Interview with Dawn Dewald from Punchkick Interactive by Edu2
- Do you know about Hyper Island? What do you think of it?
We are aware of Hyper Island, and we think it’s an amazing place to learn about digital and interactive media. The people have an awesome attitude toward digital communications, and we love how proactive the students are about diving into their work. Hyper Island seems like a learning experience unlike any other.
- What is the hottest on the mobile market right now? (apps/web design)
From our perspective, it’s mobile web, because it requires no downloads and is becoming very accessible across a broad spectrum of mobile devices. As phones continue to evolve, the need for an app can often be filled by the mobile web.
- Do you specialize in all platforms or just iPhone?
Punchkick Interactive supports nearly all of the mobile platforms available. When it comes to designing and developing applications, we work with the iOS that includes iPhone, iPod, and iPad, but we also work with Blackberry, Android, and other leading phone technologies.
- What media do you follow to keep up with the mobile app market?
We check the iTunes App Store to see the top apps, but we also read tech blogs and trade publications to see what technologies people are excited to use. We follow trends in Asia to see what technologies are growing in popularity, and we constantly keep our eyes and ears open and study this evolving market.
- How many people are involved in the development of an app?
The actual number can vary depending on the platform. At an agency level, the minimum would likely be four. We use a designer, and a team of developers, as well as a dedicated QA tester. It really depends on the scope of a project to determine how many resources will be dedicated to it.
- What trends are there at the moment?
In the U.S., mobile apps for smartphones and tablets are popular. However, many people are aware that the market of smartphones has not yet surpassed feature phones, so companies are easing into the mobile space and often developing mobile web presences first. Location-based services, check-in services (i.e., Foursquare), mobile coupons and loyalty programs are growing too.
- What’s your prediction of the future?
We stopped trying to predict the future a long time ago. Three years ago, there was no iPhone – who knew that Apps would be so hot? The technology is changing so rapidly that the best you can do is to keep your eyes open for new opportunities, and learn as much as you can about the industry while inspiring trust with your clients.
- What are you excited about in terms of mobile?
We love how quickly mobile technology is picking up, and how quickly the technology is improving. We also like that consumers are becoming more educated about mobile technology and design.
- Are you able to accept interns from Hyper Island in the future? And if, what do you expect from them? Attitude, skills etc.
We do accept interns! Our team is highly collaborative, so we like folks who have an entrepreneurial spirit and take the initiative to drive their work to completion with vigor, passion, and creativity. So long as you have the right attitude, we can train for specific skills.
