Duolingo Avatar Creator

Overview

When Duolingo’s Avatar Creator launched in 2023, users were upset that they could no longer upload custom profile pictures. This led to a spike in user complaints and support tickets.

Our goal

The team and I hypothesized that adding an educational confirmation message when users created their first avatar would lead to better user comprehension and long term adoption of the new feature, even if it slightly slowed down initial adoption.

My role

I wrote the copy for a new confirmation message that explicitly told users they’d no longer be able to use custom profile photos after creating an avatar. My approach was to keep the microcopy straightforward and conversational so users wouldn’t be caught off guard before making the switch.

Impact

The confirmation message led to a drop in support tickets and complaints. While initial adoption decreased in the short term, the experience helped protect user satisfaction without hurting long-term adoption rates. The Avatar Creator continues to evolve today.