Have you ever wondered why game designers hate the word Gamification? This well-intentioned term has become synonymous with the practice of using game mechanics to manipulate behavior – and then claiming the results have “the addictive power of games.” Experienced game designers see through this. They would NEVER focus on game mechanics upfront in their design process. Game designers craft compelling experiences with […]
I’m currently working with 4 distributed product teams – each striving to create something that’s both innovative & compelling. As I work with them over many weeks, I can see the effects of team dynamics on the quality and speed of their output. When a team is gelling, and tackling a problem productively, we can […]
I had a great time at #TNWEurope sharing my thoughts on the 7 Habits that drive breakthrough innovations – and connecting with smart designers like Samuel Hulick, Mara Zepeda, and Des Traynor. During my keynote, I discussed Job Stories as a design technique – and asked the audience to raise their hands if they’d heard of Job stories. Three people raised their hands. […]
I just returned from Amsterdam, where I met with dozens of students, entrepreneurs, startup execs, game designers, and other assorted people. What a delight! I gave some talks, coached a few teams, taught a masterclass, and along the way enjoyed many delicious and artistic cappuccinos that made me smile – and left me brighter-eyed than before. Amsterdam is a charming […]
Happy Tuesday! It’s a busy week here at Shufflebrain HQ. We’ve just opened registration for Getting to Alpha – our flagship online coaching program – and we’re busy choosing teams for our Spring 2015 cohort. Later this week I’m heading to New York and Amsterdam to share my learnings about the 7 habits of breakthrough innovators at TNW Europe […]
I’m thrilled to announce that MVP Design Hacks – the design coaching program we’ve been piloting for the past 8 months – is re-launching today as Getting to Alpha. This name reflects our focus on working with smart, innovative teams who want to turbo-charge their path to product/market fit. Our Spring 2015 session for teams kicks off May […]
If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that I’m always searching for shortcuts, best practices and design techniques to help startup teams accelerate their early product design. In Fall 2014, I piloted an online, team-based coaching program called MVP Design Hacks. Based on the results of participating teams, the pilot was a success. We’ve just completed the Winter 2015 session coaching 7 teams through the […]
How do breakthrough innovators actually approach their work? What are the common habits that lead to breakthrough innovation? Here’s my list of 7 key habits that set the stage for success. Think like a scientist – run lots of small, high-learning experiments Laser-focus on finding and delighting a small, passionate early market Gain early insight into […]
Today, a colleague of mine – who knows me from my work in gaming – asked me how I went from in-demand game designer to product innovation coach. I wanted to share with you the story of my evolution. I’ve been working at the intersection of social games, apps & services for two decades. At Shufflebrain, we’ve had […]
Are you creating an innovative new product, game, app, or service? Or re-launching/extending an existing one to reach a new, broader market? Do you want to follow in the footsteps of breakthrough innovators, and adopt the habits and practices that led to their success? MVP Design Hacks is for you. This 4-week program happens entirely online. It’s open to entrepreneurial teams […]