CREATING A MOBILE
APPLICATION
CREATING A MOBILE
APPLICATION
By Danielle GatsosAugust, 2010MCDM: UWSmartPhones
1. PICK A PLATFORM
1. PICK A PLATFORM
Droid?
Windows Mobile?
iPhone, iPad?
2. TOOLS
1. Get a SmartPhone or iPad.
2. Join the Apple iPhone Developer program.
3. Prepare a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
3. Download and Install the latest iPhone SDK.
Make sure you have all the basic tools needed to execute the app.
THE JARGON3. GET TO KNOW
The more GeekSpeak you know in the mobile industry the better. Visit the UW Smartphones website and familiarize yourself.
THE JARGON3. GET TO KNOW
Understand What Makes Apps Successful
4. PICK A CONCEPT
Understand What Makes Apps Successful
4. PICK A CONCEPT
For this slideshow, we’re gonna talk Mac
BE THE DOVE IN A
STORE OF PIGEONS
There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store.There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store.
BE THE DOVE IN A
STORE OF PIGEONS
What will make yours STAND OUT?What will make yours STAND OUT?There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store.There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store.
BE THE DOVE IN A
STORE OF PIGEONS
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS1.Does your App solve a unique problem?
~Jen Gordon, Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS1.Does your App solve a unique problem?
“Figure out what sucks, and how your app can make the life of its user more comfortable.”
~Jen Gordon, Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
2. Does your App serve a specific niche?
Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
2. Does your App serve a specific niche?
Find a passionate niche audience (i.e. dog lovers) and watch your app go viral. Passionate people spread the word.
Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
3. Are you building a better wheel?
Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
3. Are you building a better wheel?
You may essentially be doing the same thing as other apps, but you must do it better.
Smashing Magazine
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
Smashing Magazine
4. Is your app sticky enough to warrant return visits?
ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS
Smashing Magazine
4. Is your app sticky enough to warrant return visits?
Attention spans are short. Make sure you’re engaging your user enough by encouraging participation.
5. RESEARCH YOUR
COMPETITION
What are their core functionalities?
What are their core functionalities?
What are their core functionalities?
What are their core functionalities?
How are you going to do it better?
How are you going to do it better?
5. RESEARCH YOUR
COMPETITION
6. USER EXPERIENCE
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Using your app should be ‘as easy as pie.’
SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE:
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FAST
SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE:
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FAST
SIMPLE
SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE:
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FAST
SIMPLE
EFFECTIVE
SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE:
6. USER EXPERIENCE
4. Nobody wants to dig through layers, icons, or prompts to get where they need to go.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Easy Navigation is Key.
Nobody wants to dig through layers, icons, or prompts to get where they need to go.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Get familiar with Interface Guidelines and Usability.
4. 6. USER EXPERIENCE
Get familiar with Interface Guidelines and Usability.
4.
List at least 5 features you’d incorporate in your own app.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Play with the Top 10 apps.
4.
Smashing Magazine
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Play with the Top 10 apps.
4.
How do they navigate?
Smashing Magazine
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Play with the Top 10 apps.
4.
How do they navigate?
How are they organized?
Smashing Magazine
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Play with the Top 10 apps.
4.
How do they navigate?
How are they organized?
How much info do they have?
Smashing Magazine
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Play with the Top 10 apps.
4.
How do they navigate?
How are they organized?
How much info do they have?
Smashing Magazine
How do they take advantage of the unique characteristics smartphones offer (GPS, touch, etc.)?
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Predict what they will want to do.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
EX: If Your App is a GAME users will want to beat their high scores, or new users may need guidance and encouragement to keep playing.
Predict what they will want to do.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
EX: If Your App is a UTILITY think about how or where the task will be completed in real life, what will happen when the task is completed?
Predict what they will want to do.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Figure out what types of people will use your app. Don’t leave anyone out, and create live scenarios for testing.
Predict what they will want to do.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE
6. USER EXPERIENCE
SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE1. What info will be on each screen?
6. USER EXPERIENCE
SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE1. What info will be on each screen?2. How will you guide your users?
6. USER EXPERIENCE
SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE1. What info will be on each screen?2. How will you guide your users?3. How should items be displayed?
6. USER EXPERIENCE
YOU CAN BUY THE IPHONE STENCILKIT TO AID THIS PROCESS.
TO CREATE A DIGITAL VERSION CHECK OUT iPLOTZ.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Designers:
Download the iPhone GUI Photoshop Template of the PSD Vector Kit.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Developers:
Get involved early so designers know what’s feasible and what isn’t.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
Not a Designer or Developer?
Find mobile interface pros on sites like Coroflot, Crowdspring, and eLance.
6. USER EXPERIENCE
7. THE APP STORE
Ask your developer to do the following:
1. Create your Certificates
2. Define App IDs
3. Create your Distribution Provisioning Profile
4. Prepare Application
5. Upload iTunes Connect
8. PROMOTIONGet involved in Social Media.
Set up fan pages and start creating hype about your app to your target market(s).
Contact Friends and Family.
Create email lists and start spreading the word on your app. You may be surprised how fast 20 people turns to 2000.
Smashing Magazine #2
8. PROMOTION
Prepare for Multiple Releases
8. PROMOTION
Prepare for Multiple Releases
Save some features for future releases. It will take too long to get your dream list on the market. Multiple releases also give an opportunity for more promo down the line.
8. PROMOTION
Prepare for a Huge Launch.
8. PROMOTION
Prepare for a Huge Launch.
Exploit all resources including, online PR, App review panels, niche networks, social media, to build launch anticipation.
8. PROMOTION
KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING
If you have a great app, following these steps are guaranteed to bring you mobile app success.