Zoltan Kollin’s talk on gamification was not just insightful, it completely shifted how I think about what gamification really means. Before this talk, I mostly thought of gamification as collecting points, completing levels, or earning badges. But Zoltan showed us that gamification can be so much more, even playful, analog, and emotional. It’s not just about digital tricks. It’s about turning everyday actions into meaningful experiences.
He began by showing how gamified training can boost engagement and productivity. One study from the University of Colorado, shown in the first image, revealed that gamified training led to a 48% increase in employee engagement and a 34% increase in productivity. That alone already proves how powerful gamification can be when it’s applied well.
One part that really stuck with me was when Zoltan talked about the “IKEA effect”, people tend to value things more when they’ve put effort into creating them. This idea was connected to customization, like on reddit, where users can customize their avatar. This emotional investment creates stronger engagement, because people feel a sense of ownership. (See image 2)
But then Zoltan really opened my mind when he showed a picture of a kid vacuuming (image 3). It wasn’t just a regular vacuum, it had a laser light at the front, making it feel like a toy or a game. Suddenly, a boring task became fun. That’s when I realized: gamification doesn’t need to be digital at all. It can be tactile, visual, playful—even a product design choice. He called this “unexpected gamification,” and it’s a brilliant way to change behavior, especially for tasks peopl usually avoid.
Another interesting example was the use of small steps, like adding musical steps to a staircase to encourage people to take the stairs instead of the escalator. Or painting a fly in a urinal in Amsterdam to improve aim. These examples prove that gamification can be subtle, simple, and still very effective.
Zoltan also talked about how gamification taps into our psychology. For instance, Duolingo uses streaks to keep people coming back. Progress bars (like the LinkedIn profile completeness) push us to finish what we started, this is known as the Zeigarnik Effect. And daily goals or eco-driving scores in cars are more examples of behavioral motivation through simple game mechanics.
This talk made me think more about my own research topic, EV charging stations. What if i could apply this kind of gamification to the charging experience? Right now, waiting while your car charges can feel boring. But what if there were small interactions, progress bars or playful moments that make it more engaging? Maybe a kid-friendly “eco mission” on screen, or a streak for smart, energy-efficient charging habits. These aren’t just fun ideas, they’re ways to design more user-centered, enjoyable experiences.
Gamification is not about making everything feel like a game, it’s about motivation, emotion, and experience. Thanks to this talk, I’ll definitely keep looking at ways to bring meaningful, playful interaction into my design projects.
