Uplift — an elevator‑themed video game for KONE

Problem

KONE wanted to showcase its innovations in a way that would captivate audiences at events. Elevator rides were passive and uninspiring, while traditional marketing materials felt static and distant. We needed an interactive demo that would stand out and deliver a memorable brand experience.

Solution

Uplift transformed a vertical journey into a digital adventure. Players used controllers to move an elevator up the screen, encountering mini‑challenges and trivia at each floor. A scoreboard encouraged friendly competition while the game subtly introduced KONE’s features and gathered user feedback.

My process & contribution

Research & framing. I studied elevator passenger behaviour and gamification trends, analysed KONE’s brand goals and event objectives, and defined user personas and success metrics.

Concept & narrative. I contributed to the design of game characters.

Prototype & sale. Working with our team, I built the playable game in 48 hours, delivered a humorous pitch to KONE’s vice president and negotiated a €18.6k sale in addition to our €2k Junction challenge prize.

Impact & outcomes. Uplift delivered an engaging brand experience for KONE, validated the power of game‑based marketing and sharpened my skills in negotiation and playful storytelling.

What I learned

Uplift taught me how to merge fun with business objectives. By turning a simple elevator ride into a game, we captured attention and conveyed KONE’s message more effectively. The sale validated the concept and reinforced the importance of experiential marketing.

Project status

The concept was delivered to KONE.

Media & coverage