Some personal posts, cool links and other interesting stuff.
About a month ago, a new app game entitled iCount was released by game developer, Francois Goldgewicht (GoldenApps). iCount is a numbers game for iPod Touch and iPhone, and should not to be confused with the productivity app of the same name by Hydrix.
As with all new apps, iCount got showcased on iTunes for the big rollout. In today’s market, getting your software plugged by a commercial juggernaut like iTunes can be a huge boost for any company. Unfortunately, their great announcement and application suddenly got overshadowed by something else – the app logo.
Upon first glance, you see a whimsical mark with the multi-colored type tiles. It gives you a general idea of what the game does and its interface. But, it’s what reads secondarily that has caused so much controversy. Is it an honest mistake? Or are they subtly implying one of the most vile words in the English language?
Considering the fact that the logo and the app, briefly got pulled from the iTunes roster does imply that more than a few other people saw it that way. And that didn’t fare well for Golden Apps. The new logo has since replaced the controversial one and the app reappearing in the iTunes Store.
Now I can say from personal experience, that there was probably nothing malicious done on the part of the logo designer. There is simply too much at stake for the designer to risk both your career and future business to something like this. Potentially destroying a product announcement or company doesn’t help one’s reputation as a logo designer or a new business developer. With the speed of the internet, word can spread far and wide about that rather easily – so, I don’t buy that theory.
What could have happened and often does, is lack of adequately planning your time. In many situations, the product development people have been doing their thing and have focused so much time on the widget that there was simply not enough time left over for proper branding and packaging. Granted, you need to have a rock-solid product to deliver, since that is what you will be judged by. However, in today’s market if the branding and promotion are not there, no one will know about it.
Before a product even gets considered for a major retailer (online or brick and mortar), there are often dozens of presentations and meetings with corporate managers and buyers to convince them you and your company are someone they see as beneficial to work with. In some cases, you are on a probationary or tryout period to see if their customers respond to your product. When you’re in, it really is a big deal. More opportunities arise and people are returning your calls. Life is good.
A hiccup or mistake could cost a new company a huge opportunity or thousands, even millions of dollars in business revenue. A seemingly minor snag on a controversial logo could cost you – everything. Voluntary recalls, products pulled off shelves, website updates, reprinting – the list goes on and on. The loss in sales and operating costs from having to do a major do-over. Now you go from ‘golden boy’ to leaving message after message after message. Companies like Apple, Wal-Mart and Costco have little tolerance for mistakes like that and frankly, don’t need the negative publicity.
So, rushing your designer to slap a logo on your new folders or cranking out a headline to make a meeting could be a tragic mistake. If only you had started that a week ago.
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