What Are The Benefits Of Ideation Workshops?
Help the best ideas rise to the top, not the loudest, by enjoying the benefits of ideation workshops instead of a noisy brainstorming meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYl0B0coBdA What is an Innovation Workshop? on YouTube Wanna solve a problem? Get the best...
Why Rocksauce Studios?
Why should you choose Rocksauce Studios? Long story short, you want it done right! When you have an idea for a product to launch on the market, you want to work with a company that actually cares about the end result. We take your product development seriously...
How Can You Incorporate AR into Your Business?
Did you know you can now place your products in the hands of potential customers using augmented reality technology? Businesses are using technology to merge digital information into a physical environment in the form of images, audio, web content, animations, and...
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE AN APP?
So you want to build an app--congratulations! We’re big fans of apps, truly! Now to address the elephant in the room: how much does it cost to create an app? Well, as you may have guessed, the cost relies on a number of factors, and there is no set answer....
Tech Trends and AR
You might not believe this reality, but the tech world is about to get even more augmented. Augmented reality, or AR, is the most recent technological innovation that blends the real world with the virtual world. This 3D interactive experience is accomplished through...
5 Things You Need For Your App
Wondering what it takes to make an app that lasts? Nowadays, with the use of applications, people can use their mobile devices to do just about anything: check-in for flights, make a payment, check their bank accounts, send emails, order a taxi, communicate with...
Trends Our Designers Love
The Internet has always (and continues to be) a trend. Today, it has advanced to the point where having a professional-looking website is one of the keys to designing success. Forms, factors, and functions are constantly changing, and successful website development is...
Everything You Need to Know About A Sales Funnel
What Is A Sales Funnel? Sales funnel is like the Tesla of the internet marketing world - you see and hear about them everywhere. They have been explained and interpreted in various ways on the internet, but many often misunderstand the concept. A sales funnel,...
10 New and Continuing Web Design Trends for 2022
One month into the new year, and we are keeping a close eye on the predicted web design trends for 2022. We’ve identified a few strong leanings we are seeing, but interestingly enough, the design landscape for 2022 is, in a word, eclectic. As our Founder and...
How to Improve Mobile App Performance
Is your app in tip-top shape? How is the performance of your mobile app? It’s pretty hard to believe that it’s been almost 3 decades since the first known mobile applications were developed back in 1993. Today, there’s an app for just about everything. And...
BEST REMOTE WORKING TOOLS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyguI5TgC6Q What are the top collaboration tools to coordinate work across teams? We take a look at our top five picks today. Remote work is not going away anytime soon, so we asked our founder, Q Manning, to introduce our favorite...
How to Start Designing the Obvious using UX Consultants Tips
Q & Answers Congratulations on drawing people to your website or app...Now be sure not to lose them by giving them the best design they deserve by contacting UX consultants! An average website user will spend roughly 15 seconds - if you’re lucky - looking for what...
How Long Does It Take to Build an App
Countless times, people have been asking How long does it take to build an app?Well, let me ask some questions also; how big is your application? How many features does your app have? And what does it need to do? The functionality of your application really matters!...
Appreneur Tip: Suicide by Release Date
When you are an Appreneur, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. You’re an idea person. A money person. A vision person. You’re looking ahead, anticipating your success, and planning for the next phase.
About Steven Walker: Born in Oregon, raised in Arkansas, educated in Georgia and working in Texas, Steven has cut a path across the continent collecting inspiration from the widest variety of sources. He is a flag waving geek, a patriotic American, a consummate advocate of scientific progress and a shameless acolyte in the cult of efficiency.
A pixel snob of the first order, Steven sets high standards of quality and precision for every aspect of the Rocksauce pipeline, from Bleuprinting to Development.
Creating Figma Hover Effects with UX Design Mastermind Madeline Olsen
One of our most popular YouTube videos is a Figma Friday tutorial on creating hover effects in Figma. Our UX Design expert, Madeline Olsen, walks you through the steps in this blog and video. What Are Hover Effects In Figma? First, what is a Figma hover effect? This...
How to develop innovative product design ideas?
Let’s look at something that has most of us spooked: innovation. What makes innovation so scary? I know you are wondering how you can develop innovative product design ideas that will make ur business stand out. I think most of us can agree that change is quite scary....
When to use Waterfall vs. Agile (and what’s the difference?)
Between Waterfall methodology vs Agile, which is superior?Agile projects are often less expensive and faster to complete. They provide more flexibility, but can yield less predictable results due to the uncertainty and ambiguity of numerous project variables....
Film Production Software Deserves Better
Crossing the new horizon in our film production software. The origin story of why ProCliq is rethinking the way we connect screenwriting, scene breakdowns, schedule, call sheets and more.
How to Make A Bank App People Want
A new generation of users expect more from their software. Bank apps are no different. At one point, having any type of software would suffice, but those days have passed. Facebook, Twitter, Instragram and popular software changed perception of what people expect. So...
Digital Transformation: How Google cloud services are improving UX/UI Design
So many people are yet to understand "How Google cloud services are improving UX/UI Design" the truth is that Google regularly updates a line of devices that showcase best-in-breed practices of how their software should work. On Tuesday, October 9th, Google had its...
Thoughts from our Creative Director: How To Make Mood Boards.
"The best way on how to make Mood Boards is by understanding and setting the tone and life of the project" A vital part of our process when directing a client’s project is setting the tone and life of the project by creating a Mood board. A UI artist creates a mood...
Best Way to visualize home using Homluv Digital UX Design.
A lot of people are faced with the challenge of how to creatively come up with a perfect design when planning of getting a new home. This article will thorough explain Best Way Homebuyers can strategically visualize home design using Homluv Digital UX Design....
Why do redesign initiatives fail?
So many people have been asking why do Redesign initiatives fail ? Well, you have to keep that fear of change from creeping in and speak it in the back of your mind. Get to Meet Humana Hey everyone. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Q and answers. My name is...
Why Do I Need a Sales Funnel and How Does It Work
You went car shopping recently. How important was finding a car that would interact with your smartphone? Finding a car that would interact with my smartphone was pretty important. Even more than that, it was about having a strong onboard communication system that seemed cohesive, seemed to work together and had an overall solid interface….
Why Work With A Mobile App Development Agency Than Hiring?
You went car shopping recently. How important was finding a car that would interact with your smartphone? Finding a car that would interact with my smartphone was pretty important. Even more than that, it was about having a strong onboard communication system that seemed cohesive, seemed to work together and had an overall solid interface….
User Interface Design: What are the Importance of Microinteractions In User Experience!
What the hell are microinteractions? A big, fancy word? Yes. Also a vital part of making a product feel great. Microinteractions are what happens when you interact with something in an interface.
Five UX mistakes that are sabotaging our design.
We work with designers every day and often with customers who want to know more about designing. Don’t fall into these design traps. Here are five ways you’re sabotaging your design.
The world is changing. Avoid being left behind
Sometimes we help customers with small problems, sometimes with big problems, but one thing is clear - right now, everyone is dealing with change. How do you make sure you aren't left behind because the world is changing around you? When a new situation arises, you...
Use Our Free Miro Templates Design Sprint for Constructive Conversations
We've created a FREE Miro Templates Design Sprint to help ensure your remote innovation is constructive. Remote team collaboration is more important than ever. Innovating remotely can be tough. You aren't sharing a table to pass things around. There are no whiteboards...
How to Use a Quick Design Sprint Guide In 1 minute
This is a Quick Design Sprint Facilitator Guide that will help you quickly ideate solutions to your biggest problems. We could go on and on about how great it is for aligning your team and propelling you forward, but lets keep it short and sweet today as you will get...
What is Digital First and why is it Important?
When this pandemic is over (whenever that might be), handshake businesses will return to some degree. But digital is never going to go away and it is likely to become even more prominent.
3 Easy Steps To Recover From UX Design Fails
It happens. It happens to everybody. You rolled out an idea, you tried something, and it totally flopped. What do you do?
Everything Is So Complex: How Do I Improve my App?
Are you also asking yourself this same question "How Do I Improve my App?" We're all just human beings, trying to deal with what the world is throwing at us right now. And it's throwing a lot. It's throwing way too much. But we'll get through it. Together. We have to...
Why you need a Product Design Agency
Product design agency? You've heard the team before, but what exactly is it? How can a product design company help you innovate?Ever had a really good idea that you just didn’t know what to do with? Or a really good idea that took off and fell flat halfway through?...
Five Core Principles of Design Psychology
Great design is unbelievably important. So I’m laying out Five Core Principles of Design Psychology to make sure that we’re doing the right thing for every audience.
Solve Enterprise Problems with a Proof of Concept
The difference between a prototype and a proof of concept is like the difference between Instagram photos of a meal and actually making the recipe. Both tell you some information about the meal - what it looks like, approximately how nutritious it might be, etc...
Increasing Your Team’s Collaboration
We’re seeing solutions come out that I know wouldn’t have been the same in our previous working environment. I feel like because of the new headspace that we’re all in, we’re allowing new and unexpected ideas to kind of forge.
How work from home can be productive
Tmake work from home productive as a company, you need to have some work from home guidelines. At Rocksauce, we have 5 simple directives we follow to ensure our employees are productive, connected, and successful.
The Curse of Knowledge: Finding Intuitive Solutions To Clients Problems
Having a healthy balance of industry experts with fresh perspectives can allow for elegant solutions. The experts in the room will help make sure things don’t go too far off the beaten path while the rest of the team will more intuitively ideate solutions.
What is a Design Sprint? (Part Two)
A Design Sprint is intended to help you innovate quickly. Once you have your team assembled, you can dive into the 5-Day process. Let’s break down each day of a Design Sprint.
What Is The Purpose of a Design Sprint Process?
You could spend months on ideas and brainstorming and then develop a product that ends up not working anyway. Or, with a Design Sprint, you can test your ideas quickly, in a matter of days.
Failure is part of the plan: making new year’s resolutions
I wonder what the statistics are on business leaders and innovators setting goals for the new year only to abandon their efforts as soon as they hit a roadblock? We do this in our personal resolutions all the time. We get so excited, we might even make a solid plan, only to fall short, become disheartened, and ultimately, give up.
How unexpected user interface design Problems Cause Additional Work
Prototype, test, iterate, and release! You might not think UX principles can apply to sometime like Texas Trash, but you’d be surprised!
The #1 Digital Innovation Trend of the Decade: IIoT
The Industrial Internet of Things. If there can be only one winner for the top digital innovation trend of the 2010s, it has to be IIot. No other technology from the past ten years has the ability to so radically shift manufacturing and increase efficiency in...
Does Branding awareness Matter On Internal Marketing Strategies?
Brand is reputation. It’s how people know you. It’s often based on corporate culture and corporate values. It’s what you are in the community. It’s how people remember you.
Explain a Design Sprint in 1 Minute…GO!
A Design Sprint is the concept of setting aside a chunk of time, usually 4 to 5 days, to conduct back-to-back workshops and design/testing sessions. The process is meant to validate a product idea in a fraction of the usual time.
5 Quick Tips for a Successful Expert Interview
The expert lives with their issues on a daily basis. Sometimes, when engaging a designer, they’ll downplay their own abilities to problem-solve through design, but we know from interviews they’ve been daydreaming ways to solve their issue.
Why Does software architecture design Go Wrong?
"In this article, we are going to be using Netflix software architecture design as a case study" Netflix is no longer about discovery; it's about the destination. When you're in your Netflix account, it's highlighting the types of films and shows you most likely...
Why Does “Ugly Design” Sometimes Work Better?
Designers like to make beautiful things. Whether it’s posters, logos, websites, or apps, designers want to make things they’re proud of. Beautiful design lets a designer brag to their peers, “Hey! I did that!” Also, consumers like to buy pretty products, so it’s great when things are pretty. But is there a time in which an “ugly” design might be the better deliberate choice?
The Most Common Misconceptions About Design Teams
“For most products I’ve worked on, maintaining a cohesive visual brand is tantamount to its ultimate success. It shouldn’t be figured out during the development phase because of how costly it would be to iterate on evolving concepts.”
Do Designers Need to Be Industry Experts?
A designer’s role is to solve problems by communicating to your user base through design. Your role is to be the expert on your subject matter and what you’re trying to accomplish.
What makes innovation so scary?
Let’s look at something that has most of us spooked: innovation. I think most of us can agree that change is kinda scary. In society, and as individuals, we seek out what is familiar. With change comes anxiety, and the word innovation means really big change, so we’re talking about some really big anxiety.
Austin Design Week: Service Design Q&A with Kati Presley
“Service design starts from when a user enters the journey all the way through where the user might exit.” – Kati Presley, UX D
What Is UI Design?
User interface design matters. You can shortcut the process (and lower your chances of success), but it matters. A valuable UI design team will ask “why?” questions about the product so they can provide the most thoughtful artistic solutions for the user.
A Prepper’s Checklist for User Interviews (Part Two)
The issues on this checklist came from personal experience. Once again, your interviews will probably go just fine. That said, I’m sure I’d have had lowered my own stress levels if I’d had some backup plans in place.
5 Quick Tips to Move Ideas from UX Design Ideas to Production
Get everyone in the room and move ideas from discussion to production.
Why User Testing Isn’t a Waste of Money
You may have an idea, but getting that user feedback loop going allows you to find out if you’re solving the problem the way that people actually want it solved.
A Prepper’s Checklist for User Interviews (Part One)
As a UX designer for Rocksauce, I’m kind of a prepper in my own right, but instead of bunkers and canned bread, I’m doing everything I can to avoid disaster
The Three Scariest Things About Innovation
You can hear it creeping around the corner. Stagnation. It's in the house. No one will believe you. Everyone carries on like it's business as usual, but you've seen it. It's inviting you into the rut where it lives. You've got to escape. But how? Innovation. If we're...
What Are the Best Tools for Innovation?
Creating a new product requires a lot of different design tools, across all of the product’s phases. Some tools carry over from phase to phase, but some are only useful for your needs at the time. As an innovation agency, we’ve tested quite a few tools over the years. Here are some suggestions, based on our experience.
5 Quick Tips : How to Improve UX Design Skills
Not everybody considers themselves “creative.” I’ll let you in on a secret, though – everybody is creative. Here are five quick tips to get more creative, especially if you consider yourself someone who isn’t.
Letting You In on the Benefits of New Product Design
The way a product is built matters more than a great idea. That’s the foundation of product design. But how can you make sure product design is done right?
How to Introduce New Systems Without Headaches
Teams are often resistant to new systems. We get it. There are a lot of different reasons a new system rolls out to frustration. We’re going to let you in on some secrets that make the rollout of new systems in your workplace much, much smoother.
What is UX, Anyway?
So, what is UX anyway? Simply put, it stands for user experience. For us, UX is a creative process that allows us to pinpoint solutions by empathizing with the needs of the user.
User Testing Dos and Don’ts for Your Own Projects
How do you even handle user testing if there’s neither time nor budget to put together a focus group? In this article, we offer up some dos and don’ts for when you find yourself needing feedback, but simply don’t have the resources.
5 Quick Tips: Unlock Creativity by Attending a Design Thinking Workshop
From mood boards to drawing with pen and paper, Kati Presley offers 5 quick tips to unlock creativity.
Do I choose Design Sprint or Innovation Workshop?
Your business has something that needs solving. You considered your options, and you’re at a fork in the road. “How do I choose between a design sprint and an innovation workshop?”
Be the Cat and Use Your Constraints
In one of Aesop’s fables, a Fox and a Cat travel together. The Fox brags to the Cat that he knows a hundred ways of escaping a situation, while the cat constrains himself to only one. Suddenly, the Fox and the Cat are spooked by the sound of a hunter’s bugle and the...
3 Keys to Fostering a Culture of Innovation
How do you foster a culture of innovation that supported from the top down? Is your company is on board with sponsoring an innovation program where they issue a “mandate for innovation”? If so, this will create a pull and desire to innovate with the approval of the...
What is Design Thinking? Is it legit?
Design Thinking gets categorized as a "buzz phrase," but it's an invaluable collection of practices to infuse digital transformation and innovation. In this installment of Q & Answers, we're going to come up with a quick definition of, "What is Design Thinking?"...
What are the benefits of a Design Thinking workshop?
2019 marks the 9th year of Rocksauce Studios. Over that time, we’ve conducted countless design thinking workshop programs for clients. Whether it was for a Digital Transformation Enterprise Project or Gonna-Change-The-World Entrepreneurial App, something magical...
Why Do You need Digital Transformation Consulting Services?
Digital transformation consulting Services can mean many different things to different people. According to Ray Wang, principal analyst and founder of Constellation Research Inc., digital transformation consulting services define “the methodology in which...
Texas Football and Digital Marketing
In this episode, we will be looking at the difference between Football and Digital Marketing. https://www.rocksaucestudios.com/ux-design-branding/ We talk with Head of Marketing, Michael Crider from ExSquared about one of the towns he's lived in and his...
Getting a Grip on Innovation – How do you measure innovation KPI?
Measuring innovation is not an easy thing to do. The first issue, of course, is defining what you are measuring, and then just what DO you measure to determine whether your enterprise is innovating sufficiently or falling behind the pack?
Episode 11 – Hook ’em & Market Validation
In this episode, we talk with Ben Mendoza, Director of Operations & Vanessa Jupe, VP of Digital Products & Services with H&R block about market validation for products as well as their upcoming graduation plans at UT!We'll be publishing our podcasts...
Episode 10 – Ask Johnny & Branding
In this episode, we talk with Creative Director Chris Lindenmayer about his favorite pizza spot and the importance of establishing a strong brand for whatever you do.We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind our process, technology choices...
Episode 9: Why Product Management is important?
In this episode, we talk with Product Owner, Peter Yoder and General Manager Q Manning about why product management is so important and why having an excel cake encapsulates why Peter Yoder is. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind our...
Episode 8- Why Do Project Managers Work with Creative Teams?
In this episode we talk with Lawrence Chan, Project Manager and Kati Presley Head of UX at Rocksauce about the Game of Thrones as it relates to project management and why Lawrence is a Unicorn. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind...
Using WWE as a Case Study: How do you create a new product idea?
How do you create a new product idea? A very big challenge for business owners is figuring out how to get the public aware of their product. Every product should have a marketing plan. Another Wrestlemania is now in the books, and for wrestling fans, it acts as sort...
Episode 7 – But Why?: Tastes Like my Childhood & Innovation Research
In this episode, we talk with special guest, Erin Mays of the Ebco to discuss the importance of thoughtful, careful innovation and trend research and what food tastes like her childhood. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind our process,...
EX Squared Solutions innovation in Digital Marketing
Companies to Integrate EX Squared Software Development & Marketing Expertise with Rocksauce Studios Design Leadership. We’re excited about collaborating with this agency to manage the innovation in Digital Marketing. (April 9, 2019—AUSTIN, TX) EX Squared...
What are the Latest Mobile UX Design Trends of 2019?
Many users have been asking for the latest mobile ux design trends of 2019 because most users have seen it all. In order to elicit a true emotional response, we have to strive to deliver something fresh to an already overstimulated audience. People want to...
What does it take to be a Professional UX writer?
Every year there are articles examining industry UX trends for the upcoming months. They look at what methods are changing or gaining popularity and cover the broad scope of user experience, dealing with topics as wide-ranging as aesthetics to testing. In this year’s...
Episode 6- But Why? How the Sausage is Made & Design Process
In this episode we talk with Graphic Designer, RJ Nye to discuss the importance of our Design Process, his proclivity toward Japanese culture and how the sausage is made. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind our process, technology...
SXSW 2019: Our Four Faves
The team were in SXSW in full force this year, attending a variety of events from Random Coffee’s hosted by Hootsuite. Also attend PMA Global Street Farm to fill our coffers from networking to self-care. Here are a few of the themes we enjoyed this year and the...
Episode 5- But Why? Baby Shark & Creative Teams
In this episode, we talk with VP of Business Development Mike Peloquin & Director of Ops, Ben Mendoza about the allure of "baby shark" and why creative teams are so imperative to building a relationship with your customers. We'll be publishing our podcasts...
Solving Silo Problems | Rocksauce Studios Webinar
Join us for a Webinar on March 27th to learn how to break out of the silo mentality. Silos are poison for Innovation. Join the Rocksauce Webinar to discover new ways to break through tunnel vision. Register today
Thoughts from our Creative Director Re: Mood Boards
A vital part of our process when directing a client's project is setting the tone and life of the project by creating a Mood board. How mood board is created? A mood board is created by a UI artist to give our client options and insight on how artwork will look and...
Episode 4- But Why? Cat Names & Ideation
In this episode, we talk with Head of Ideation, John Gholson to discuss the importance of Ideation in the development of a project as well as the interesting names for his domestic felines. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the why behind our...
3 Tips for Networkers attending SXSW Interactive
I'll be attending SXSW for my 7th year in just a few weeks and I get asked all the time, how do you make the most of it? How do you do it? In reality, I over strategize and end up doing about 1/2 of what I plan for and meet double the people I intend on...
Episode 3- But Why? Strategic Babies & Design Thinking
In this episode, we talk with Head of UX, Kati Presley. We are to discuss the reason behind implementing design thinking and how it's important to innovation and what it was like growing up as a strategic baby. We'll be publishing our podcasts bi-weekly to explore the...
Attack of the Giant Mobile Device! Now, on the Big Screen!
Our phones are getting bigger. There are no two ways about it, and you certainly don’t need me to pontificate on how smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. We have hit a tipping point, though. For the past two years over half of all web traffic...
Design Process: Designing With Development In Mind
Transitioning from the art phase of a project into development is incredibly exciting. User Testing You’ve finally got a clear vision of what your product will look like and in some ways, you can already start user-testing. But when you’re ready to make that...
Episode 2- But Why? Porta Potty Fires & User Experience
Meet Sam Reicks In this episode we talk with UX Designer Sam Reicks, to discuss the reason behind User Research, Personas and interviews. Get to learn a little bit about a user group who liked to set fires to porta pottys and were in biker gangs. We'll be publishing...
Solving Work Problems: Avoiding the Workplace Silo
We've been talking a lot at Rocksauce about cross-department collaboration. It was inspired by the notion of the workplace silo. Silo being of the main destructive factors in creating an effective and efficient solution. Team work In fact, we've been celebrating every...
Episode 1- But Why? Exploding Gallbladders & Origin Story
Join us for our pilot episode of But Why? Where we explore the reasons behind why our CEO Q Manning got the inspiration to start Rocksauce Studios to why he's proud of being responsible for exploding Michael Manning's gallbladder. We'll be publishing our podcasts...
Lessons from Movies’ Biggest Problem-Solving Characters of 2018
As movie critics wrap up their Best of 2018 lists and Oscar season begins to gear up, it’s an excellent time to reflect on the best problem-solving movie characters of 2018 and how their lessons apply to the workplace. No, Thanos isn’t on the list. Not everyone agrees...
Reflecting on Tech Trends in 2018
Reflecting on a year in tech, we asked our team at Rocksauce to share what they loved about 2018 tech trends. We are all looking forward to seeing how these trends and applications can improve what we do in 2019. Here are our insights below. Thoughts on the Customer...
How a Design System Can Speed Up Your Innovation Process
Designing at scale is crucial to business success. Big companies like Airbnb and Uber have embraced design systems as the new way they design digital products. A Design system is a collection of repeatable components and a set of standards that guide the use of those...
Job Hunting During the Holidays? 4 Tips for keeping it Jolly!
Job hunting during the holidays can make anyone say “Bah, Humbug” especially when looking in the ever-competitive market of Austin technology roles. Not only are many checked out of the day-to-day office mindset, but most employers have also drained their...
5 Steps to Drive Business Model Innovation from Lessons in Resilience
Business model Innovation and Resilience. These words have had more impact on me in 2018 than I could ever expect, both in personal and professional ways. Due to physical challenges, the evolving cycle of our family and the pivots we’ve made here at Rocksauce....
Making User Personas More Useful
In the User Experience process, User Personas are created as “actors” who should drive your motivations when designing. Who are you creating the software for? You’re creating it for “Liz,” a workaholic freelancer you just made up off the top of your head as a...
How Google is Shaping Digital Transformation
On Tuesday, October 9th, Google had its annual hardware event. And, while most of their new hardware (I’m looking at you, a notch on the Pixel 3XL) was impressive, what really stole the show was their focus on driving digital transformation innovation through...
3 Reasons to Start Digital Transformation Before 2019
Summer's over. Kids are back at school, and the end of 2018 is fast approaching. You look back at the last 9 months and realize, "Wait? I need a digital strategy this year! Hell, what is digital transformation, anyway? It's too late!" The good news? No, it's not too...
Rolling out Chat and Chatbot Technology
Software and innovation technology can lead to a lot of questions. This is why Rocksauce regularly updates our Apps101 Technology Glossary, to help our customers keep up to date with some of the cutting-edge terminology and terms related to crafting custom software...
3 Keys to Empowering the Next Wave of App Design Inspiration
A renewed focus on app design inspiration is happening right now among Houston's entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities. In addition to the formation of Houston Exponential, the affiliated HX Venture Fund, and Station Houston, plans are in the works to...
Michael Manning, Austin Under 40 Finalist
President of Rocksauce Studios, Michael Manning, named a finalist for 2018 Austins under 40, in technology. Since 1998, the Young Women’s Alliance and the Young Men’s Business League have partnered annually to host a series of events culminating in the Austin Under 40...
Technology App Developer Rocksauce Studios Promotes Exec to President
By Will Anderson – Digital Editor, Austin Business Journal Sep 14, 2017, 12:58pm She has a history of working well with the CEO — he's her husband. The company designs apps for multiple operating systems, from iOS to Android, and for local...
Managing Remote Employees Using GDTs Design
Anyone who’s debated how to break up with someone knows there’s a stark difference between phone and face-to-face communication. In business, we tend to view communication as a factual exchange of information, but the relational element of working in teams can’t be ignored, even when team members work remotely.
With geographically dispersed teams (or, as we call them, GDTs), the nuances of face-to-face interaction and the fun of spontaneous mingling don’t exist. This void can lead to feelings of isolation.
When Design Worlds Collide: De-Linearity in UX Design
Look at any list of buzzwords or “hot new trends” in UX design, and you’ll surely find “de-linearity” among them. But what is it really, and why does it matter right now?
In short, de-linearity is the concept of giving users a number of ways to accomplish a task rather than requiring them to perform a single precise set of actions to accomplish that same task.
How to Maximize Engagement With Intelligent Apps
With intelligent apps topping the list of strategic trends for 2017, bridging the gap between man and machine is coming much closer to reality. In fact, the trend is so strong it won’t likely lose steam even into next year: Gartner predicts that 200 of the largest companies around the globe will develop intelligent apps by 2018.
After all, AI has come a long way since Siri. At launch, Siri wowed the world. Though the app was more flash than substance, the program was still the first viable step in the culmination of what artificial intelligence could do.
Rocksauce Innovation Agency: Making the Case for Cultural Fit
Good experience and stellar references make job candidates stand out, but culture fit can be the deciding factor.
According to a 2016 survey, human resources teams often prioritize cultural fit when looking at recent college graduates—even over referrals, classes and grades. But evaluating fit doesn’t stop when you bring a new employee on board. Examining the culture of your team should be a regular, ongoing practice. After all, an employee who breaks the mold could run the risk of breaking your team.
Improving Ourselves: Ten SXSW Panels We Hope to Learn From
SXSW Interactive is upon us! The sessions! The keynotes! The parties! This year we have five members of our team who will be attending many of the sessions, keynotes, and networking events. This year has some truly diverse and entertaining programming that brings keynotes from Cory Booker to a panel with the cast of Veep! How do you balance the fun of SXSW programming with also finding sessions to teach valuable skills to help your business? Challenge accepted! We asked each member of our team attending SXSW to come up with two sessions they are excited about that would also be related to what they do here at Rocksauce Studios. The list they came up with is so spectacular; we have decided to share it!
Virtual Reality (VR) Design & User Experience
Remember when virtual reality was considered a ridiculous pipe dream relegated to ’80s sci-fi stories? Well, leading into the 2016 holiday season, it seemed like that “Tron”-like dream had come true. You could just mention the letters “VR” and investors’ ears would perk up.
But now it seems like the market’s expectations were aimed too high. While the full numbers aren’t in yet, VR sales during the 2016 holiday season seem to have come in below expectations.
Improving Good User Experience Through Design
There’s no question that users will abandon any Web site or mobile app they don’t enjoy using. User experience is a key determinant of success or failure. Yet 73 percent of industry executives see user experience as one of the toughest challenges they face. Even well-funded sites and apps can fail to gain adoption without a good, user-focused design.
Some aspects of creating a quality user experience are obvious. For example, if users can’t figure out how to use your site, chances are high they’ll abandon your offering and look elsewhere. Likewise, the best product teams employ fleshed-out user personas to help them address each user’s specific needs.
4 Keys to SXSW Film Festival From an Austin Expert
Since it began in 1987, South by Southwest has been one of the top conferences and festivals in the country, celebrating the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. At this Austin conference, you’ll find features, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a host of networking opportunities — way more than any one person could hope to see. Your first trip to SXSW can be a whirlwind tour of excitement. With all the events, panels, and people to see, just thinking about planning such a trip can cause headaches.
What We Do Wednesdays: Bullying in an UX Design Software Workplace
Every Wednesday Rocksauce CRO Michael Manning and Operations Manager Ashley Landavazo research and discuss a topic to share with other agencies and startups live on Facebook to offer advice to help them with their business operations. This week’s topic for What We Do Wednesday was “Bullying in the Workplace.” Be sure to watch the replay for some advice on dealing with employee relations and the growing problem of bullying in the workplace.
4 Ways to Avoid Nintendo’s Super Mario Mobile Application Design Mistake
For gamers of all ages, few properties elicit more excitement than a certain Italian plumber in a red cap and well-worn overalls. Gaming juggernaut Nintendo was banking on this in December when it released Super Mario Run, its second foray into the cutthroat world of mobile gaming.
What We Do Wednesdays: Geographically Distribution with Rocksauce UX Design Teams
Every Wednesday Rocksauce CRO Michael Manning and Operations Manager Ashley Landavazo research and discuss a topic to share with other agencies and startups live on Facebook to offer advice to help them with their business operations. This week’s topic for What We Do Wednesday was “Geographically Displaced Teams.” Be sure to watch the replay for some great tips on keeping the lines of communication open with remote teams and making them feel appreciated even though they are not located in your the main office.
VR UI Design: 3 steps to Prepare for the Ongoing Revolution
Virtual reality may be the buzziest tech of 2016, but it hasn’t hit critical adoption levels quite yet. Despite its recent advancements, VR seems to many casual observers like a clunky throwback to ’80s science fiction. Setups like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Playstation VR require large headsets and, in some cases, a wired connection. Less feature-rich smartphone VR options are a nice introduction to the medium, but when it comes to true immersion, users are thirsty for more.
For hardcore gamers, VR’s immersive capabilities are well worth the wallet-draining, laborious setup. Regular consumers, however, don’t have much need for the headaches — both literal and figurative — and most households won’t drop up to $1000 on what amounts to a novelty or fad.
As makers of VR devices and content try to capture a larger audience, these drawbacks pose two problems. The technology is not yet where it needs to be, and, as a consequence, there is not enough content aimed at the non-gamer audience. What does this mean for the future of VR, and how can tech marketers convince the average consumer to finally get excited about this new tech?
5 Ways to Be More Mobile-Friendly This Year
Look away from your screen for a second. Go ahead; I’ll wait. What’s going on in the world around you? Are any other people looking up from their screens, or are they all just as absorbed as you were a moment ago?
It’s not just your imagination. According to comScore’s 2016 Mobile App Report, total digital media time grew 53 percent from 2013 to 2016, and 80 percent of that growth was driven by mobile apps. The point is, we haven’t all turned into zombies — we’ve just altered our focus to take in content at an almost constant rate.
Maybe it’s time we adjust to this new world, with more mobile-focused efforts.
To keep your company from being left behind in the ever-expanding mobile world, you need to make content accessible to users where they spend most of their time. This means formatting it and making sure it’s friendly and ready for mobile users to engage with.
Read more on Entrepreneur.com
What You Need To Know About Product Design Agencies
Rocksauce CRO Michael Manning and Operations Manager Ashley Landavazo take time every Wednesday to bring up a topic that can help agencies and startups with their business operations. This week’s topic for What We Do Wednesday was “Kill the Cookie Cutter Team” and discussed the benefits of having a team with different social skills, backgrounds, and skill sets. Here is the replay of our Facebook Live broadcast from earlier this week.
Quit Adulting and Start Playing as a Ux Manager
It is still January, and being the top performing manager you are, you have been thinking of ways to be better at work. Not a resolution of course, because those are meant to be broken. Instead, a way to revolutionize your department and to hit the level cap in your role. Although, waking up early and exercising is not your idea of improving as a person, nor is taking down notes at a day-long convention with horrible sandwiches. You want to think outside of the box. I argue you need to quit adulting and play with the box.
UI Design Tips When Crafting a New App
“If they use it this way, we’ll make millions!”
This statement sums up an unfortunate attitude that is all too easy for Appreneurs to assume during the design phase. It’s a statement that seems innocent on the surface. Typically the goal of crafting a new app is indeed to make money and there is nothing inherently wrong with that. However, this sentiment obscures an underlying philosophy of design that is detrimental to both app makers and app users.
The Quest for Snapchat Spectacles: The First Wearable
It all started last September when Snapchat made a big announcement; They were changing their company name from Snapchat to Snap Inc. and becoming a camera company. Their first hardware product? Spectacles. The idea behind spectacles was pretty straightforward. It would be a video camera integrated into sunglasses, to record memories in the same way you experienced them, to be released soon. “Soon?” Soon.
A Look Back at Using Samsung’s Gear VR in 2016
2016 has been a big one for mobile VR but it didn’t start out promising. For the last couple years Google Cardboard has been the only bet in town. It was Samsung, partnering with Facebook’s Oculus, who launched a better version of mobile virtual reality with Gear VR in the fall of 2015 to great reviews but not much consumer excitement. It wasn’t until March of 2016 with the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 series that would bring virtual reality to the masses, and with it, better content and experiences. I spent most of 2016 using the Galaxy S7 with Gear VR and the Gear 360 camera, and using them to explore as much of the content and software available to see what mobile VR was capable of and where it fell short. Here are a few of my observations after using Samsung’s Gear VR system this year.
Is Apple Store Going to Delete Your App? Here’s How You Can Save It.
Until now, an outdated or half-baked app could be left sitting around, collecting a slow trickle of downloads even after its developers stopped pushing out updates. But that digital norm is about to change, as Apple recently announced its intention to clean up the App Store by evaluating and removing apps that fail to meet quality standards.
If you’ve received notice from Apple that your app is at risk — or if you just haven’t been diligent with your updates — don’t fret! Now is the perfect opportunity to tackle those updates and stay relevant while taking advantage of some of the newest iOS technology.
Read more on Entrepreneur.com
Smartphone Technologies to Consider When Developing an App
Apple has long been at the forefront of minimalistic, user-focused design. Back in the ‘80s, Steve Jobs created the Macintosh computer with a single button, bringing to life an aesthetic trend that continues to this day.
To add the functionality once provided by additional buttons, Apple installed 3D Touch into the iPhone 6, which provides a z-axis to user control using pressure sensors to determine how firm or light your touch is. Facebook Messenger has already jumped on the bandwagon of this new dimension, implementing the feature into its latest iOS update.
The push to smaller and more mobile computing devices is forcing developers to focus on creating a more seamless user experience, allowing for intuitive control options that were previously considered unusual alternatives. As this push for minimalism continues to move forward, what will be the next frontier in our button-free westward expansion?
Read more on DeveloperTech.com
5 Steps to Bring Users Back to Your App
Are push notifications getting too pushy? Or are they the perfect ingredient to spice-up app engagement — when used sparingly?
According to a recent study by Blueshift, personalized mobile push notifications receive a 2,770 percent increase in engagement compared to generic push notifications. Users today demand more than mobile outreach: In the face of endless advertisements and alerts, they want information relevant to their personal situation, location and habits.
That’s why, with big players such as Facebook getting deeper into the personalized push race, entrepreneurs are scrambling to figure out how to make users feel that personal connection and continue to engage with their apps. Successful launch days are just the first battle in the war to win repeat users, and too often, companies see their engagement flat-line about a month after release.
Considering that each user has dozens — if not hundreds — of apps on his or her device, strategic notification campaigns can make the difference between long-term success and the fast lane to obscurity. The question is, what’s the best way to create such a campaign?
3 Steps to Keep Drama Out of the product design Workplace
The election is over, and as we head into the holiday season, a lot of families are dreading the awkward conversations that may hover over the dinner table. Of course, families can take their time mending burnt bridges, but in the workplace, productivity can suffer as a result of the higher stress.
Why Getting Your Business Involved in The Community?
It’s tempting for young companies to put “getting involved in the community” on the to-do list for the future. They wait until the company is more established, more employees are on board, or a few more clients are locked in. But carving out precious time to help the community, especially in the early days, can be a defining moment in building your company.
At Rocksauce Studios, we set out to establish core values that gave us a road map to consistently deliver happiness for our employees, customers, and the world around us. Embedding community involvement in our company DNA from the get-go has been essential to achieving our happiness goals and instrumental in our success.
Why Incorporate The Latest Speech Tech Into Your Website UX?
Nobody used keyboards in the sci-fi of our childhoods. Whether it was the control system of starships or the hub of a utopian world, every interaction was based on human speech. Opening the pod doors or jettisoning the trash only required a simple command, and many of those systems replied in kind.
Now we’re closing in on that reality. Siri was the first seismic shift in the field, but companies like Google and Amazon have gone much further. Apple has even announced a massive rollout of voice-activated apps into the App Store. With high rollers like Uber, Runkeeper, and Skype all taking up the mantle of voice recognition, this tech is no longer a niche development — it is swiftly transforming into a necessity for app developers hoping to keep up with the competition.
How to Pursue the Perfect Virtual Reality Experience
Even in today’s tech-driven, gadget-filled world, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t completely enamored with virtual reality. Just the concept of strapping on a pair of goggles and being whisked into a different world awakens the dreamer in all of us.
Devices such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are already ushering in a new generation of VR. Tech experts predict that this industry will continue to grow into a market worth $150 billion by 2020.
Yes, the VR industry could be on the cusp of a major revolution — if it only can overcome its growing pains.
A recent New York Times article highlighted some significant flaws that still plague the VR market. If entrepreneurs and startups don’t address these issues soon, further negative press could keep VR technology from going mainstream — or put a stop to the VR revolution altogether.
3 Strategies for Taking a Bite out of the New App Market
“There’s an app for that” used to be a tongue-in-cheek slogan in the iPhone’s early days. Now, it’s a fact of life: By 2020, it’s estimated that 6.1 billion people will rely on smartphones. Users will install 210 billion apps between now and then, a trend that will earn developers a collective $57 billion in revenue in 2020 alone.
Apps are quickly becoming a brand imperative. But going after downloads or in-app purchases isn’t enough anymore; those are just the beginning stages of a product’s life cycle. To make apps a part of long-term growth strategies, companies must evolve these products based on users’ behaviors.
Read more on Entrepreneur.com
4 Ways to Succeed in the Austin Job Market
In the past five years, the Austin job market has blossomed across the board. The 2014 Census states that areas like education, healthcare, and tech have all seen massive gains in job growth. Companies like HipChat and Box have relocated to Austin to recruit talent and support the city’s growth. At Rocksauce Studios, we’ve even had several talented individuals be willing to relocate to Austin.
After all, it does rank sixth among the 25 best cities for jobs—not to mention its significantly lower cost of living compared to its friends in the top five spots. Plus, Glassdoor touts over 30,000 jobs available today in the Austin area
But ample opportunity doesn’t always guarantee success. In Austin, especially, you still have to navigate the market, not only finding the right position in the right location, but also portraying yourself as a candidate who matches up with the creative, philanthropic culture of the city. With these tips, you can create a map that’s more likely to lead you where you belong.
3 Tips for Independent Apps Developers
Global app downloads are on the decline, even for the most popular in Apple’s App Store. Out of established apps in the U.S., only Uber and Snapchat saw download growth in recent months. So what gives?
Reports show that 94% of the revenue generated through the App Store goes to the top 1% of publishers, turning the business into a winner-take-all type of system. Because of this, many appreneurs are asking, “Is a market that’s stopped climbing a market I should break into?”
Because most people only want to use maybe 6 to 10 apps on a weekly basis, the app environment often feels dominated by major companies like Facebook and Google.
But by taking a harder look at the app ecosystem, the future for appreneurs looks just as bright as it did when the first iPhone launched nine years ago.
Read more on DeveloperTech.com
Our Picks for SXSW PanelPicker 2017
Forget back to school! Have you heard the good news? SXSW 2017 season has begun! Voting for PanelPicker has begun — and you must submit your vote no later than Sept 2nd to let the SXSW community know what panels and workshops you’re interested in attending.
Over here at Rocksauce Studios, we are huge fans of SXSW so we wanted to give you a head start on voting for some of our SXSW PanelPicker sessions for 2017!
Virtual Reality and the Evolution of Our Senses
Any time a new technology is introduced to the public, the initial conversation surrounding it is often centered around one thing — entertainment value. This is how many innovators get people on board with new tech; if something is fun to interact with, people are more likely to make a habit of using it.
The growing virtual reality craze is the latest example of this in action. For decades, consumers have been promised the world where they could strap on a device and be fully immersed in a new digital reality — and they’ve been promised, first and foremost, that it would be fun.
But as it is with many other innovations, entertainment is only the tip of the iceberg.
Why Rocksauce Ux Designers Choose Happiness
At Rocksauce Studios, you can’t ignore our mission statement. It’s on our wall and on the faces of our team members including the canines! But often times, we get lost in the pursuit of happiness, and forget WHY we are doing it.
Let’s go back to the fall of 2010 when our CEO, Q Manning, started Rocksauce Studios. He started with what he wanted. He wanted satisfied customers. He wanted a passionate team. Most of all he wanted an opportunity to build products for Appreneurs, Agencies and Brands that would make them happy.
3 Steps to Profit With Shared Data Experiences
These days, sensors are everywhere: Phones know where their users have been, what music they’ve listened to and which events they’ve agreed to attend. And while the data that results is a powerful tool for businesses, they aren’t always connected to material generated on laptops, tablets and wearable devices.
Maybe they should be, because, already, 70 percent of Americans own two or more connected devices. A percentage like that tells us that the days of one-screen users are numbered: Already, 88 percent of millennials are engaging in second-screen behaviors while watching videos online. Clearly, businesses must keep up with the times.
Read More on Entrepreneur.com
Why game developers should take a serious look at Apple TV
Apple will continue trying to carve out more market share in American living rooms. The television has been the center of every house’s entertainment for decades, and that isn’t changing any time soon. Despite the Disney drawback, Apple isn’t going to roll over and give up on such a promising space, and developers for the Apple TV shouldn’t, either.
First, the Apple TV is not the failure some are claiming it to be. Last quarter was Apple TV’s best sales quarter to date. The device has robust functionality, and with the right software connected to iCloud, individuals and families can keep track of their entertainment in a bold, easy-to-access fashion. Between daily schedules available on demand, contextual services such as Charlie, Siri integration, and more, Apple TV has a slew of capabilities ripe for developers to utilize.
Disney’s exit may harm Apple TV’s credibility, but not its potential.
Read more on TNW
How to Develop an App Design Inspiration
When it comes to creating an app, one of the worst things you can do as an entrepreneur is to try and please everybody. It’s an easy trap to fall into — in theory, the more people you can please right off the bat, the bigger your potential audience will be. But in reality, this approach to development rarely yields positive results.
While one good idea can give birth to another, it can also open up a can of worms — nuggets of inspiration that seem good at the time, but actually just bog down your core idea. If there is no discernment when it comes to choosing the right features, a project can quickly grow unruly, causing users to become frustrated and abandon your app. And, before you know it, all of that hard work trying to please everyone goes down the drain.
Read more on AlleyWatch.com
Rest in Purple Power, Prince
With a heavy heart, we here at Rocksauce Studios fondly remember the legendary artist, Prince, who passed away at 57 today.
Tricks for Crafting Killer Apps for Your Clients
Creating an app for a client is a very different story from creating one for yourself. In order to have a quality end result, you need to be in tune with not only your clients’ needs, but also with the needs of your clients’ potential audiences — all while coordinating between client requests and your team’s own creativity and skill.
It can be a tricky balance to get right, but if you can pull it off, you may just come out with the perfect product. Here are four golden rules to both keeping your client happy and coming out with an app you can be proud of.
Read more at developer-tech.com
5 things you need to know about building a great self help app
Mobile technology has changed the landscape of the self-help world. Whereas once people had to read long books, carry around notepads, and try to remember all the life lessons offered by gurus, today they can get everything they need through their smartphones.
Entrepreneurs looking to build a self-help app must ensure that the approach and outlook offered is both distinctive and original. Nobody wants a rehash of unhelpful platitudes culled from an online quote bank.
So how can entrepreneurs and their developers ensure that their apps are the best they can be? Here are five simple tips to get started.
Read more on Memeburn.com
Want to Build the Next Candy Crush? Here’s How.
I have good news and bad news for app developers. The good news is that consumers are insatiable when it comes to great apps. Usage patterns indicate that the most engaged users frequently search for new sources of entertainment or productivity resources on their mobile devices — so the opportunities for selling to them are limitless.
Unfortunately, however, insatiability often equates to fickleness. App users constantly seek the next big thing. Inbox was yesterday’s mobile email darling; today, that title has been usurped by Airmail. A few months from now, users will want an even shinier tool that serves the same purpose but has that new-car luster…
Read more on Entrepreneur.com
UX Design Inspiration Goes to the Movies
Can you get UX inspiration from anywhere? Sure ya can! Here a few popular films with lessons we can apply to the job of user experience.
About John Gholson: Since 2010, John Gholson has done distinct UX for mobile apps across a wide variety of industries. John’s background in sequential art from the Savannah College of Art & Design bolsters his UX approach with basic storytelling principles.
Want to make an app? Contact Rocksauce Studios today!
UX for VR: Why Are They Strapping Boxes To Their Foreheads?
Virtual Reality is in the news right now in a big way. It’s being called the latest craze, but let’s be clear: this is not a fad. This is not a gimmick. VR is the future. VR is in its infancy now, so it may be easy to scoff and wave it off as just another high-tech trend that will run its course, but that would be shortsighted. VR is the culmination and convergence of all forms of entertainment technology that have been developed over the last century.
Google Cardboard has been out for months. The Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, & Microsoft HoloLens all hit the market this year. With them comes a whole new host of User Experience challenges that will defy all current conventions. The move to VR-driven interfaces will be slow and painful at first because the hardware will be quite diverse in terms of what options they offer to developers.
Want to make an app? Contact Rocksauce Studios today!
Evolution of UX in 2016: The Apps New Role
According to the experts, we’re on the horizon of a shift in the thinking of UX, where the app doesn’t matter as much as the experience the app offers. I know that sounds unusual, so stay with me here. It’s likely that apps as we know them fade away completely as our mobile computing gets stronger and more personal.
White Paper: Storming the Ivory Tower as a Simple UX Theory
The Ivory Tower, a place where brilliant minds mingle far removed from practical concerns, is a powerful metaphor from ancient culture that effectively captures an all-too-prevalent mode of outdated thinking that must be overcome for large organizations to compete in the modern digital world.
Appreneur Tip on How to Manage The Release Date
When you are an Appreneur, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. You’re an idea person. A money person. A vision person. You’re looking ahead, anticipating your success, and planning for the next phase.
About Steven Walker: Born in Oregon, raised in Arkansas, educated in Georgia and working in Texas, Steven has cut a path across the continent collecting inspiration from the widest variety of sources. He is a flag waving geek, a patriotic American, a consummate advocate of scientific progress and a shameless acolyte in the cult of efficiency.
A pixel snob of the first order, Steven sets high standards of quality and precision for every aspect of the Rocksauce pipeline, from Bleuprinting to Development.
Is Mobile UX Just a Phase?
First we do the UX, then we do the UI, then we develop the app. How many times have I repeated this to clients over the years, in some form or another, explaining our company’s process?
And what if I was totally wrong?
About the Author: Since 2010, John Gholson has done distinct UX for mobile apps across a wide variety of industries. John’s background in sequential art from the Savannah College of Art & Design bolsters his UX approach with basic storytelling principles.
Popular film critic, panel host, public speaker, television personality & actor, John stays creative outside the office by acting in feature films, writing for NBC/Universal, and constantly drawing.
Why TexMoji Rocks & Full Access Is No Big Deal
We’re excited to announce the release of the TexMoji App on the iTunes store! We’re excited and proud of the work we’ve done with the TexMoji team to make this happen, but … We’ve seen some concerns and comments about the “Allow Full Access” necessity of TexMoji, and we wanted to clarify a few things for folks 🙂
Webby Honoree 2015: Rocksauce Studios
The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Reflecting the tremendous growth of the Internet, The Webbys now honors excellence in 5 major media types: Websites, Interactive Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile Sites & Apps, and Social.
They recognize the best of the Web!
Imagine getting to work on an ordinary Tuesday and getting this e-mail:
App Developer Chat: All Things iOS8
Yesterday on #AppDevChat we had a discussion about the latest from Apple’s WWDC announcements for iOS8. AppDevChat is open to any app developers, marketers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every other Thursday at 1pm CST on twitter. We post the recap here.
AppDevChat: Appitalize On Your Idea with Justin Esgar
Last time on #AppDevChat we had a discussion with Justin Esgar, Author of Appitalize On Your Idea. A serial entrepreneur with an inspiring message that you can do anything you set your mind to. AppDevChat is open to any app developers, marketers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at…
App Developer Chat: The Pros and Cons of DIY Marketing
Last time on #AppDevChat we had a discussion about Do It Yourself Marketing for App Developers. We discussed the Pros and Cons of doing it yourself in this fast growing industry. AppDevChat is open to any app developers, marketers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at 10am PST…
App Developer Chat: Discussing Business and Financial Challenges for Your App
Last time on #AppDevChat we had a discussion about the Business & Financial Challenges for App Developers in support of the GigaOM powered Eurapp Project. AppDevChat is open to any app developers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at 10am PST on twitter. We post the recap here.
App Developer Chat: The Power of Storytelling for Your Mobile App
Last time on #AppDevChat we had a discussion about the Power of Storytelling for Your Mobile App with Christa Avampato of Christa in New York. She writes/teaches/makes and is the founder of @CompassYoga, journalist, voice over artist and more! Read the summary to see her involvement in the #AppDevChat community.
App Developer Chat: Wearables, The Next Generation of App Development
Last week on #AppDevChat we had a discussion about Wearables as the Next Generation of App Development. AppDevChat is open to any app developers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at 10am PST on twitter. We post the recap here.
App Developer Chat: Horror Stories in App Development
Last week on #AppDevChat we had a discussion on Horror Stories in App Development. AppDevChat is open to any app developers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at 10am PST on twitter. We post the recap here.
App Developer Chat: Make your Own or Hire a Developer
This week on #AppDevChat we discussed the merits of Making your own app or Hiring your own App Developer. AppDevChat is open to any app developers or others interested in learning about developing, creating, inventing, marketing apps. It happens every Thursday at 10am PST on twitter. Every Friday we post the recap here.
Appetite for Destruction: SXSW Edition
Did you catch us at SXSW this year? Sorry if we missed you! We were passing out a special edition of Appetite for Destruction with a SXSW comic in the back. If you want a physical copy, just let us know and we’ll see what we can do! Otherwise, we’ve uploaded it here just for you!
Q & Answers Special Edition: A Video Interview With Q Manning
With SXSW fast approaching (and by “fast approaching, I mean “Oh-No-It’s-Too-Fast-Will-We-Be-Ready-Oh-No”), we don’t have time for a traditional Q & Answers column this week simply because there is too much to do and not enough time to do it. Instead, how about a video interview with Q from last year’s SXSW? Q was interviewed as…
Rocksauce Studios Presents…Quiller!
There are a lot of note-taking apps. Heck, your iPhone comes equipped with one right out of the box. However, there’s one thing missing from the countless apps that let you jot down your thoughts: personality. Rocksauce Studios is proud to present Quiller, an app that’s not about taking notes: it’s about keeping a journal….
How Infographics Can Be Misleading During App Development?
The infographic sampled above this sentence (and copied below) is terrible. Anyone with any knowledge of app development will find countless things wrong with it. Let me educate you.
SXSW Special: Vote For Your Favorite Appetite For Destruction
Since its inception, Tapsauce has been home to the world’s greatest terrible-mobile-app-themed four panel comic strip, Appetite For Destruction. For over a year, our own John Gholson has written and drawn a new comic every other Friday, creating a library of hilariously awful (and occasionally amazing) mobile app concepts, from iTeeth to Scroogr to Catnapp. Now, we want your help to pick the best of the best.
Appetite for Destruction: VINES!
Sure, I mean, you could share short videos via Twitter with an app named Vine…OR you could get an app that’s actually about vines. It’s your call.
Q & Answers: Why Unlocking Your Smartphone is Now Illegal
As of last weekend, it is illegal to unlock your smartphone? Good call or bad call? This is absolutely, ridiculously stupid. What I do with the device that I own, that belongs me, shouldn’t matter. If I want to unlock it, jailbreak it or do anything else to it, I should be able to. Granted…
Brewski Me Gets a Big Update!
Whenever I tell someone that I work for an app development studio and they want to see an example of our work, I immediately fire up Brewski Me. In addition to being a gorgeously designed and intuitive mobile application, its appeal is instantly recognizable. After all, what tasteful human being wouldn’t want an app that…
Q & Answers: Car Shopping of the Future!
You went car shopping recently. How important was finding a car that would interact with your smartphone? Finding a car that would interact with my smartphone was pretty important. Even more than that, it was about having a strong onboard communication system that seemed cohesive, seemed to work together and had an overall solid interface….
Appetite for Destruction: MANDROID
It’s not an Android phone; it’s a MANdroid phone! Get it? GET IT?!?! *busts head through a brick wall* GEEEEEETTTT ITTTTTT??????
Looking Ahead Mobile UX Design Trends
There are two (vastly different) major design trends that I’m excited about for 2013. For one, I’m excited to see the 2012 resurgence of artisanal and hand-made goods continue on through the new year. At its core, it’s about placing value in creative and independent individuals, both in the products they make and how they…
Appetite for Destruction: APPRACADBRA
Oh, oh, oh, it’s magic! You know! Never believe it’s not so!
Q & Answers: The Year in Review Of App Design Software
What was your favorite app of the year? What was your favorite device? Right now, I’m leaning toward Skala for best app o the year, but I’m not sure if it really came out this year. If not Skala, then I’d definitely say The Room, which is an awesome Myst style game for the iPad…
The Most Useful App Design Tool of 2012
And the most useful design tool for mobile app design in 2012 is… Skala Preview! We have avoided countless headaches and frustrations by using this tool and encourage every app designer to download it today! Simply put, as a Mobile App Designer and the Creative Director of Rocksauce Studios, we cannot work efficiently without it.
Use Rocksauce Studios Apps to Make Your Holiday Better!
First of all: happy holidays to everyone reading this! Everyone here at Tapsauce and Rocksauce Studios wish you the best and hope you are having a wonderful week. Of course, you can guarantee a wonderful week if you download a few of our apps! And yes, this is a “Rocksauce Studios makes incredible mobile…
Appetite for Destruction: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
No jokes here; just wishing you a Merry Christmas with sincerity and cheer. Enjoy your Holiday.
Rocksauce Studios Presents Small Call, Our New App!
Happy Monday, everyone! Today, Rocksauce Studios is proud to introduce our new mobile app, Small Call, which you can now download in the Google Play store. We look forward to hearing all of your thoughts and feedback — we’re proud of our work and know you’ll love it! But what is Small Call? Well, it’s…
Q & Answers: Thoughts on the New and Improved MySpace
You’re a big fan of the radically redesigned MySpace. In a nutshell, what do you like about it? I’m excited about MySpace taking a much more clean, straightforward and succinct approach. They seem to be stripping down the superfluous stuff that made it such an unwieldy and terrible platform in the first place. They seem to be embracing the homogenous profile…
Appetite for Destruction: i-TEETH
Brush ‘em if ya got ‘em, kids.
Q & Answers: Advice For Blackberry
(Every week, Rocksauce Studios CEO Q Manning will answer your questions about app design, app development and the mobile industry.) In January, RIM is going to announce the next version of their once-popular BlackBerry. What went so wrong? How did RIM because such an underdog in the past few years? BlackBerry’s initial problem seemed to…
My Trip With Tripini
It’s one thing to design an app — it’s another thing altogether to take the app into the field and see if the finished product works! I recently took a road trip to New Orleans and decided to Tripini, Rocksauce Studios’ new travel app, a run for its money!
Textheads Preview: Check Out the Art From Rocksauce Studios Latest Game!
One of the great things about working as an artist in the mobile app field is the sheer number of different kinds of projects I get to work on. Right now, I’m working on the art and animation for Rocksauce Studios‘ latest game, Textheads! We’re keeping the exact details of the project under wraps at…
Q & Answers: Question Grab Bag!
(Every week, Rocksauce Studios CEO Q Manning will answer your questions about app design, app development and the mobile industry.) There are rumors out there that Apple is fast tracking an iPhone 5S to come out in the next few months. If there is any truth to this, what do you think about it? I…
Rocksauce Studios: What’s Your Big Idea?
Tapsauce is proud to present the latest commercial for Rocksauce Studios, the Austin-based mobile app design and development company that we call home. Produced by Arcanum Pictures, this incredibly clever thirty second spot showcases a day in the life of your average smartphone user, following him as he plans and executes his activities exclusively through…
Appetite for Destruction: THE ANGER GAMES
Don’t get mad; get apps! Brought to you by Rocksauce Studios!
Behance Portfolio Reviews
Rocksauce Studios takes part in a creative gathering that is held twice a year by the Behance Network. We just held our event last night and it was such a wonderful learning experience. Our CEO, Q Manning was our Keynote Presenter and he offered some insights into his design career and how he came to…
Q & Answers: My Android Vacation
Recently, you took a break from your iPhone and took an “Android vacation.” Why did you do this? Which phone did you choose for this vacation and why did you choose it? I chose to take a foray into the Android world because I’ve used an iPhone since the first...
Appetite for Destruction: THE BAT-APP
Neener neener neener neener, neener neener neener neener, BAT-APP! I just wrote that song myself. Somebody hand me a Grammy.
Introducing Tripini, Rocksauce Studios’ Newest App!
Rocksauce Studios is pleased to announce that Tripini, our latest mobile app, is live and ready for your downloads! And there’s no reason not to indulge us in this one: it’s free on both iOS and Android devices. Think of Tripini as the ultimate tool for the sophisticated traveler. In addition to being gorgeously…
User Experience: How to Fix Our Two-Party Voting Process
I’ve always been told that every vote of an election matters. I have heard that phrase (or some variation thereof) all the way from grade school before I was old enough to vote, up to this morning while listening to talk radio commuting to Rocksauce’s Offices in North Austin. While it’s both a comforting and…
Q & Answers: Reflecting and Understanding the iPhone 5 ios App Design
(Every week, Rocksauce Studios CEO Q Manning will answer your questions about app design, app development and the mobile industry.) It’s been about two weeks since the iPhone 5 came out. Has your opinion on it changed since you picked it up or has it remained the same? I’m still extremely happy with the iPhone…
Appetite for Destruction: iTRICKrTREAT
“Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!” – William Shakespeare.
Rocksauce Designer Spotlight: Chris Lindenmayer
The Designer: Chris Lindenmayer The Life Story: Born and raised in Shreveport, LA., Chris Lindenmayer recently made the move to to Austin to join the Rocksauce Studios team as what he describes as an “app design samurai.” Prior to coming to Austin, Chris was an art director at a full service marketing firm for over…
TickTalk App designed by Rocksauce Studios is Available Now!
The latest app from Rocksauce Studios is here! TickTalk is “the talker’s metronome,” an app designed to help you control your own voice! Do you want to talk more slowly? Do you need to speed up? Just pick your speed from the (seriously gorgeous) interface, put your phone is your pocket and start talking!
Q & Answers: What is the origin and purpose of TickTalk App?
What exactly is the TickTalk app? TickTalk is the talker’s metronome iPhone app, which is just about ready to hit the app store.. It’s there to help people who talk too fast or talk too slow or maybe somebody who just wants to change the cadence of their speech for a certain situation, like for…