Julia Warren

CRUX

“A Dutch high school student receives around 102 grades per year.” 
 Our education system is addicted to grades. As a result, students learn to define themselves by numbers. What’s visible on paper starts to outweigh what’s felt inside. Curiosity, intrinsic motivation, and non-measurable talents quietly slip to the sidelines. 

Crux is a career guidance game (LOB) that I co-created with secondary school students. It’s designed to create a fun and unexpected space for reflecting on intrinsic motivations. By tapping into early childhood memories and personal interests, the game helps students reconnect with what truly drives them, beyond the height of their grades or the expectations of parents and peers. 

Instead of asking “What do you want to become?”, Crux asks: “What moved you, and still does?” 

This page was last updated on June 15, 2025