Eudaimonic Design, or: Six Invitations to Rethink Gamification

Abstract

This article presents six critiques of the currently dominant rendition of gamification, and six invitations to rethink it. It suggests expanding the remit of gamification (1) from the structuring of objects to the framing of contexts, and (2) from game design elements to motivational affordances. In its current form, gamification presents an additive, atomistic and deterministic conception of experience design. Truly learning from game design means to adopt a (3) relational account of experience, and (4) an emergent-systemic method of experience design. The paper suggests to move (5) from avoiding harm and coercion to facilitating the good life, and (6) from the instrumental perfection of existing orders to their critical transformation. In summary, in presents a rethought, positive vision of gamification as a critical, transformative, socio-technical systems design practice for motivational affordances in the service of human flourishing: eudaimonic design.

Keywords: gamification, socio-technical systems design, ethics, eudaimonia, well-being, gameful design