---
sidebar_label: Design Guidelines
showTOC: false
subpages:
  - design-guidelines/principles.mdx
  - design-guidelines/signing-in.mdx
  - design-guidelines/connection-points.mdx
  - design-guidelines/branding-guidelines.mdx
  - design-guidelines/unified-friends-list.mdx
  - design-guidelines/direct-messages.mdx
  - design-guidelines/chat-history.mdx
  - design-guidelines/social-settings.mdx
  - design-guidelines/provisional-accounts.mdx
  - design-guidelines/status-rich-presence.mdx
  - design-guidelines/consoles.mdx
  - design-guidelines/game-friends.mdx
  - design-guidelines/linked-channels.mdx
---

[Home](/docs/intro) > [Discord Social SDK](/docs/discord-social-sdk/overview) > Design Guidelines

# Discord Social SDK Design Guidelines

These design guidelines provide best practices and guidelines for designing social features in your game. Following these patterns can create a seamless and engaging user experience that leverages SDK social features to enhance your game. 

If you are looking for a place to get started, we recommend you start with [Principles](/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/principles) or the [Getting Started](/docs/discord-social-sdk/getting-started) guide.

<Container>
  <Card title="Principles" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/principles" icon="CrownIcon">
    Fundamental best practices for integrating Discord's social layer into your game. These principles ensure a seamless and engaging user experience.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Signing In" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/signing-in" icon="UserPlusIcon">
    Strategies for implementing user authentication and account linking, allowing players to connect their Discord accounts with your game.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Connection Points" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/connection-points" icon="DpadIcon">
    Key integration points where your game can interact with Discord's services, enhancing the overall player experience through seamless connectivity.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Branding Guidelines" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/branding-guidelines" icon="ClydeIcon">
    Guidelines for using Discord's brand assets within your game, ensuring consistent and respectful representation of the Discord brand.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Unified Friends List" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/unified-friends-list" icon="ContactsIcon">
    Techniques for designing a unified friends list - allowing players to see and interact with their Discord friends directly within your game.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Direct Messages" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/direct-messages" icon="ChatIcon">
    Best practices for enabling direct messaging between players, facilitating private communication, and enhancing social interactions.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Chat History" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/chat-history" icon="ChatIcon">
    Best practices for implementing chat history in Discord Social SDK integrations
  </Card>
  <Card title="Social Settings" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/social-settings" icon="ChatIcon">
    Best practices for implementing and managing access to the Discord social settings in games using the Discord Social SDK
  </Card>
  <Card title="Provisional Accounts" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/provisional-accounts" icon="UserIcon">
    Designing around provisional accounts for users who prefer not to link their Discord accounts, allowing them to enjoy social features still.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Status & Rich Presence" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/status-rich-presence" icon="UserStatusIcon">
    Leveraging Discord's presence and rich presence features to display detailed player status and game activity for in-game social interactions.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Consoles" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/consoles" icon="GameControllerIcon">
    Integrating Discord's social features on console platforms, ensuring a consistent experience across different devices.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Game Friends" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/game-friends" icon="GroupIcon">
    Techniques for managing and displaying in-game friends, allowing players to connect and play with their Discord friends easily.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Linked Channels" link="/docs/discord-social-sdk/design-guidelines/linked-channels" icon="TextControllerIcon">
    Guidelines for linking Discord channels to your game, enabling players to connect and communicate across different platforms.
  </Card>
</Container>

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## Change Log

| Date           | Changes         |
|----------------|-----------------|
| March 17, 2025 | initial release |