IxDF Certificate of Completion

Apply cognitive science to game UX design through the lens of perception, attention, and memory to ground every design decision in how the brain actually works.

Distinguish usability problems from intentional challenge and apply game-specific usability heuristics to fix what blocks players and preserve the intentional friction that drives engagement and retention.

Design for motivation with Self-Determination Theory, using the principles of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and structure balanced intrinsic and extrinsic reward systems that support players’ long-term commitment and reduce churn.

Apply the engageability framework (motivation, emotion, and flow) to replace vague feedback like "this isn't fun" with specific, actionable diagnoses that save development time and improve player satisfaction.

Apply Gestalt principles (proximity, similarity, continuity, figure-ground) to design clear interfaces and HUDs that align with how players naturally perceive and process visual information.

Shape conditions that make emotional impact and flow states more likely to happen through cognitive reappraisal, the aesthetic-usability effect, and game feel principles.

Use behavioral design and active-learning principles ethically to shape how players learn, progress, and engage with games.

Use game feel principles to shape feedback, responsiveness, and emotional impact in play.

Apply behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, and constructivism to design onboarding that feels like gameplay, leading to higher onboarding completion rates and first-session retention.

Identify dark patterns (loss aversion exploitation, FOMO mechanics, guilt-tripping UI, insidious pay-to-win) and articulate why they cross ethical lines.

Evaluate accessibility needs and design flexible systems that accommodate players with diverse abilities, varying skill levels, and different physical and cognitive capacities.