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How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

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Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#41

Post by youtoutou »

tathagata wrote: post #31

When developing iOS apps, if you cannot hire a designer in your team, then you or someone else in your team should try and learn some basic design skills. In a market like the Apple App Store where there are a huge number of apps, the easiest way to differentiate yourself is with the help of good design. You are going in the right direction though with the design. Best of luck.

Thank you! It's hard and costly to find a full-time and suitable designer. So a contract or part-time designer is a good idea.

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#42

Post by paulyan »

nroach wrote: post #27

How do you know whether the increase in downloads is due to "good design" vs. confusion with an official instagram product? The new icon bears a strong resemblance to the instagram icon (particularly at small sizes). Isn't it possible that instead of good design you're simply seeing an increase in conversions by unsophisticated buyers and you're gaining a benefit from that confusion with a well-established brand? It…

If you look at all Instagram apps in the store, you'll find there are many Instagram apps designed with a 'camera' icon. We're definitely not the first one.

Do you know 'Pinstagram'? They just changed the name to "Pictacular", and it's based in the US. I dont want to say you're making discrimination over non US-based companies. And I don't think it's right to infringe Instagram brand. If i am not doing right, i am happy to change immediately.

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#43

Post by digitalengineer »

paulyan wrote: post #25
digitalengineer wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think youre right. Here is one thats even nicer: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-78548530/stock-vector-vector...

nice...

Want to buy it? Just 50 bucks ;-) Or 39 euro's for 5 images if you sign up for shitterstock yourselve.

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#44

Post by paulyan »

JohnCastle wrote: post #23

Padgram, InstaPin.... --> Instagram... This is not really creative + the logo which is also copied

hi @JohnCastle, for the top Instagram apps, the names are: - InstaPad - InstaBrowser - InstaMap

And web services: - Webstagram

I think the problem is in nature in what we're doing. It's an Instagram app, how can user recognize you without a perceptive name?

And see what's happening on Twitter is more persuasive. Almost all Twitter apps' icon is a bird, but people still love Tweetbot to death.

I am open to constructive suggestions.

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#45

Post by paulyan »

54mf wrote: post #16
paulyan wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Appreciate for your comments, if you try it and provide more comments, that would be perfect :-)

Personally, I think the "Padgram" font is nice. Didn't work well for "Instapin" - made the "I" look funky - but looks suitable for Padgram. I'd tighten up the space between the "P" and "a", and between the "d" and "g", but that's just my own nitpicking.

Good thinking's, definitely worth trying...

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#46

Post by digitalengineer »

paulyan wrote: post #25
digitalengineer wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think youre right. Here is one thats even nicer: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-78548530/stock-vector-vector...

nice...

Big problem righ here: Restrictions part 2, #15: You may not use these images as part of a trademark or logo... http://www.shutterstock.com/licensing.mhtml

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#47

Post by potatolicious »

paulyan wrote: post #42
nroach wrote: post #27

How do you know whether the increase in downloads is due to "good design" vs. confusion with an official instagram product? The new icon bears a strong resemblance to the instagram icon (particularly at small sizes). Isn't it possible that instead of good design you're simply seeing an increase in conversions by unsophisticated buyers and you're gaining a benefit from that confusion with a well-established brand? It…

If you look at all Instagram apps in the store, you'll find there are many Instagram apps designed with a 'camera' icon. We're definitely not the first one. Do you know 'Pinstagram'? They just changed the name to "Pictacular", and it's based in the US. I dont want to say you're making discrimination over non US-based companies. And I don't think it's right to infringe Instagram brand. If i am not doing right, i am ha…

> "If you look at all Instagram apps in the store, you'll find there are many Instagram apps designed with a 'camera' icon. We're definitely not the first one."

And this is supposed to mean something? The fact that there are other people in the App Store capitalizing off of brand confusion and design mimicry excuses... what exactly?

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#49

Post by paulyan »

digitalengineer wrote: post #40
paulyan wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would still suggest trying. If you're not satisfied with what's offered, you can reject it, it does no harm. And Elancer has many options to try. But if without trying, devs will never be able to make an satisfying icon (at least for me). We cannot stay there waiting for Apples to sentence the app's death.

The danger in "trying" is you'll get something lots of other people might also have (with perhaps a little tweaking). Twitter did this as well back in the day and ended up realy regretting it. You can not protect your corporate identity if it's based upon unorigional work.

Thanks @digitalengineer for this meaningful discussion. Yes we absolutely should build up our own design team. Blindly keep trying woundn't work either.

It's still the art of balancing. Trying various ways in the beginning, and at some time point, we should tight up all kinds of resources and build up our own for key resources. Design is resources with key value.

Compared with criticism about copycat or intentional confusion, I like your constructive suggestion. We're a young startup and Padgram is our baby. We might not be doing well but we've tried the best. And we're sharing what we learned.

Re: How polished UI (icon) helped my iPad app's downloads (stats inside)

#50

Post by paulyan »

ArekDymalski wrote: post #48

I guess you could make more impacting decisions if you stopped "betting what happens on user side". Anyway thanks for lessons learned post. These are always inspiring.

i definitely upvote this! We have been hesitating on what we did. We're going to make something ourselves are happy with in next version. I will keep sharing. stay tuned
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