figma The Anatomy of a Summer Campaign: How Instacart Staged a Sick ’90s Throwback | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)
The anatomy of an activation: How Figma Commons brought design to the public Inside Figma Behind the scenes Culture Events
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discord Discord for Business Vol. 2: Cannes-worthy ad product updates (opens in new tab)
Discord's debut at the Cannes Lions festival marks a significant strategic milestone in the expansion of its advertising business and brand partnership ecosystem. By championing an opt-in, community-first model, the platform aims to redefine how advertisers engage with a digital-native audience that prioritizes privacy and authentic interaction. The central conclusion from their industry showcase is that gaming has moved into the cultural mainstream, positioning Discord as the primary hub for audience influence and peer-to-peer communication. ### Strategic Advertising and Industry Partnerships * Discord is actively scaling its ad business by moving away from traditional intrusive formats toward a model based on user consent and community integration. * High-level panels featuring leadership from Xbox, Kantar, and Unilever underscore Discord's growing legitimacy as a critical platform for global brand strategy. * The platform’s evolution focuses on providing businesses with measurable opportunities to connect with high-intent users within their own social environments. ### The Mainstreaming of Gaming Communities * Gaming has transcended its niche origins to become a dominant cultural force, requiring brands to adapt to new methods of digital social interaction. * Discord serves as the "digital third place" where modern gamers talk, share content, and influence one another’s purchasing decisions in real-time. * The community-first approach allows brands to move past broad-reach tactics and instead foster deeper, more meaningful connections within specific interest groups. To effectively reach modern gaming audiences, brands should transition from traditional broadcast advertising toward community-centric engagement. Leveraging Discord’s opt-in framework allows companies to build long-term loyalty by participating in the authentic conversations already happening within these influential digital spaces.
discord The Game Developer Playbook, Part Two: Early Access and Pre-Launch (opens in new tab)
This guide outlines the transition of a game’s Discord server from a private feedback hub to a public community space designed for engagement during the pre-launch phase. It emphasizes that a server's purpose must evolve alongside the game's development to successfully foster a growing fanbase and inspire conversation. By restructuring permissions and utilizing specialized templates, developers can create an environment where even those without game access can feel connected to the project. ### The Evolution of Server Roles * Transition focus from private, early-stage feedback loops to a public-facing audience to drive community engagement. * Utilize the pre-launch phase to establish a space where fans can share thoughts and learn about the game mechanics and world. * Adapt the server’s architecture to accommodate different stages of game development, moving beyond the restricted access used in initial testing. ### Technical Foundations for Public Communities * Leverage Discord’s native Permission and Role systems to manage the influx of new public members and maintain organizational hierarchy. * Refer to the Discord Mod Academy to ensure moderation standards are established as the community scales. * Standardize the server infrastructure using core setup articles to ensure the technical foundation is robust before the game’s public debut. ### Streamlining with Community Templates * Deploy the specialized "Early Access/Pre-Launch Server" template to jumpstart community creation without manual configuration. * Use templates to provide a proven structure for onboarding new players and organizing feedback channels. * Establish clear communication pathways between developers and fans to ensure the server serves its purpose as a marketing and community-building tool. Developers should treat the pre-launch phase as a critical period to audit their Discord infrastructure, moving away from closed testing groups toward a scalable community model. Utilizing the provided Early Access templates and Permission guides will help maintain order as the server shifts from a private development tool to a public-facing brand asset.