Apple has shifted its focus to celebrating indie apps and startups over larger tech firms in its list of Apple Design Awards winners, highlighting the innovation and creativity within the smaller app development community.
Amid ongoing scrutiny of its App Store model by legislators and regulators, Apple’s annual Design Awards showcase the best and most innovative software on its platform, with an emphasis on smaller to midsize app developers and venture-backed startups. Notable finalists include Copilot Money, SmartGym, Crouton, Procreate Dreams, Gentler Streak, Rooms, Arc Search, and others.
While some finalists incorporate AI technology, like Arc Search’s browsing agent, Apple’s list mostly avoids major AI chatbot offerings, such as ChatGPT. Despite ChatGPT’s success in downloads, Apple and Google refrained from naming it the “app of the year” in 2023, indicating a deliberate choice to celebrate other innovative apps in the industry.
Indie games like Rytmos, finity, The Wreck, The Bear, and others also received recognition among the finalists, showcasing the diversity of creativity and talent in the app development space.
In addition to games, non-game apps like Meditate, Sunlitt, Dudel Draw, Bears Gratitude, and Rooms were highlighted for their unique features and design, further underscoring Apple’s support for indie developers and startups in the app ecosystem.
The ADA finalists and winners reflect Apple’s commitment to highlighting diversity and inclusivity in the global app community, with nominations for apps catering to different user needs and experiences.
2024 Apple Design Award (ADA) Winners
Apple’s ADA winners were selected based on values and capabilities such as “Delight and Fun,” “Inclusivity,” “Innovation,” “Interaction,” “Social Impact,” “Visual and Graphics,” and “Spatial Computing,” showcasing a diverse range of apps and games that embody these principles.
The article was originally published on May 28, 2024, and updated on June 6, 2024, to include the list of winners.
