Two of the toughest issues for mobile app development company stakeholders are cost and design.  On the iOS platform (iPhone/iPad), particular attention is paid to design, and Android also has its own design language; however, the navigation patterns can be quite different between the two platforms.  In this video episode of Mobile App Development TV, we talk to Pete Petras, who is the US Creative Director for Globant.  Globant is a technology service provider focused on developing compelling experiences with particular expertise in mobile app development.  Pete talks about the cost incurred when companies undertake development projects, and how user experience is becoming a driving factor in app success.  Watch the video now:

Watch MP4 (iPhone/iPad)

People are figuring out that mobile is a different platform which requires more of a user-focused product definition with an impeccable focus on detail.  According to Pete, "It ultimately does what design should do, it’s invisible in a way, especially when you’re talking about an iPhone.  When you look at the iPhone, all eyes are on the interface."  I've heard it said at Apple before, that good design is invisible, and I don't think a lot of people understand how much work it takes to come up with a design that is exceptional.  When you see it, it looks so simple.

I think design and user experience are the missing factors in many apps, and achieving excellence here takes time and revision.  Usually when I'm working on a design, the client likes the first draft and doesn't want to pay for revisions, but I think this is short-sighted if you're goal is to design the killer app.  You arrive at the first design, and then deconstruct it, to see what the user is really trying to do with your app.  Then you incorporate the new lessons in your redesign.

Just yesterday, there was a post in The Wall Street Journal blog, asking Why Aren't App Designers as Famous as Chefs? John Maeda, the new design partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers says, "We’ve hit this plateau where technology alone is not enough to sell a product.  So what is it that we need to make us want something?  It’s about the design."  Design is something that should be thought of first, and it should be started early in the development project.  You can find out more about Pete's design tastes on his Pinterest Board.

MobileCast Media offers app design and development services.  Please contact us for more information.

Transcript

John: Welcome To Mobile App Development TV, I’m your host John Houghton and today we’re talking about mobile app development cost and design. We’re joined in the studio by Pete Petras. Pete is a US Creative Director for Globant. Globant is a technology service provider that focuses on developing compelling experiences and they have particular expertise in mobile.

How are you doing Pete?

Pete: I’m doing well, thanks John.

John: What does it cost to design and develop a mobile app?

Pete: One billion dollars.

John: One billion, not a million?

Pete: No I guess in this market it’s a billion dollars, right that the bar. No, that all depends on the length of the project, it all depends on the complexity of the app and ultimately whatever the cost is that you figure out that it will actually take to develop. You can do an analysis and say, “hey we have x amount of people that costs us x amount of time and we predicted that this takes six months or nine months to develop and there for that’s our budget or that’s what it’s going to cost us. I would say times that by two, maybe by three. Because nothing ever goes the way you think it will go and a month into it you’re going to have to grow the team by two maybe even by three and then who knows. You’ll have other costs that you’ll have to take into consideration, licensing, who knows, there are all sorts of elements that are always unforeseen and it will defiantly cost always more than you really think it will.