So you want to build an app in App Press. Maybe you’re an experienced designer or maybe you’re just starting in Photoshop. Either way, starting with a blank canvas in a new program can be intimidating. Sometimes it takes a bit of playing around with any new program to become comfortable. App Press is no exception so we’ve come up with a few quick tips to help you get started.
Use Templates - App Press recently released templates that you can use for design inspiration or to start build upon. Move assets around and see how different functions were built.
Create a Web UI view - Regardless of what kind of app you’re building you can likely utilize an external website being in your app. App Press allows you to embed a web UI view into your native app, creating a hybrid app. This is a great way to quickly generate content that you can instantly view.
Preview in App Press Now - App Press Now is a native app for iPhone and Android that allows you to instantly preview your apps. This is a great tool to use while you build because it allows you to see updates in real time so you can ensure that the app looks and functions exactly as you intend.
Usually if you have an app idea you start listing out all of the features that the app needs. Pretty soon you have a long list of features and no visual aid. Remember 50% of the population are visual learners. That’s why you should focus on creating a basic prototype incorporating the list of features. Building a quick prototype will help App Press if you need more information about potential custom development or how long it will take to build.
Budget and timeline will then dictate how you create a statement of work for an app project. If the client has a $5k budget and needs the app next month, that scenario will lend itself to going in the direction of building a feature limited hybrid app. If the client has a $30k and needs the app in four months, that scenario will lend itself to going in the direction of building a rich native app (both doable in App Press).
You’ve got a budget and timeline, now what?
Starting listing ways you are going to solve the client’s needs in their app. Consider what the MVP (minimum viable product) would look like and how it would function. Does it need a login, what sharing features does it need, will it use maps or video, does it need to communicate with any other web service? Make the list. After you make the list write next to it the technical and design dependences to complete the list. Tie a cost to everything on that list.
For example:
Secure login
- Technical need: API for mobile user authentication and session token
- Design need: one simple screen
Offline Map support for Mapbox
- Technical need: Use MapBox’s SDK to implement client’s maps
- Design need: three screens highlighting store locations
After you’ve listed the features out, it’s time to go to work. Every popular app, from Instagram to Snapchat, began with an idea. If you want to make your app go viral, it's important you have the right tools at hand to bring your idea to life.
The team at App Press is always here to help assist you. In fact we love helping our clients scope projects. If you need help, contact us M-F and we’ll get back to you in less than 24 hours.
