.png)
.png)
From Casino Games to Positive Impact
For over a decade, I worked in mobile and casino games. I learned exactly how to design systems that keep people engaged - the psychological triggers, the variable reward schedules, the fear-of-missing-out mechanics. I got really good at it.
But I also watched these same techniques spread everywhere: into fitness apps that make you feel guilty for breaking streaks, social media that exploits your need for validation, "productivity" tools designed to maximize your screen time rather than your actual productivity.
"What if I used everything I know about engagement and motivation to actually help people instead?"
That question led to Gamify Good. I know the dark patterns because I've built them. Now I'm building the opposite - apps that succeed when you succeed, not when you're hooked. Games designed around intrinsic motivation instead of manufactured urgency. Tools that measure their success by your wellbeing, not your time-on-app.
Focus for Change is the proof of concept. If I can show that ethical design creates better retention than exploitative design, it changes the incentives for the entire industry.