Spatial Computing Winners of Apple’s 2024 Design Awards
Two developers who’ve been creating experiences for flat screens flexed their true potential by bringing their apps to Apple Vision Pro
Each year ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference a selection of apps and games are recognized for their design excellence. The categories awarded are delight and fun, inclusivity, innovation, interaction, social impact, visuals and graphics and a new one for spatial computing given this year’s release of Apple Vision Pro. The winners in that category are both apps with proven success on other Apple platforms yet they’ve been thoughtfully recreated for visionOS. Blackbox, a gorgeous puzzle game, offers abstract and intriguing visuals that prompt new forms of interaction and encourage movement around your space. djay, on the other hand, recreates the DJing experience with entirely virtual equipment.
“We’re proud to recognize the work of teams behind apps like djay and Blackbox which are reimagining app and game experiences for spatial computing,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “With their deep knowledge of developing apps that are completely native to Apple’s ecosystem both developers have shown how thoughtful but simple designs can seamlessly integrate into our lives and result in experiences that transform our world.”
Blackbox is a distinctive marriage of art, technology and game-play and on Apple Vision Pro uses the entire space around you as its playground, encouraging exploration and experimentation to unlock each puzzle. The iOS version of the game encourages exploration of space as well, however it’s visually constrained to what you can see on the iPhone’s screen while it’s in your hand. For the visionOS version developer Ryan McLeod found the perfect interaction model only once he let go of the windowed, 2D screen paradigm.
“For me, apps needing a window or having some kind of invisible volume really feels like a bit of a stop gap—something that really just exists naturally in the space with you is the ultimate idea,” he shared. “So once I figured out how we could pull off the graphics to support that—and use things like the bubbles instead of windows or menus, it didn’t really feel like a level selection screen anymore because it just kind of takes up your living room or backyard or wherever you are—the interactions all sort of flew from there.” At the same time, designing and developing for spatial computing presents an entirely new set of challenges given a very different set of constraints. “I think it’s so nice that Vision doesn’t have any defined play space and that presents interesting trouble for us as well,” McLeod continued. “If you’re sitting in bed with the headset and playing [Blackbox], do we spawn bubbles behind you through the wall? How smart can we be about trying to look at the space and arrange them?”
It’s funny because it’s not an Oscar or Pulitzer, but it absolutely feels that way to us.
Ryan McLeod, Developer of Blackbox
Blackbox for iOS won an Apple Design Award in 2017. When asked what winning another award meant to him McLeod reflected, “It’s funny because it’s not an Oscar or Pulitzer, but it absolutely feels that way to us. It’s a huge honor and affirmation that we’re doing the right stuff and pushing in the right directions, and it’s always just such a sign of recognition from people who really see and get all the details you’ve worked so hard on.”
djay for visionOS is the latest iteration of algoriddim‘s 18-year long commitment to using technology to enable access to DJing without an investment in the traditional equipment. And in many ways, creating a spatial computing experience gets close to coming full circle to the real life version. Opening the app reveals the flat interface existing users are familiar with from their Mac, iPad and iPhone apps. There’s a button to jump to spatial mode which renders turntables, effects panels and mixers in front of you and lets you choose a virtual environment or the room you’re in to play to. “With Vision Pro for the first time we felt that we can fully unleash our creativity and vision for bringing this experience to users and allowing them to feel what it’s like to be a DJ and to interact with music in that way with the benefits of a digital interface. To us that was really the holy grail moment in terms of the evolution of the product and its design,” Karim Morsy, CEO of algoriddim shared.
The design of djay leverages the best of 2D and 3D interaction models. Browsing long lists of tracks, for example, is easiest in 2D yet pulling a virtual album from a stack to put on a turntable in 3D is incredibly satisfying. Given the Vision Pro’s spatial sensing, features like previewing a track are as simple as cupping your hand to your ear just like you’d do with physical headphones. What’s intriguing is that when someone is using djay in Vision Pro they’re moving their hands and body just like a DJ would in a live, physical show. Back in February Diplo shared this video DJing with djay in Vision Pro on a private jet and two weeks ago Laidback Luke released the video above performing a live set. “Now gestures actually have meaning because normally when you’re DJing you’re just doing these things with the crowd and you’re not doing anything, but now he’s controlling the music and animating the audience. It’s all coming together,” Morsy joyfully shared.
It’s also important to recognize the finalists in the spatial computing category who include Loóna: Cozy Puzzle Games by Loona Inc.; NBA by NBA MEDIA VENTURES, LLC; Sky Guide by Fifth Star Labs LLC; and Synth Riders by Kluge Strategic Inc.
Here is a full listing of the winners and finalists from the six other categories as provided by Apple
Delight and Fun
Winners in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences that are enhanced by Apple technologies.
| App: Bears Gratitude | Game: New York Times Games |
|---|---|
| Developer: Isuru Wanasinghe (Australia) | Developer: The New York Times Company (United States) |
| Bears Gratitude is a simple way to encourage and embrace honest self-reflection. The journaling app provides a welcoming way to establish daily gratitude practices. Thoughtfully crafted characters within the app help create a sense of warmth and routine to support users in building happiness, one day at a time. | Through a compelling mix of titles, New York Times Games has redesigned its navigation and expanded its gaming catalog. New titles like Connections are calibrated for maximum replay value, with elegant design and ease of use that result in an experience that encourages everyone to join in on the fun. |
Finalists for this category include Dudel Draw by Silly Little Apps, LLC; Hello Kitty Island Adventure by Sunblink Entertainment LLC; Rooms by Things, Inc.; and WHAT THE CAR? by Triband ApS.
Inclusivity
Winners in this category provide a great experience for all by supporting people from a diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.
| App: oko | Game: Crayola Adventures |
|---|---|
| Developer: AYES (Belgium) | Developer: Red Games Co. (United States) |
| By alerting pedestrians to the state of signal lights through haptic and audio feedback, oko is an immediately impactful app for people who are visually impaired. It is a powerful solution to a critical safety scenario that takes advantage of Apple technologies, including VoiceOver and Dynamic Type. | A colorful adventure game that offers a wide range of creation options for all players, Crayola Adventures brings to life character choices that include different skin tones, abilities, body types, pronouns, and full game narration. All ages can enjoy this delightful game experience, offering a mix of activities that include making decorations, solving puzzles, and reading storybooks. |
Finalists for this category include Complete Anatomy 2024 by Elsevier, quadline by Kovalov, Tiimo by tiimo ApS, and Unpacking by Humble Bundle.
Innovation
Winners in this category provide a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that sets them apart in their genre.
| App: Procreate Dreams | Game: Lost in Play |
|---|---|
| Developer: Procreate (Australia) | Developer: Happy Juice Games (Israel) |
| Procreate Dreams is a stunning design tool that allows creatives of all kinds to create 2D animations using the extensive and familiar library of brushes, gestures, and PencilKit-enabled behaviors from the original Procreate. The controls are effortlessly intuitive, with support for both multitouch interactions and Apple Pencil. The app offers powerful animated effects, audio, and video to bring users’ creations and artwork to life. | Filled with endearing characters and fun minigames, Lost in Play offers players a charming adventure through childhood imagination with thoughtfully crafted puzzles. This point-and-tap journey features hand-drawn graphics, easy-to-learn interactions, and compelling gameplay that ignites a childlike sense of discovery throughout. |
Finalists for this category include Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile by Activision Publishing, Inc.; Copilot Money by Copilot Money, Inc.; SmartGym by Mateus Abras; and Wavelength by Palm Court LLC.
Interaction
Winners in this category deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.
| App: Crouton | Game: Rytmos |
|---|---|
| Developer: Devin Davies (New Zealand) | Developer: Floppy Club (Denmark) |
| Crouton provides users with a clean interface for stashing away recipes, creating grocery lists, and presenting step-by-step instructions in the kitchen. With its effortless series of interactions, Crouton lets users keep their focus on the counter rather than the screen. | Rytmos challenges players to solve puzzles by creating pathways using simple drag gestures, and every completed level adds a new element to an evolving song. The brightly conceived onboarding makes gameplay instantly clear, and the gestures are simple and fun, even when the game starts delivering more complexity. |
Finalists for this category include Arc Search by The Browser Company of New York Inc; finity. by Seabaa, Inc.; Little Nightmares by Playdigious; and Procreate Dreams by Savage Interactive Pty Ltd.
Social Impact
Winners in this category improve lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.
| App: Gentler Streak Fitness Tracker | Game: The Wreck |
|---|---|
| Developer: Gentler Stories (Slovenia) | Developer: The Pixel Hunt (France) |
| Gentler Streak aims to improve everyone’s lifestyles, no matter who or where they are. The app is powered by optimistic and encouraging reminders that factor in both physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Its health data is smartly organized and seamlessly integrated to help users thoughtfully track exercise, rest, and wellness. In a Monthly Summary view, users are shown how they are doing in relation to their history, emphasizing the focus on individual progression rather than comparison against others. | In the visual novel The Wreck, players follow alongside the story of Junon, a writer who is abruptly called to a hospital to make a life-changing decision that will impact her family forever. The game is eloquently written through deep and intimate narratives that reflect stressful situations, and invites players to think about their choices throughout a nuanced and powerful gameplay experience. |
Finalists for this category include Ahead: Emotions Coach by ahead Solutions GmbH; Cityscapes: Sim Builder by MagicFuel Games; How We Feel by The How We Feel Project, Inc.; and The Bear by Mucks Games.
Visuals and Graphics
Winners in this category feature stunning imagery, skillfully drawn interfaces, and high-quality animations that lend to a distinctive and cohesive theme.
| App: Rooms | Game: Lies of P |
|---|---|
| Developer: Things, Inc. (United States) | Developer: NEOWIZ (South Korea) |
| Rooms offers users a blank slate for building imaginative scenes, a platform for cozy gaming, and a social space that offers interactions with thousands of other people’s creations. The rooms within the app are filled with delightful detail, and the app’s interactions, sounds, and visuals strike the balance between quirky and compelling. | Lies of P is an imaginative adventure that reimagines a classic tale, allowing players to control a robotic puppet created by Geppetto, who must survive a battle march through a burned-out city to find his maker. The visuals showcase a world of beautiful textures, detailed lighting, and stunning effects, and visual customization options like MetalFX upscaling and volumetric fog effects on Mac let users style the game to their liking. |
Finalists for this category include DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT by 505 Games (U.S.), Inc.; Honkai: Star Rail by COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.; Meditate by RhythmicWorks; and Sunlitt: Sun Position and Path by Nicolas Mariniello.
To learn more about the Apple Design Award winners and finalists, visit developer.apple.com/design/awards or the Apple Developer app.
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