From Ideas to Games and Products | Rosemary Lokhorst | Beyond Coding Podcast #76

Idea to App

Rosemary Lokhorst, CEO of Story Byte Studio, shares her expertise in transforming ideas into applications, particularly in the gaming sector. She explains how her team employs gamified elements to create engaging applications, such as a weight loss app that uses augmented reality to help users understand and manage their habits 1. Rosemary emphasizes the importance of the design question in guiding the development process, ensuring that each project aligns with its intended purpose 2.

Everything comes back, I think, from what we call the design question. So what do we want to achieve with the product?

--- Rosemary Lokhorst

Her approach involves consulting with experts to verify psychological content and conducting clinical trials to validate the effectiveness of these applications 1.

   

Purposeful Design

Designing purposeful solutions begins with a clear understanding of the problem statement, or the design question, as Rosemary calls it. This approach helps filter out ideas that do not contribute to the desired outcome, ensuring that only those aligning with the project's goals are pursued 3. Rosemary discusses the importance of building client confidence by being transparent about capabilities and limitations, sometimes even partnering with other experts to achieve the best results 4.

If it doesn't meet the criteria of interactive, then it has to go.

--- Rosemary Lokhorst

She also highlights the necessity of trailblazing innovation, balancing technological possibilities with practical and organizational constraints 5.

   

User Feedback

User feedback is integral to refining and validating concepts during development. Rosemary stresses the importance of gathering feedback from day one, involving both experts and users to ensure the product meets its intended goals 6. She describes a comprehensive approach to testing, including impact studies and player diaries, to gauge the effectiveness of applications like the mental health game, Shadow's Edge 6.

Getting feedback starts from day one.

--- Rosemary Lokhorst

Additionally, Rosemary discusses the challenges of client communication, emphasizing the need to provide options and alternatives when certain ideas are not feasible, thereby maintaining a collaborative and constructive relationship 7.