I have always seen fashion as a way to tell stories — about identity, craftsmanship, and the values that shape our world. But in recent years, I began to feel that storytelling alone wasn’t enough. I wanted to create experiences that didn’t just display sustainable fashion but made people feel its urgency and beauty. That desire led me to the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF), and what followed was nothing short of a transformation — not only in my creative process but also in my professional identity.

Before IxDF: A Fashion Designer Seeking Deeper Engagement

As the founder of Shakkei, a sustainable fashion label and design store based in Vienna, I had long been focused on zero-waste design and ethical production. My collections reflected my values, but exhibitions and fashion shows often felt one-sided — a showcase of finished garments rather than an interaction with the audience.

I put on performances and people admired the clothes, but I wanted them to engage — to touch and understand. I strived to convey the resourcefulness and craftsmanship behind zero-waste patterns, and wanted people to rethink their own consumption habits. I realized I wasn’t just designing clothes anymore; I was designing experiences. But I lacked a structured approach to build those experiences effectively. That’s when I discovered the Interaction Design Foundation.

Learning to Think Like a UX Designer

IxDF’s courses on User Experience Design, Gamification and Psychology of Interaction Design opened an entirely new dimension of creativity for me. The first major shift was mental: I began to think about incorporating UX design into my approach to fashion design.

Fashion designers are trained to think in terms of materials, silhouettes, and emotion. UX designers think in terms of user journeys, motivations, and feedback loops. Once I understood that these perspectives could be merged, my work began to change. 

The course “Gamification: Designing for Motivation” in particular became a turning point. It helped me understand how playfulness and curiosity can drive engagement and learning. I started to ask: “What if I applied the same principles that make digital experiences addictive — like rewards, exploration, and storytelling — to a physical fashion exhibition?” That question eventually became the foundation of my next big project.

“Gamification allows consumers to have fun, get useful information & encourages them to share it with their friends.” – Joe Rork, UX Engineer – MyFord Mobile at Ford Motors

The Zero-Waste Exhibition: From Static Display to Interactive Experience

During Fashion Revolution Week, I organized an exhibition at the Shakkei Design Store focused on zero-waste pattern design — a sustainable approach where every piece of fabric is used, leaving no pre-consumer waste behind.

Traditionally, such exhibitions rely on visuals and information boards. But this time, I wanted to design it like a UX journey. I mapped out the visitor’s path through the space, considering their motivations, emotions, and potential “pain points” — just as I had learned in my IxDF courses.

To make the experience interactive, I integrated gamification and digital touch points using QR codes and NFC stickers. Visitors could tap or scan these codes and would be taken to a digital space built specifically for the exhibit. 

• At the very start of the exhibit, users could unlock a welcome message with a video explaining how the exhibit was conceptualized.
• Tapping or scanning unlocked further information about the displayed objects in written, audio and video formats, which also increased the accessibility of our event, catering to visitors who were hard of hearing or deaf as well as those with poor eyesight.
• Users could find out more about the history of zero waste pattern construction and gain insight into the modern processes used to create the pieces in front of them. They were invited to learn, touch and explore zero waste fashion through a mix of haptic and digital means.
• At the end of their visit, users could fill out a survey, unlocking a thank-you message for engaging deeply with the concept of zero waste and were entered in a physical giveaway.

It wasn’t just an exhibition anymore — it was a game of discovery. Visitors became active participants, moving, scanning, and discussing. What I had once thought of as a fashion presentation turned into an immersive learning experience about sustainability, and users reported back that they enjoyed having a digital way of going back to the exhibit and finding out more about the things that they had learned, even after they had long left the physical space.

Applying IxDF Principles Beyond Digital Screens

What amazed me most was how seamlessly the IxDF frameworks applied to a real-world, offline project. The human-centered mindset, focused on understanding users’ needs, designing for motivation, and creating intuitive interactions, was as relevant in a fashion store as it is in an app interface.

Through this project, I realized that UX isn’t limited to technology. It’s a mindset that can transform any creative process. Whether designing an app, a dress or an exhibition, the goal is the same: to create meaningful connections between people and ideas.

The feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive. Many told me it was the first time they truly understood how zero-waste design worked. Others said they felt inspired to rethink their relationship with fashion and consumption. In that moment, I knew that my IxDF learning had achieved something tangible — it had helped bridge the gap between knowledge and experience.

Expanding My Expert Status: From Fashion Design to Experience Design

Before IxDF, I was recognized as a fashion designer with a focus on sustainability. The courses didn’t just enhance my skills; they expanded my professional credibility. Today, I can confidently say that I am also an experience designer — someone who blends aesthetics, storytelling, and human behavior into cohesive, emotionally resonant journeys.

I now collaborate across disciplines, combining UX strategy, gamification, and fashion storytelling to create multi-sensory projects that educate and engage. Clients and collaborators see me not only as a designer but as someone who can build a bridge between digital experiences and physical fashion. This rare perspective sets my work apart.

IxDF gave me the vocabulary, methods, and confidence to position myself as a thought leader at the intersection of fashion, UX, and sustainability. It also connected me with a global community of designers who share a passion for using design as a force for positive change.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Here are a few key lessons from my journey that might inspire others:

1. Learning UX can transform any creative career. 
2. You don’t need to be in tech to apply UX principles. Whether you design clothing, exhibitions, or customer experiences, understanding how people think and behave makes your work infinitely more impactful. 
3. Gamification isn’t just about fun — it’s about motivation. 
4. By turning information into an interactive experience, you can make complex or “serious” topics engaging and memorable. Sustainability becomes playful through interaction, not instruction. 
5. Empathy is any designer’s most powerful tool. IxDF’s emphasis on empathy helped me shift from showing what I wanted to communicate toward designing what others wanted to experience. 
6. Small budgets can still create big impact. The zero-waste exhibition had almost no budget. Yet by applying UX thinking, creativity, and digital tools like QR codes, it became one of my most successful projects. 
7. Continuous learning is key to staying relevant. 
8. The fashion industry and the digital world both evolve rapidly. Platforms like IxDF provide the structure, knowledge, and inspiration to keep growing and innovating. 

Inspiring Others to Design Experiences That Matter

If there’s one message I want to share, it’s this: the boundaries between creative disciplines are dissolving. Fashion designers, artists, and architects can all benefit from learning UX and gamification. These skills don’t replace creativity — they amplify it.

Through IxDF, I learned that great design isn’t just about beauty — it’s about behavior, interaction, and meaning. My journey from fabric to interface, from pattern to play, is proof that when you blend art with empathy and strategy, you can turn any creative practice into an experience that inspires change.

So, whether you’re a designer, educator, or entrepreneur, wondering if UX can make a difference in your field: my answer is yes. It can change how you see the world, which has a deep impact on how you work.

About the Author 

I am a Vienna-based fashion designer, UX designer, and founder of the sustainable fashion label Shakkei. My work focuses on merging design, gamification, and sustainability to create meaningful experiences both online and offline. After completing several courses with the Interaction Design Foundation, I expanded my expertise beyond fashion — into the realm of experience design, where creativity meets human-centered innovation.