i've got this idea for an app

IWMW 2012

18 June 2012

I’ve got this idea for an app

Christopher EddiePublic Affairs Directorate

14 September 2010

let’s start at the beginning

wide-eyed, blue sky optimism

design a one size fits all or for specific devices?

we have an ace in the hole

what do I know about apps?

this is a good book on the subject

here’s the most important thing I read in Tapworthy

I’m microtasking

I’m local

I’m bored

which category should our app come under?

and then…

Who is the audience for the app?

What are their motives and goals?

What are the actions they’ll take in the app?

Why do they want to do it on their iPhone or iPad and not just on a website?

so who is going to make it?

look for the developer

draw up the list of features

choose the developer

ask Apple’s opinion

kill your darlings

the immoveable object…

compromise…

get started

plan and schedule

get designing

use free resources

paper design

ask Apple’s opinion again

compare designs to reality

sit down with developer

UX and step throughs

gathering new content

track content

organise content

download size

begin to build

web interface to upload content

testflight

pixel precise design

refine design

use existing iPhone elements

bringing in live content

find and use ‘free’ assets

crash reports

jump through Apple’s hoops

proof read

test again

refine design again

getting ready for App Store

graphics for App Store marketing

icons, screenshots, @2x

pricing

marketing

go live

in the App Store

monitoring app sales/ranking

where’s my money?

success

what worked/what didn’t

App wisdom

Think big but build small

The best apps give users elegant solutions to precise needs

The best apps give users just enough to do what they need

Skills and charisma set apps apart

App(le) wisdom

Read the Apple app interface guidelines…

the iPhone sells well for a good reason, it is intuitive…

you may think it'll be fun to reinvent the wheel with a byzantine interface but realistically the majority of app users won't

But it’s not just the app

remember - marketing goes hand in hand with feature development,

it could be the greatest app in the world but if no one knows about it how will it sell?

If only I’d known

what next?

would I do it again?

thank you

want a demo?

i've got this idea for an app

Education

app