GDPR Consent | Zynga

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When GDPR reshaped digital privacy standards in 2018, I led the design of consent interfaces that transformed legal requirements into intuitive user experiences. My challenge was to make complex data permissions understandable without compromising usability - creating clear visual hierarchies that explained data usage while maintaining the fluidity of user journeys. Through progressive disclosure and plain-language design, we built systems where informed consent became a natural part of the experience rather than an obstacle.

My Role

Graphic Designer | UI Designer

Company- Zynga

Creative Director: Matt Sharpe
Architect: Prasad Maruvada | Dale Darling

Tool

Photoshop, Sketch

Platform

Apple, Android, Tablet

The Challenge

Our challenge was to craft GDPR-compliant interfaces that made data permission requests clear and unintrusive within gaming environments.
I focused on creating consent flows that felt native to gameplay - using progressive disclosure, contextual explanations, and visual cues to help players understand what they were approving without breaking their immersion.

The Solution

The solution transformed legal requirements into player-friendly interactions through smart defaults and just-in-time education. By designing consent as a natural part of the experience rather than an interruption, we achieved higher opt-in rates while fully respecting user privacy - proving compliance and great UX could work hand-in-hand.

*A Sample of Interface design for Zynga games targeting a universal audience.*

*A Sample of Interface design for Zynga -* **Words With Friends 2** Word Game.

Design Solution

My GDPR solution implemented a character-guided, two-phase consent flow.

'Yes, I agree' or 'No, thank you.'

I designed a two-step consent interface that respected user privacy while maintaining the game's immersive quality. The first screen presented a clean, binary choice with prominent "Yes, I agree" and "No, thank you" options, framed by the game's signature visual style and accompanied by a friendly character welcome. This approach made the legal decision feel like a natural part of the gameplay experience.

The subsequent screen offered granular control, allowing users to opt into targeted ads while clearly explaining the alternative (generic ads) and emphasizing data protection commitments. By using the game's own characters as guides through these privacy choices, I created a consent journey that felt personalized yet transparent, achieving full GDPR compliance without compromising the player experience.

*A Sample of Interface design for Zynga -* **Words With Friends** Word Game.

Conduct A/B tests with confidence.

Create a new design or tweak the copy based on the concept

Test the new version against the old one
Analyze the results to see how users experience different versions of the product.

Conclusion:

This project demonstrated how user-centered design principles could transform regulatory requirements into positive interactions. As the lead graphic and UI designer, I crafted visual systems that made GDPR compliance intuitive - turning mandatory consent flows into opportunities to build trust through transparency and clear communication.