A strategic partnership pitch
Parley
A Civil Engagement Platform for the Era of Polarization
Designing the Foundation
I designed Parley, a civil discourse game app, from ideation to prototype. I led the project as PM, and UX designer. Through 100+ pitch feedback sessions, I validated the concept and iterated from low-fidelity wireframes to a fully realized prototype.
I propose bringing the work I developed for Parley into the your product suite, creating an engaging experience for both current users and new audiences.
Parley is a civil debate platform that transforms polarized political discussion into a structured, fact-based gamified experience. The concept addresses a growing problem — public trust in institutions is declining while online political conversations increasingly reward outrage over understanding. Research shows that most Americans want less divisiveness and more productive dialogue.
The demand for healthier discourse is clear. What's missing is a platform designed to make thoughtful debate engaging, accessible, and scalable. Parley fills that gap.
How Parley Works
The following are the basic steps in Parley’s user flow. Participants join a debate, review verified fact cards, present arguments, and respond to opposing viewpoints within a guided structure. Users evaluate each other on factual accuracy, reasoning, and empathy, building understanding through constructive participation.
by Bumble
Dating Game
Show App
Design Decisions
I designed the home page as a player dashboard, enabling quick access to saved decks or starting new games. The primary CTA sits above the fold to encourage fast action, while clear hierarchy, modular sections, and social features like leaderboards support engagement and retention.
I wanted to balance speed with depth. Some users just want to jump in, so I included pre-made decks for instant gameplay. Others prefer more control, so custom deck building lets them explore and understand each card before the game begins, increasing ownership and engagement..
I designed this phase to create space for uninterrupted expression while keeping momentum intact. The timer ensures progress, even if someone drops off. A “Ready” CTA gives players control over pacing, and Parley Cards ground statements in vetted facts to reduce misinformation and keep discussions constructive.
I introduced empathy-based voting to let users acknowledge their opponent’s perspective. Using a 1–5 scale (excluding 0) ensures everyone earns points and feels recognized. Points are assigned through an in-context drawer interaction, keeping the experience fluid while maintaining clarity in voting decisions.
I included a Solution Statement phase because conversations often stall at personal opinion. I wanted users to consider whether their views should translate into real policy. I chose ranked-choice voting to better reflect collective sentiment and capture nuanced group priorities beyond a simple majority vote.
I chose to end the experience with a comprehensive readout to give users a clear moment of reflection. By surfacing key highlights and outcomes, players can better understand how they, and others, responded to the topic. I also designed this phase so aggregated session data could inform broader research into how users think and engage with complex issues.
Civil discourse is failing — and the data proves it
Political polarization in the United States has reached a measurable crisis point. The following statistics define the scope of the problem Parley is designed to address.
The problem is not a lack of political information. Readers consume more political news than ever. The problem is the absence of a structured, safe, and rewarding space for cross-partisan conversation. Parley fills that gap.
Why partnership strengthens the brand
A trusted organization with a large base of professional subscribers, strong recurring-revenue subscriptions, and hundreds of millions in annual revenue is uniquely positioned to host civil discourse—not just report on it. Parley is a natural extension of that role.
Why partner now — and not wait
What partnership looks like
Hire John Dufresne, the creator of Parley as a Product Manager to launch Parley as a branded product within your organization. John Dufresne will bring the full product vision, complete UX strategy, and executional expertise — overseeing development from beta launch through long-term growth, as a committed member of the team.
The result is a product that owns the category — gamified civil discourse — built on a brand your audience already trusts.
If you decline, the Parley brand builds independently. When Parley achieves traction, you will face a choice between acquiring it at venture multiples or competing with a format it had the opportunity to own first. That is a significantly worse position — financially and strategically — than the one available today.
The foundation is built. Let's bring it to the world together.