Apple Shares The ‘Best-In-Class’ Apps At Its 2023 Design Awards

Besides showcasing the radical Vision Pro, new MacBook Air, and massive software upgrades at WWDC 2023, Apple also turned the spotlight outwards to promising developers who have designed the most novel and meaningful apps. These creators have earned themselves a spot in the Apple Design Awards.

This year, the Cupertino tech giant is highlighting the “best-in-class” apps in the categories of inclusivity, delight and fun, interaction, social impact, visuals and graphics, and innovation.

Find out what they are below, and check this roundup to find the winning game titles of the Apple accolade.

Inclusivity: Universe — Website Builder

Universe bags the Inclusivity title this year for opening up website-building to everyone “by reducing complexity and removing barriers to entry,” says Apple. The app enables users to design an artist home, their ideal online storefront, and community group page, as well as incorporate accessible features like ‘Dynamic Type’ and ‘VoiceOver’ to make their sites easy for all to navigate.

Delight and Fun: Duolingo

Despite being around for over a decade, Duolingo never ceases to expand to make learning new languages, including endangered and fictional ones, fun for users all over the world. The app is built on a gamified experience that incentivizes users to grow their knowledge by accomplishing quests, challenges, and leaderboards.

Interaction: Flighty

Traveling isn’t rarely as relaxing as it appears in photos. Flighty, however, simplifies this experience with a beautiful, intuitive interface that connects wanderers to in-depth flight maps, airport navigation information, and delay forecasting at their fingertips. Also, “the app thoughtfully integrates Apple technology, including Siri Shortcuts, Apple Maps, Live Activities, and more, to keep travelers covered at every part of the journey,” the tech giant continues.

Social Impact: Headspace

Getting help doesn’t feel so much like an obstacle with Headspace’s democratized mindfulness tools, accessible via a minimalist design with cheerful illustrations and video content. Depending on how they’re feeling that day, users can get in touch with their emotions through sessions as bite-sized as five-minute clarity breaks or as thorough as Headspace’s guided sessions.

Visuals and Graphics: Any Distance

Any Distance is a workout tracker grounded in design, with dynamic graphics that members can use and share. It also has in-app medals to motivate the community to get active. Further, the app harnesses Apple technology like Live Activities and Apple Watch features to “collect and present fitness data, which can include not only traditional workouts like running and cycling, but also wheelchair exercise, stroller runs and walks, and recumbent bike rides.”

Innovation: SwingVision A.I. Tennis App

Tapping into artificial intelligence and Apple’s Neural Engine, SwingVision is an intuitive digital tennis coach that can help users get better at the sport by evaluating their form, strengths, and areas of improvement through advanced video tracking.

[via 9to5Mac, TechCrunch, Apple, images via Apple]