For design inspiration, I'm trying to gather a list of desktop apps that are fun/enjoyable and don't have a corporate/enterprise feel to them.
Not games or streaming apps though. It feels like desktop app design hasn't kept pace with modern web app design but maybe my searches aren't using the right terms.
I realize this is subjective, but I'd still like more examples. 😁 Thx!
@wiredprairie I wish you the best. What you'll likely run into is that so many "desktop apps" have moved to the web and progressive apps. My most recent app for example, Limitless, has an excellent web app.
But the same applies to my Mastodon client, my design client, and my note taking client. It's kind of shocking that I don't have a "favorite desktop app" now that you've asked this question.
@scottjenson Thanks ... I'm building a desktop-only application and it seems like little attention is paid to making desktop applications a pleasant experience. They're mostly practical and functional. From development to design tools on my desktop -- they do the work, but with little to no personality.
@wiredprairie Oh, I totally agree with you! Most of the "consumer action" has moved to mobile. But even then, most interesting mobile UX was done over 10 years ago, when things like Pull-to-refresh had a new design for nearly every app. Mobile apps, I'd argue, have largely become quite boring.
Further, even Apple and Microsoft have given up! Have any of their apps/OS done anything substantial in the last few years?
Yet I share your belief that Desktop UX still has so much potential!
@scottjenson I don't have a single app that I use with any regularity on Windows or MacOS that has any whimsy or charm anymore.
Actually, Microsoft To Do might be the only app I use a few times a week that broke through the "Enterprise design paradigm" that I use.
There's definitely still money on the table for traditional installed apps. It sucks that there's been so little innovation as far as I have seen. I still hope to be proven wrong!