Apple Design Awards
The Apple Design Awards is a special event hosted by Apple Inc. at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The event is meant to recognize the best and most innovative Macintosh and iOS software and hardware produced by independent developers, as well as the best and most creative uses of Apple's products. The ADAs, as they are commonly known, are awarded in a variety of categories which vary from year to year. The Apple Design Awards have been presented each year since 1990, though for the first two years of their existence they were known as the Human Interface Design Excellence Awards.
Since 2003 the physical awards were designed with an Apple logo that glows when touched. The trophy is an aluminum cube, and each side is 3.9 inches long. The cube weighs 55.5 ounces. These new awards were engineered and built by Sparkfactor Design.
Winners
2020
- Shapr 3D by Shapr 3D ZRT - iPad - https://www.shapr3d.com/
- Looom by iorama.studio - iPad - https://iorama.studio/
- StaffPad by StaffPad Ltd - iPad - https://www.staffpad.net/
- Darkroom by Bergen Co - iPhone and iPad - https://darkroom.co/
- Sayonara Wild Hearts by Simogo/Annapurna Interactive - iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV - https://simogo.com/work/sayonara-wild-hearts/
- Song of Bloom by Philipp Stollenmayer - iPhone and iPad - http://www.kamibox.de/songofbloom
- Where Cards Fall by The Game Band/Snowman - iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV - http://wherecardsfall.com/
- Sky: Children of the Light by Thatgamecompany - iPhone and iPad - https://thatskygame.com/
2019
- Ordia - by Loju LTD - iPhone and iPad - https://loju.co.uk/ordia.html
- Flow by Moleskine by Moleskine Srl - iPhone and iPad - https://moleskinestudio.com/flow
- The Gardens Between by The Voxel Agents - Mac, iPhone and iPad - https://thegardensbetween.com
- by Gameloft - iPhone and iPad - https://asphaltlegends.com
- Pixelmator Photo by Pixelmator Team - iPad - https://www.pixelmator.com/photo/
- ELOH by Broken Rules - iPhone and iPad - http://www.eloh-game.com
- Butterfly iQ — Ultrasound by Butterfly Network - iPhone and iPad - https://www.butterflynetwork.com
- Thumper: Pocket Edition by Drool LLC - iPhone and iPad - https://thumpergame.com
- HomeCourt - The Basketball App by NEX Team Inc. - iPhone and iPad - https://www.homecourt.ai
2018
- Agenda - by Momenta B.V. - Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- BANDIMAL by YATATOY - iPhone and iPad
- Calzy by WapleStuff - iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
- iTranslate Converse by iTranslate - iPhone and Apple Watch
- Triton Sponge by Gauss Surgical, Inc. - iPad
- Florence by Mountains - iPhone and iPad
- Playdead’s INSIDE by Playdead - iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
- Alto’s Odyssey by Snowman - iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
- Frost by kunabi brother GmbH - iPhone and iPad
- Oddmar by Mobge Ltd - iPhone and iPad
2017
- Blackbox by Ryan McLeod - iPhone
- Splitter Critters by RAC7 Games - iPhone, iPad
- Mushroom 11 by Untame - iPhone, iPad
- Old Man's Journey by Broken Rules - iPhone, iPad
- Severed by DrinkBox Studios - iPhone, iPad
- Lake by Lake d.o.o - iPhone, iPad
- by Shiny Frog di Matteo Rattotti e C. S.N.C. - iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch.
- Kitchen Stories by AJNS New Media GmbH - iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV
- Things 3 by Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG - iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac
- Elk by Clean Shaven Apps Pte. Ltd. - iPhone, Apple Watch
- Enlight by Lightricks Inc. - iPhone, iPad
- Airmail 3 by Bloop - iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch
2016
- Complete Anatomy by 3D4Medical - iPad
- Streaks by Zervaas Enterprises. - iPhone and Apple Watch
- Zova - Personal Trainer ZOVA - AppleTV
- Frame.io - Video Review and Collaboration by Frame.io - iPhone, iPad
- Ulysses by The Soulmen GbR - Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Chameleon Run by Noodlecake Studios Inc. - iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
- Lara Croft GO by Square Enix Montreal - iPhone and iPad
- INKS. by State of Play Games - iPhone and iPad
- Auxy Music Creation by Auxy - iPad
- djay Pro by algoriddim GmbH- Mac and iPad
- Bear - Mac
- Linum by Joaquín Ramírez Vila - iPhone, iPad
- Dividr by Josh Deichmann, Patrick Pistor, and Erik Lydick - iPhone, iPad
2015
- Shadowmatic by Triada Studio - iPhone and iPad
- Metamorphabet by Vectorpark, Inc. - iPhone
- Robinhood by Robinhood Markets - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- Affinity Designer by Serif Europe - Mac
- Crossy Road by Hipster Whale Pty Ltd. - iPhone and iPad
- Fantastical 2 by Flexibits Inc. - Mac
- Workflow by DeskConnect, Inc. - iPhone and iPad
- Does Not Commute by Mediocre AB - iPhone and iPad
- Vainglory by Super Evil Megacorp - iPhone and iPad
- Pacemaker by Pacemaker Music AB - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- Elementary Minute by Klemens Strasser - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- jump-O by Gabriel Mathias Rocha and Victor Lappas Giménez
2014
- Leo's Fortune by 1337 and Senri
- Day One by Bloom Built
- Blek by kunabi brother
- Yahoo News Digest by Yahoo
- Threes! by Sirvo
- Cinemagraph Pro by Flixel Photos
- Device 6 by Simogo
- Storehouse-Visual Storytelling by Storehouse Media
- Sky Guide by Fifth Star Labs
- Monument Valley by ustwo Studio
- PanoPerfect by HalfPeeled LLC and TwoBros
- Addimal Adventure by Teachley
2013
- WWF Together by World Wildlife Fund - iPad
- Procreate by Savage Interactive Pty Ltd - iPad
- Badland by Frogmind - iPhone and iPad
- Yahoo! Weather by Yahoo! - iPhone and iPad
- Letterpress by atebits - iPhone and iPad
- Ridiculous Fishing by Vlambeer - iPhone and iPad
- Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders by Atypical Games - iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Coda 2 by Panic, Inc. - Mac
- Evernote by Evernote Corporation - Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- Finish by Ryan Orbuch and Michael Hansen - iPhone
- Mosaic by Ishaan Gulrajani, Alex List, and Zain Shah - iPhone and iPad
Student:
- daWindci by Mimimi Productions
- Little Star by BiBoBox Studio
- Where's My Water by Disney Interactive Studios
- Jetpack Joyride by Halfbrick Studios
- National Parks by National Geographic by National Geographic Society
- Paper by FiftyThree, Inc.
- Bobo Explores Light by Game Collage, LLC
- DM1 - The Drum Machine by Fingerlab
- by Feral Interactive
- LIMBO by Playdead
- Sketch by Bohemian Coding
2011
- Grades 2 by Tapity
- Pennant by Vargatron
- Pulse News by Alphonso Labs
- Cut the Rope by Chillingo
- Golfscape GPS Rangefinder by Shotzoom Software
- Infinity Blade by Chair Entertainment
- Osmos by Hemisphere Games
- Our Choice by Push Pop Press
- djay by algoriddim
- Capo by SuperMegaUltraGroovy
- Pixelmator by Pixelmator Team Ltd.
- by 11 bit studios
2010
- The Financial Times by The Financial Times Ltd.
- TabToolkit by Agile Partners
- Flight Control HD by Firemint
- Star Walk for iPad - Interactive Astronomy Guide by Vito Technology Inc
- Pinball HD by Gameprom
- Doodle Jump by Lima Sky LLC
- Brushes by Steve Sprang
- Articles by Sophiestication Software
- 20 Minute Meals - Jamie Oliver by Zolmo
- Real Racing by Firemint
2009
- Billings by Marketcircle Inc.
- BoinxTV v1.3 by Boinx Software
- Things v1.1 by Cultured Code
- Versions v1.0.3 by Pico and Sofa
- Fontcase v1.1.3 by Pieter Omvlee
- MLB.com At Bat 2009 v1.0.1 by MLB.com
- Postage v1.0 by RogueSheep
- Topple 2 v1.1 by ngmoco:)
- Tweetie v1.3.1 by atebits LLC
- Wooden Labyrinth 3D v1.2.1 by Elias Pietilä
Best Leopard Student Product:
- Winner: Squirrel by Axel Péju
- Runner Up: Flow 1.0.1 by Brian Amerige
- Winner: ScreenFlow by Vara Software Limited
- Runner Up: FotoMagico by Boinx Software Ltd.
- Winner: Macnification by Orbicule
- Runner Up: Checkout by Werck BV
- Winner: ' by Aspyr Media
- Runner Up: ' by Electronic Arts
- Winner: ScreenFlow by Vara Software Limited
- Runner Up: Bee Docs Timeline 3D Edition by Bee Documents
- Winner: Remember the Milk by Remember the Milk
- Runner Up: AP Mobile News Network by The Associated Press
- Enigmo by Pangea Software
- AOL Radio by AOL LLC
Best iPhone Productivity Application Winner:
Best iPhone Healthcare & Fitness Application Winner:
Best Mac OS X Leopard Application
- Winner: Delicious Library 2, Delicious Monster
- Runner Up: iBank 3.0a, IGG Software
- Winner: Coda 1.0, Panic Software
- Runner Up: Sandvox 1.2, Karelia Software
- Winner: CSSEdit 2.5, MacRabbit
- Runner Up: rooSwitch 1.1.8, roobasoft
- Winner: BART Widget, Bret Victor
- Runner Up: PEMDAS 1.1, Michael Filippone
- Winner: Papers 1.0, mekentosj.com
- Runner Up: SingleCrystal 1.3, CrystalMaker Software
- Winner:, Blizzard Entertainment
- Runner Up: Wacky Mini Golf! 1.01, DanLabGames
Best Mac OS X User Experience
- Winner: iSale 3.1 equinux
- Runner Up: FotoMagico 1.7, by Boinx Software
- Winner: modo
- Runner Up: Unity
- Winner: TextMate 1.5
- Runner Up: F-Script
- Winner: EnzymeX 3.1
- Runner Up: FuzzMeasure Pro 2
- Winner: The Sims 2
- Runner Up: WingNuts 2, Freeverse
- Winner: Lineform, Freeverse 1.1
- Runner Up: PhotoPresenter, by Boinx Software
- Winner: iClip Lite
- Runner Up: WeatherBug Local Weather
- Winner: Build Real Estate Catalog/Ultimate Productivity Action Pack
- Runner Up: Lecture Recording Workflow 1.2, University of Michigan School of Dentistry
2005
- Winner: Transmit 3.2, Panic, Inc.
- Runner Up: iSale 1.7, equinux
- Special Mention: OmniOutliner 3.0.3, The Omni Group
- Winner: Delicious Library 1.5, Delicious Monster
- Runner Up: 3D Weather Globe & Atlas Mac OS X Edition, Software MacKiev
- Winner: Comic Life 1.1, plasq
- Runner Up: Delicious Library 1.5, Delicious Monster
- Special Mention: eDrawings for Mac 2006, SolidWorks
- Winner: World of Warcraft 1.3.1, Blizzard Entertainment
- Runner Up: Jammin' Racer 1.01, DanLabGames
- Winner: OsiriX 1.6.4, Antoine Rosset, Osman Ratib, Lance Pysher, David Davies-Payne, Luca Spadola, Bruce Rakes
- Runner Up: Blender 2.36, Blender Foundation
- Special Mention: AdiumX, Evan Schoenberg, Adam Iser
- Winner: DataTank 2005-5, Visual Data Tools, Inc.
- Runner Up: OsiriX 1.6.4, Antoine Rosset, Osman Ratib, Lance Pysher, David Davies-Payne, Luca Spadola, Bruce Rakes
- Special Mention: Mathematica, Wolfram Research
- Winner: Quicksilver InfiniBand Software for Mac OS X, SilverStorm Technologies, Small Tree Communications
- Runner Up: Elektron 1.0.1, Corriente Networks LLC
- Winner: GraphClick, Simon Bovet
- Runner Up: iMap 3.1, Peter Schols
- Special Mention: Sonic Birth, Antoine Missout
2004
- Winner: Big Bang Chess 1.0, Freeverse Software
- Runner-up: Unison 1.0.2a, Panic Inc.
- Winner: Contribute 2, Macromedia Inc.
- Runner-up: GraphViz 1.12, Pixelglow Software
- Winner: ToySight 1.0, Freeverse Software
- Runner-up: SwordfishExpress 2.0, buyolympia.com
- Winner: Unison 1.0.2a, Panic Inc.
- Runner-up: SOHO Business Cards 1.0, Chronos LLC
- Winner: Big Bang Chess 1.0, Freeverse Software
- Runner-up: PulpFiction 1.0, Freshly Squeezed Software
- Winner: GraphViz 1.12, Pixelglow Software
- Runner-up: PureFTPd Manager 1.2, Jean-Matthieu Schaffhauser
- Winner: iNquiry 4.05d, The BioTeam
- Runner-up: gridMathematica 1.1, Wolfram Research, Inc.
- Winner: Unreal Tournament 2004 for Macintosh v1.0, MacSoft
- Runner-up: ' v1.0, Blizzard Entertainment
2003
Best Mac OS X Product- Winner: Salling Clicker 1.5, Salling Software
- Runner Up: World Book 2003 Jaguar Edition, Software MacKiev
- Winner: Salling Clicker 1.5, Salling Software
- Runner Up: Starry Night Pro 4.0, SPACE.com Canada
- Winner: Starry Night Backyard 4.0, SPACE.com Canada
- Runner Up: Transmit 2, Panic
- Winner: World Book 2003 Jaguar Edition, Software MacKiev
- Runner Up: Spell Catcher X, Evan Gross
- Winner: Hydra 1.0.1, Martin Ott, Martin Pittenauer, Dominik Wagner, and Ulrich Bauer
- Runner Up: SignalScope 1.0.5, Benjamin Faber
- Winner: Fugu 1.0, University of Michigan
- Runner Up: VLC 0.5.3, Samuel Hocevar
- Winner: iNquiry 1.0, BioTeam
- Runner Up: Radmind 0.8.4, University of Michigan
- Winner: Drive By Punch, Stephen Mebs
- Runner Up: Nature and Water, Mario Palomera /]
- Winner: OICs MusicBox Presenting Superfluid, Robert West and Michael Schaff
- Runner Up: Paraphonic Midnight Sounds, Jonathan Puckey, Andreas Pihlström & Linus Wahlstedt
- Winner: BMW Films Campaign—"The Hire" Enhanced Film Experience, Fallon Worldwide
- Runner Up: The Beautiful Mistake QuickTime Player, Tubatomic Studio
2002
- Winner: Toon Boom Studio 1.1, Toon Boom
- Runner Up: Marketcircle DayLite 1.0.1, Marketcircle Inc.
- Winner: Watson 1.5, Karelia Software, LLC
- Runner Up: Toon Boom Studio 1.1, Toon Boom
- Winner: OmniGraffle 2.0, Omni Development Inc.
- Runner Up: STX 1.0, Salon Transcripts
- Winner: OmniGraffle 2.0, Omni Development Inc.
- Runner Up: Vektor 3 3.1.3, Manfred Schubert
- Winner: TeXShop 1.19, Richard Koch, Mathematics Department, University of Oregon
- Runner Up: SIDekick 1.1, Axel Wefers
- Winner: MacJournal 2.1, Dan Schimpf
- Runner Up: CanCombineIcons 2.1.0, David Remahl
2001
- Winner: OmniWeb 4.0, The Omni Group
- Runner Up: Xtools 1.0.3, Tenon Intersystems
- Winner: Xtools 1.0.3, Tenon Intersystems
- Runner Up: MYOB AccountEdge 1.0, MYOB US, Inc.
- Winner: OmniWeb 4.0, The Omni Group
- Runner Up: Drive 10 1.0.0, Micromat, Inc.
- Winner: AutoCompleter 1.0, Catchy Software
- Runner Up: REALbasic 3.2, REAL Software, Inc.
2000
- Winner: ViaVoice Millennium Edition, IBM
- Runner Up: Thinking Home 1.0, Always Thinking, Inc.
- Winner: LiveStage Professional, Totally Hip Software Inc.
- Runner Up: Thinking Home 1.0, Always Thinking, Inc.
- Winner: Math Mysteries 1.0, Tom Snyder Productions
- Runner Up: REALbasic 2.0, REAL Software, Inc.
- Winner: Thinking Home 1.0, Always Thinking, Inc.
- Runner Up: LiveStage Professional, Totally Hip Software Inc.
1999
- Winner: REALbasic 1.0, REAL Software
- Runner-Up: Disk Warrior 1.0, Alsoft
- Winner: Disk Warrior 1.0, Alsoft
- Runner-Up: REALbasic 1.0, REAL Software
- Winner: Food Chain 1.0, Cajun Games
- Runner-Up: REALbasic 1.0, REAL Software
- Winner: Cutie Mascot Jr. 1.5, Kohshin Graphic Systems
- Runner-Up: Virtual Game Station, Connectix
1998
- Winner: Flash 2, Macromedia
- First Runner-Up: Legacy of Time: The Journeyman Project 3, Presto Studios, Inc.
- Second Runner-Up: Office 98 Macintosh Edition, Microsoft Corporation
- Winner: Preflight Pro 1.0, Extensis Corporation
- First Runner-Up: PlusMaker 1.0.1, Alsoft, Inc.
- Second Runner-Up: Virtual PC 2.0, Connectix Corporation
- Winner: Stuffit Deluxe 4.5, Aladdin Systems, Inc.
- First Runner-Up: PowerMail 2.0, CTM Development
- Second Runner-Up: FaceSpan 3.0, Digital Technology International
1997 Human Interface Design Excellence (HIDE) Award
- Winner: Kai’s Power GOO 1.0, MetaTools, Inc.
- First Runner Up: Starry Night Deluxe 2.0, Sienna Software, Inc.
- Second Runner Up: YOYO Telephone Manager for Macintosh 1.5.1, Big Island Communications, Inc.
- Winner: Starry Night Deluxe 2.0, Sienna Software, Inc.
- First Runner Up: CalcWorks 1.5.2, John Brochu
- Second Runner Up: AMBER: Journeys Beyond 1.0, Changeling, Inc.
- Winner: YOYO Telephone Manager for Macintosh 1.5.1, Big Island Communications, Inc.
- First Runner Up: Adobe Illustrator 6.0, Adobe Systems, Inc.
- Second Runner Up: Symantec Visual Cafe for Macintosh 1.0, Symantec Corp.
- Winner: YOYO Telephone Manager for Macintosh 1.5.1, Big Island Communications, Inc.
- First Runner Up: Starry Night Deluxe 2.0, Sienna Software, Inc.
- Second Runner Up: Kai’s Power GOO 1.0, MetaTools, Inc.