Apple Design Awards 2020: Recognizing Excellence in App and Game Design

The Apple Design Awards are an annual event held by Apple to recognize and celebrate the exceptional work of app and game developers worldwide. The 2020 Apple Design Awards were no exception, showcasing a diverse array of apps and games that stood out for their innovation, design, and overall user experience.

Overview of the Apple Design Awards 2020

The 2020 Apple Design Awards were announced on June 29th, during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This year, the awards focused on eight apps and games that demonstrated outstanding creativity, technical achievement, and innovative design, aligning with Apple’s vision of creating products that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

The winners of the 2020 Apple Design Awards were recognized for their ability to deliver intuitive user interfaces, seamless integration with Apple’s hardware and software, and the ability to push the boundaries of what is possible on the Apple platform. These awards highlight the importance of design in the app development process, acknowledging the work of those who prioritize user experience and visual appeal.

Categories and Criteria

Apple selected the winners across various categories, ensuring a broad representation of the app ecosystem. The criteria for selection included:

• Innovation: How the app or game leverages Apple technologies in novel ways.
• Design: The aesthetic quality, user interface, and overall experience.
• Technology: The technical achievement in terms of coding, optimization, and integration.
• Impact: The app's ability to engage users and make a positive impact.

These criteria ensured that the winners not only excelled in one area but were well-rounded in their approach to design and development.

The 2020 Winners

The 2020 Apple Design Awards celebrated eight winners, four in the app category and four in the game category. Below is a closer look at each of the winners, highlighting why they were chosen and what makes them stand out.

App Winners

1. Darkroom (Bergen Co.)

   • Overview: Darkroom is a powerful photo and video editing app that offers advanced features typically found in professional software. It stands out for its intuitive design, making complex editing tasks accessible to all users.
   • Design Excellence: The app’s clean interface, combined with powerful editing tools, offers a seamless user experience. The developers utilized Apple's Metal framework to optimize performance, ensuring that even resource-intensive tasks are handled smoothly.
   • Impact: Darkroom's accessibility features, such as VoiceOver support, make it usable by a wide range of people, enhancing its reach and inclusivity.

2. Looom (iorama.studio)

   • Overview: Looom is a playful, hand-drawn animation app designed to inspire creativity in both professionals and hobbyists. Its unique interface and approach to animation make it a standout tool for artistic expression.
   • Design Excellence: The app’s design is minimalist yet powerful, allowing users to focus on the creative process without distractions. The app leverages the Apple Pencil to provide a tactile and responsive drawing experience.
   • Impact: Looom encourages creativity in a new way, making animation accessible to everyone, from children to seasoned animators.

3. Shapr3D (Shapr3D Zrt.)

   • Overview: Shapr3D is a CAD (computer-aided design) app that brings professional-grade modeling tools to the iPad. It is designed for architects, engineers, and designers, offering precision and flexibility in creating 3D models.
   • Design Excellence: The app takes full advantage of the iPad's hardware, using the Apple Pencil for precise input and the A12Z Bionic chip for rendering complex models in real-time. The interface is clean and intuitive, allowing users to create detailed models with ease.
   • Impact: Shapr3D democratizes 3D modeling, providing powerful tools to professionals and students alike, enabling a wide range of design possibilities.

4. StaffPad (StaffPad Ltd.)

   • Overview: StaffPad is a music composition app that converts handwritten musical notation into digital sheet music. It is designed for composers, offering an intuitive way to create and edit music on the go.
   • Design Excellence: The app’s interface is tailored to the needs of composers, with tools that make writing music as natural as using pen and paper. The app utilizes Apple Pencil for precise input and supports multiple instruments and playback features.
   • Impact: StaffPad has transformed the way composers work, providing a portable and powerful tool for music creation, making it easier to compose and share music.

Game Winners

1. Sayonara Wild Hearts (Simogo / Annapurna Interactive)

   • Overview: Sayonara Wild Hearts is a visually stunning rhythm-based action game that combines music, art, and gameplay into a unique experience. It is praised for its aesthetic and immersive storytelling.
   • Design Excellence: The game’s design is heavily influenced by pop culture, with neon visuals and a pulsating soundtrack that enhance the gameplay. The developers utilized Apple’s Metal framework to create smooth, high-fidelity graphics.
   • Impact: Sayonara Wild Hearts has been lauded for its innovative approach to gaming, blending different genres to create an experience that resonates with a wide audience.

2. Sky: Children of the Light (thatgamecompany)

   • Overview: Sky: Children of the Light is an open-world social adventure game that emphasizes exploration, cooperation, and empathy. It is designed to be a peaceful, collaborative experience for players of all ages.
   • Design Excellence: The game’s design focuses on creating a serene and visually captivating environment. The developers utilized Apple’s ARKit to integrate augmented reality features, enhancing the game’s immersive experience.
   • Impact: Sky has been praised for its unique approach to multiplayer gaming, promoting positive interactions and creating a welcoming environment for all players.

3. Song of Bloom (Philipp Stollenmayer)

   • Overview: Song of Bloom is a narrative puzzle game that tells its story through a series of hand-drawn vignettes. The game is known for its innovative gameplay and artistic style.
   • Design Excellence: The game’s design is unconventional, with a focus on creativity and exploration. The hand-drawn art style and non-linear narrative make it stand out from traditional puzzle games.
   • Impact: Song of Bloom offers a fresh take on the puzzle genre, engaging players with its unique storytelling and visual style, making it a memorable experience.

4. Where Cards Fall (The Game Band / Snowman)

   • Overview: Where Cards Fall is a narrative puzzle game that explores themes of adolescence, memory, and identity through a series of challenging puzzles. The game is praised for its storytelling and innovative design.
   • Design Excellence: The game’s visual design is intricate, with a focus on creating atmospheric environments that reflect the protagonist’s emotional journey. The puzzles are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall experience.
   • Impact: Where Cards Fall has been recognized for its emotional depth and artistic design, offering players a thoughtful and introspective gaming experience.

Impact and Importance of the Apple Design Awards

The Apple Design Awards play a crucial role in the app and game development community. They not only recognize the efforts of developers but also set a standard for excellence in design and innovation. Winning an Apple Design Award is a prestigious honor that can significantly boost an app’s visibility and success.

Moreover, the awards highlight the importance of design in technology. In an industry often driven by functionality and performance, the Apple Design Awards remind developers that the user experience is equally important. By celebrating apps and games that excel in design, Apple encourages developers to prioritize aesthetics, usability, and innovation in their work.

Conclusion

The 2020 Apple Design Awards showcased the best of what the app and game development community has to offer. From innovative tools for professionals to games that push the boundaries of storytelling and design, the winners represent the pinnacle of creativity and technical achievement. As technology continues to evolve, the Apple Design Awards will remain a vital platform for recognizing and inspiring excellence in design.