I turn complex mechanics into intuitive player experiences.
Many companies lose millions in user churn because of cluttered UX and heavy onboarding. I solve that with over 10+ years shipping games and apps like Call of Duty: MW3 & Star Wars: Hunters and more.
The UX of play is not about designing screens, it’s about understanding product strategy and human behaviour.
Say hello ABDIJNOOR@GMAIL.COM I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Project still under NDA. Contact for more.
Game design is the foundation of any great game, defining how players interact with mechanics, environments, and systems. When design falls short—whether through unclear mechanics, confusing navigation, or lackluster feedback—developers might turn to UI as a quick fix. But piling on UI elements won’t rescue a poorly designed game. Instead, it often highlights underlying issues while cluttering the experience.
Read MoreIf you ask five different people, you’ll get five different answers: A console. A subscription. A PC app. A cloud service. A publisher.
When a brand stands for everything, it risks standing for nothing. We saw this in 2013 with the Xbox One "TV" presentation, and we’re seeing the echoes of it now. When Phil Spencer says, "We aren't in the business of out-consoling Sony," it’s a visionary statement—but for the average consumer, it can feel like a retreat rather than a revolution.
Read MoreRemember when things had character? When a Tesla dashboard didn't look like a computer monitor bolted to a car? When soccer jerseys had personality instead of looking like they were generated by a neural network trained on business casual shirts? We've traded craftsmanship for conversion rates.
Read MoreThe Fatal Flaw in AAA UX: Most studios spend millions trying to repair player emotions. They are chasing ghosts.
If the Lead Producer or someone o your team tells you, "The HUD feels clunky," or “the flow feel off“and you go back to your desk to try and make it "feel better," you have already lost.
Read MoreMultisensory Design Multisensory design is revolutionizing user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) by engaging multiple senses. This approach creates a more holistic and immersive user experience, going beyond traditional visual and tactile elements.
Read MoreIf the NYC subway genuinely wants to address its fare evasion problem, it needs to rethink its approach and learn more on psychology and User Experience Design principles, rather than adding things like like harsh lighting and sharp metal barriers that make the subway feel more like a prison or an interrogation rather than an enjoyable commute in a public space.
Read MoreIn the early 2000s, Yahoo held a significant position in the search engine market, commanding approximately 36.4% of U.S. searches in 2005. By 2017, when Verizon acquired Yahoo, its global search market share had dwindled to around 4%. In contrast, Google, which had about 35% of the U.S. search market in 2005, expanded its dominance to over 87% globally by 2017. This stark divergence underscores the critical role of user experience (UX) strategies in shaping market trajectories.
Read MoreUnderstanding player-state awareness represents the difference between functional interfaces and truly exceptional ones. Games that recognize and respond to your psychological state create deeper immersion and satisfaction than those with perfectly attractive but psychologically insensitive designs.
Read MoreDead Space remains a benchmark in video game with its diegetic UI approach—where interface elements like health and ammo were seamlessly embedded into the protagonist’s suit—did more than just provide information; it defined the game’s identity, elevated its immersion, and reinforced its survival-horror atmosphere. Yet, despite its critical and commercial acclaim, few games have followed in its footsteps, why?
Read MoreIntroduction Video games have evolved significantly, offering players an array of interactive experiences. Key to these experiences is the user interface (UI), which bridges the gap between player and virtual world. In this article, I will compare and contrast the UI layouts and the extent of interaction freedom in "Alan Wake 2," "Ghost Recon: Breakpoint," "Elden Ring," and the "Far Cry" series, focusing on how these aspects impact player agency.
Read MoreIn the world of video game design, understanding what makes players tick is the difference between a game that’s merely playable and one that’s unforgettable. Behind every great game lies a blend of psychology and design, drawing from models that delve into human motivation, engagement, and satisfaction. Here, we explore three pivotal frameworks—Bartle’s Player Types, Self-Determination Theory, and the MDA Framework—each offering unique insights into player psychology and how they can shape unforgettable gaming experiences.
Read MoreGame engines are software frameworks that game developers use to create video games. With AI integration, these engines can help game developers automate certain tasks, such as coding, asset management, and animation. This means that developers can focus more on the creative aspects of game development, rather than the technical details.
Read MoreOur strength in one context can be perceived as a weakness in another. For instance, being talkative can be a strength when it comes to public speaking or networking events. However, in a meeting, talking too much can be seen as a weakness because it may prevent other people from contributing their ideas or making them feel unheard.
Read MoreIn a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, Steve Jobs famously said that "a lot of technology is in search of a customer." He explained that many companies create new technologies because they can, not because anyone actually wants or needs them. This sentiment is especially relevant today as companies like Facebook plan for the Metaverse, a virtual world that connects multiple platforms, devices, and applications. While the Metaverse has been touted as the future of online interaction, there are concerns that it may be a solution looking for a problem.
Read MoreDesigning for persuasion is not the same as designing for digital nudging. Though both may use some similar tactics, they are two distinct approaches with different goals.
In this blog post, we'll explore the difference between persuasive design and digital nudging. We'll look at the different goals and objectives of each approach, as well as some of the common tactics used.
Read MoreIt's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions a day and over 200 are related to food. So decision fatigue is a real problem for users. This is why the food industry has options such as a set menu, buffet and la carte to help us decide what to eat. UX design also has similar strategies.
Read MoreWhat happens when users don't behave the way you expect them to? What if your users are exhibiting toxic behaviour, bullying or simply not engaging with your product? In this post, i'll explore some ways to change user behaviours in UX design both in video games and apps.
Read MoreAn Affordance in simple terms is a clue as to what actions are possible in order to use something. For example, wheels on a bike or the handle on the door give you an affordance as to how to use it. These are simple examples but games can be complicated to understand with their changing states and different play styles and controls.
Read MoreProgressive disclosure is a design strategy that allows users to gradually learn about important features in a step-by-step process. It is an effective way to reduce cognitive load and reduce the learning curve so users feel comfortable with the level of information they are viewing, without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.
Read MoreAt its core, UX design is about solving problems. And yet, when it comes to designing user interfaces, we often face a dilemma: too many choices can paralyze us, but too few can leave us feeling unfulfilled. How do we find the right balance?
Read More
