Resources

Mobile App Vendor Selection Research Report

In the fall of 2010, The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance commissioned Groupofminds to research mobile app development firms in an effort to identify mobile app vendors making significant strides in apps for arts and culture. Now that the research is complete, they have generously released the report to the arts and cultural community, so that all arts and cultural groups seeking information on mobile app vendor options can benefit.

Here are a few key trends and recommendations listed in the report:

- In general, the majority of apps that have been created for arts and cultural events so far are small, relatively unsophisticated event
listings, using simple left-to-right iPhone navigation functionality.

- We also saw a lack of creative expression in many apps—most had simple capabilities (like event search) but no real personality, fun factor, or anything that made the use of the information in the app unique to a mobile phone (i.e. the same content searches could be accomplished on the website and the mobile phone, with no real benefit to using the phone over the website).

- The bar for engaging with the arts though a mobile phone is quite low, with easy success if originality is a factor in the app design.

- While considering the creation of new arts and cultural apps, designers should identify functionality that makes excellent use of the phone’s capabilities, and that can’t be repeated using other data channels.

Check out the report to find thoughts on what makes a successful app for those of you looking to develop your own. To download the report and read more, click here.