Guth Eile

Guth Eile started with a question: can game mechanics make sign language learning more accessible? The project used interactive gameplay to teach ISL vocabulary and phrases, with visual feedback and progression systems designed to reinforce learning through repetition and reward.

It received international recognition, placing 9th globally in the Unity Connect Student Challenge and being selected for presentation at the IGBL Conference on game-based learning.

The core challenge was balancing educational accuracy with gameplay engagement. The game had to be fun enough to keep players engaged but rigorous enough that they were actually learning correct ISL. This meant working closely with ISL experts to validate content at every stage.

Development followed an iterative approach with regular playtesting to check both the learning outcomes and the gameplay experience. Feedback from testers shaped adjustments to difficulty pacing, visual clarity of sign demonstrations, and the reward structure.

Guth Eile showed that game-based approaches to language learning can work, specifically for sign language. The international recognition confirmed the approach had relevance beyond a university setting.

For me, this project was the first real proof that game design skills transfer directly to non-entertainment problems. A thread that runs through everything I have built since.