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.