FANDOM
Fandom is an online community platform celebrating pop culture, gaming, and all things fan-related. Founded in 2004, it hosts fan-created wikis and content that dive deep into favorite characters, stories, and worlds. It’s become a go-to hub where people can explore, discuss, and connect over the pop culture they love.
My Time as an Intern
September 2018 - December 2018
-
Gained foundational knowledge of user research and research in industry spaces
-
Tackled issued of identity and belonging in online communal spaces
-
Led research with various personas and delivered findings back to the team
Theming Project (November 2018)
Stage: Evaluative
Project Scope: Explore and identify the risks of platform UI design changes to users' experiences, motivations, and sense of belonging in Fandom virtual communities.
-
Understand users' opinions and pain points on virtual community design
-
Understand impact of design on user attachment to virtual communities
-
Understand effect of change on user motivations
-
Understand user expectations on future design changes in online communal spaces
-
A/B testing
-
Desirability testing
-
Participatory Design Activities (PDAs)
-
60-minute Zoom interviews (n=12)
-
Creation of the Fan Lab for increased user input and transparency in platform updates
-
Theoretical framework on the effects of design updates on virtual identity and bond formation
-
Design guide for building virtual communities
-
Impact: Increased trust, transparency, and communication between the organization and users; decreased risk of user attrition; increased community engagement
Deliver
Design
Define
