Slack is a runaway hit — and everyone wants to figure out why. Slack lacks the outer trappings of a game — instead it pulls you along by unfolding new opportunities as your skills grow stronger. Learn how Slack’s Core Learning Loop drives a simple, compelling daily habit; why a single-player on-boarding bot creates a game-like experience; and why Slack’s early development practices created a strong foundation for rapid growth.
2. Is this you?
• want to avoid costly detours on the
path to product/market fit
• tired of sifting through feedback and
wondering what and who to focus on
• want to unlock the secrets of
building deep, game-like
engagement into your products
3. Amy Jo Kim, Ph.D.
Game Designer &
Startup Coach
22. Play-test your
idea to life
tinker, prototype &
assume your first
idea might not
be right
3
23. What We Offer
resources workshops coaching
design services
Peter
Drucker
The best way
to have a good
idea is to have
lots of ideas
Linus Pauling
Scientist
24. don’t fall in love
with an idea;
fall in love with
solving a problem
& learning from
your customers
27. In case you don’t know - Slack started out as
the bare-bones in-house communications tool
for a distributed team building an innovative
co-op multiplayer game.
29. When that game failed financially, Steward
Butterfield - the team leader - pivoted and
turned their in-house tool into a better, faster
team communications product.
45. Core
Learning
Loop
Check Updates
urge to connect
with your team
Read & Respond
to Updates
No More Updates
Need my attention
Customize
your channel &
expressions
Customized
Notifications
46. Check Updates
urge to connect
with your team
Read & Respond
to Updates
No More Updates
Need my attention
Customize
your channel &
expressions
Engaging Activity
Internal
Trigger
Repeatable,
pleasurable
activity
that satisfies
an internal
urge or need
48. Check Updates
urge to connect
with your team
Read & Respond
to Updates
No More Updates
Need my attention
Customize
your channel &
expressions
Simple
Feedback
System
promotes
learning &
competence
Simple
Feedback
50. Progression,
investment &
engaged
triggers
pull people
back
Check Updates
urge to connect
with your team
Read & Respond
to Updates
No More Updates
Need my attention
Customize
your channel &
expressions
Progress & Investment
Check
Notifications
Engaged
Trigger
51. Stage 1: Progression & investment systems
Customized group
chat with emojis,
bots & integrations
53. Build your roadmap with Game Thinking
You can use an eraser
on the drafting table
or a sledge hammer
on the construction site
Frank Lloyd Wright
Architect
54. bring ideas to life
faster and smarter
with
Game
Thinking
62. In case you don’t know - Slack started out as
the bare-bones in-house communications tool
for a distributed team building an innovative
co-op multiplayer game.
63. In case you don’t know - Slack started out as
the bare-bones in-house communications tool
for a distributed team building an innovative
co-op multiplayer game.