More re: visualization, pitfalls, and psychology.
Hi Blossom friends, a big thanks for all the votes and comments. And a welcome to all who found Blossom via Digg and other links! For new fans, some blog and forum threads to check out:
- Blossom UI - Blossom functionality discussion - Theory discussion
A few notes from Round 3 judges comments on visualization and potential pitfalls - things we’ve gotta think about!
Visualization Feature. Guest judge Daven Lanham had a great idea for something like a partial-theming interface, where the bulk of the plant is in the native theme, but the user could modify the leaf or stem design. -
“…Would also be awesome if there was some way to create a few petal, leaf, and branch styles and let the app generate the plant off of those, then the customizing junkies (like myself) would really jump on board.”
I like this idea, let the user modify leaves with their own drawing or even a logo! How about $100 bills! Hey, time is money… so much for “money doesn’t grow on trees”… :)
Thanks to guest judge Adam Betts who mentioned the plant simulation screensaver (image at right, free download)
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Potential Pitfalls. Developer Judge John Casasanta had this to say - “If it wins it’ll either be a big hit or a big flop. A lot depends on the execution of course, but comparing this with something like Cookbook, it’s not the kind of app that you can immediately “get”…”.
My thoughts - producing a hit requires spot-on execution, but perhaps more so it requires simple and easy-to-understand marketing. I know from personal experience — there is a productivity problem with people who are online during work - checking the news, slashdot, MDA, or playing a game, and later feeling upset that work is not done. Blossom execution and marketing must address that need in a simple and fun way.
And Piotr Gajos of Inventive had a helpful critique - “…First of all buttons - there are four styles of them in the mockup. This doesn’t improve either consistency nor looks. I would limit them to maximum two styles.” He also can’t stand the logo at all. :)
Thanks, Piotr, no rebuttal here - I’m taking your advice - look out for some new designs soon.
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Psychology. Forum member corta noted behavioral psychology, positive reinforcement, and the need for randomness in the plant growth. This really is a ‘brain-based’ application - it strives to subliminally motivate by making productivity fun! Thanks corta, for that link.
Next steps: Simplify the UI and the functionality even more, and tell the story in the simplest way possible. What should the marketing emphasis be? Tracking apps/docs/folders? Beautiful visualization as a plant? What will tell the story in the best way?
