by allowing gamers to have a friendly monitored communication platform where they can have full controllability to block, mute, and report, so that they can have a safe, secure, and respectful environment while playing with other gamers.
​
Finally, we are proud to deliver our final product, and excited to announce that Clubhouse no longer has to dip their toes to test the waters, but rather, Clubhouse can now officially take a step into the shallow end and begin expanding into the gaming market.
Next steps
With the solutions created the next steps to be taken are to:
​
-
Continue more user test interviews with more gamers to see other areas that can enhance the user’s experience.
-
Send out a short survey to Clubhouse users to see what other services they would like to have in Clubhouse.
-
Review and check for accessibility and compliance standards for those that may be differently abled.
-
Create a dedicated room where gamers can find other players to play in specific games together.
-
Create a way to block and report in audio chat room.
​
With these next steps in mind, we look forward to improving the app through more user tests and iterations as necessary, as well as do more than just enter into the gaming market. We look forward to helping Clubhouse dominate the gaming market.
With that being said, we are Team Clubhouse.
Thank you!