At ZIYX, I design engaging business games that simplify complex concepts through intuitive UX/UI and storytelling, helping entrepreneurs learn and grow.
At ZIYX, we have created interactive business games aimed at helping entrepreneurs and business owners acquire essential skills and build their business plans through gamified learning. Each game focuses on a specific business concept, some have an output that enhances the user’s personalised business plan.
Brief description- In this fun and fast-paced mini-game, users take the pilot’s seat, flying rockets (businesses) into the right portals (business models). As they navigate the skies of B2B, B2C, and D2C, users gain hands-on experience in aligning their business with the right strategy. The game helps users understand how to mix and match these models to suit their goals, keeping the journey both engaging and insightful.
Learning outcome/Business plan output - After the game, users have a clearer understanding of B2B, B2C, and D2C models. This is reflected in the business plan as confirmation of informed decision-making on their preferred business model.
Gamification technique - B-Challenge is a timed drag-and-drop game where users sort businesses into the correct B2B, B2C, or D2C portals, simulating real-time decision-making pressure.
My role & impact - I transformed the concept from a basic drag-and-drop interaction into a fully themed experience, incorporating a space exploration motif to make the game more engaging. I designed the animated portals for B2B, B2C, and D2C models, the screen layout, including visual cards, the boxes with messages from the 'rebels' (the mentors) to the user, and scoreboard components. This approach made the game more immersive and engaging, enhancing the learning experience while reinforcing strategic decision-making under time pressure.
Brief description-This game teaches users how to set and maintain professional boundaries, helping them improve assertiveness in business interactions. Users practice responding to challenging scenarios, gaining confidence in enforcing boundaries while maintaining positive relationships.
Learning outcome - Upon completing the game, users understand the principles of boundary-setting and assertiveness in professional environments. They receive personalised feedback on their responses in difficult scenarios, helping them develop stronger communication skills.
Gamification technique - In Boundary Assertiveness, players control a paper bag character who must choose between three responses to rude remarks from a boss or colleague—two are correct, one is wrong. A banana walks back and forth on a rooftop, holding a water balloon. If the wrong response is chosen, the balloon drops on the character. This fun, pressure-filled mechanic reinforces assertiveness while keeping the gameplay engaging.
My role & impact - I designed the screen layout, focusing on the answer selection interface that is now used throughout the app. I reviewed the original data sheet containing the rude/challenging questions and responses, and shortened the copy to reduce cognitive overload while maintaining context, ensuring it fit seamlessly on the screen. I also contributed to the concept planning, suggesting the paper bag character as a fun visual element that adds tension—since no one wants to get wet, especially a paper bag!
Brief description- This game guides users through a series of reflection prompts, helping them connect with their core motivations for starting or transforming their business. Users answer questions like “Why is now the right time?” and “How do I motivate myself during hard times?”, then distill their reflections into key motivational words.
Learning outcome/Business plan output - Users clarify their motivations by reflecting on key aspects of their journey and distilling each section into a single word. This process helps solidify a sense of purpose and keeps them focused during challenges. The founders’ motivations are integrated into the business plan, reinforcing their commitment to a purpose-driven approach and providing a meaningful context for their business decisions.
Gamification technique - The game turns reflection into an interactive experience. Users respond to prompts like “Why now?” and “How do I stay motivated?”, distill their thoughts into single words, and select a color from the ZIYX brand palette. These elements are combined into a custom phone background, serving as a constant reminder of their goals. This approach reinforces motivation and accountability through a simple, personalized visual.
My role & impact - I designed the layout and flow of the reflection prompts, ensuring a clear and intuitive user experience. I streamlined the copy, maintaining its emotional depth while making it concise. I was involved in the concept planning, contributing to the idea of providing users with a personalized phone background as a reminder of their goals. Additionally, I designed the phone background itself, ensuring it was visually appealing and aligned with the brand, creating a meaningful output that keeps users motivated and focused on their business journey, but also encouraging users to return to the app regularly.
Brief description- This mini-game takes users on a journey to discover the perfect business idea. By exploring a universe filled with diverse concepts, users can save and customise the ideas that resonate with them. We've used the concept of exploring galaxies to illustrate that there are endless possibilities out there. This game helps users sift through these countless ideas, providing a structured way to find the one that best fits their entrepreneurial goals.
Learning outcome/Business plan output - Users explore a universe of diverse business ideas, sparking inspiration for unique entrepreneurial paths. They can choose an idea directly from the game or customise an existing concept to better align with their own vision, fostering creative thinking.
Upon selecting or refining an idea, the business plan automatically updates to include this foundation, clearly stating the user’s chosen business concept. This integration provides users with a personalised business statement.
Gamification technique - The game’s galaxy exploration theme immerses users in a visually dynamic experience. On the first menu, planets representing idea categories float up, down, and side to side, creating a lively, interactive screen. When a user selects a planet, the next set of options orbits around it, reinforcing the sense of exploration and discovery. This movement and layering of choices encourage users to navigate through ideas playfully, adding excitement to the process of finding or refining their ideal business concept.
My role & impact - I led the design of the screen layout, user flow, and collaborated on the overall visual concept, shaping the galaxy-themed exploration experience. I created the functionality for saving favourite options, developed how information is displayed, and crafted key elements like the badge screen layout, question screen interface, and button elements. Through these design decisions, I ensured a smooth, engaging user journey, making the process of idea discovery intuitive and visually dynamic.
