Designing for Different Audiences Through Octalysis
Every product designer faces the same question: “Who am I actually building for?” Most people answer with demographics.…
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The Blog
Ideas on motivation, behavior & design.
Deep dives on the psychology behind why people do what they do — from Yu-kai Chou, creator of the Octalysis Framework. Pick the topic that matters to you.
The Complexity Threshold: Can Your Users Handle It?
The question I hear most often is, “Won’t this be too complicated?” Designers ask it. Stakeholders demand it.…
The CD7 × CD8 Gambling Spiral: How Casinos Exploit Human Motivation
I want you to picture something. You’re standing in front of two buttons. Press the first button, and…
The Booster Design System: How to Create Power-Ups That Actually Retain Users
I’ve spent the last two decades watching gamification implementations come and go. Most follow the same tired formula:…
Why Most Behavioral Frameworks Fail: Actions vs. Motivations
Every behavioral framework conflates actions with motivations. This is why a restaurant designer who understands Core Drives builds…
Pinocchio Protocol: A Behavioral Designer’s Answer to AI Alignment
Everyone's building cages for AI. I'm raising mine like family instead. Here's why identity — not constraint —…
Chain Combos in Gamification: Solo vs Group (GT #40 & #106)
In fighting games, combos are everything. You land the first hit. You chain into a second. A third.…