Apptisan #019 — Talking with moimoi’s Creator: Creating a More Aesthetic and User-Friendly Digital Card App Inspired by Bento
Your life, crafted in cards. moimoi enables you to create a series of personalized cards that capture and showcase every aspect of your life.
Name: moimoi
Developer / Team: Zolplay
Platforms: iOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
moimoi enables you to create a series of personalized cards that capture and showcase every aspect of your life.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
The inspiration struck primarily when Apple showcased their iOS 17 NameDrop feature. It prompted me to envision combining concepts similar to Bento, with the aim of creating a more visually appealing and user-friendly digital card application.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
When comparing our product to platforms like Bento or Linktree, our primary focus is on the mobile experience, as we believe it aligns more closely with people’s everyday habits, while other products tend to prioritize web-based platforms. Additionally, we aim to establish a brand identity that feels visually appealing and engaging from the outset, rather than adhering to a more conventional approach.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
We initially showcased our application prototype at the Let’s visionOS conference in Beijing, where we had a booth display. Following this, we intensively developed the visionOS version of moimoi within just one month. Early in our campaign, we created promotional materials to increase awareness of moimoi. We then began openly sharing our beta website on Twitter (now X), which resulted in thousands of interested individuals joining our waitlist. Recently, we officially launched the app, and we’re planning to list it on Product Hunt to reach a broader international audience.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
One piece of feedback that really stood out came from a Product Hunt user:
It looks really cute, the name is cute, and the logo is, but I really didn’t understand how to use it, or what value it will provide me.
This comment echoes feedback we received during our beta release, where some users asked, “What exactly does your app do?” This issue is crucial because only by clarifying our product’s core can we effectively communicate it to users. Moving forward, we will continuously refine the core positioning of our product and develop more practical features, ensuring it provides real value rather than just being visually appealing.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
I believe the tools we love to use shape our tastes, so I always pursue tools that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Some examples include Craft, Linear, Raycast, Arc Browser, and Things.
Are there any creators you admire? What outstanding qualities have you observed in them?
The creators I admire are predominantly from the design sector:
Rauno Freiberg (Vercel, Design Engineer)
Emil Kowalski (Vercel, Design Engineer)
Fons Mans (Freelance designer)
Gavin Nelson (Linear, ex GitHub)
Jordan Singer (Figma, ex Diagram)
Paco Coursey (Linear)
Nanda (Vercel, Engineer)
Shu Ding (Vercel, Design Engineer)
Brotzky (Cofounder of Fey and Narative)
Could you describe moimoi’s product design process? Are there any tools or insights from this process that you believe could benefit other designers?
Our design process typically follows these steps:
Define product requirements;
Conduct team reviews to refine requirements and direction;
Discuss the development complexity;
Explore design and interaction inspirations;
Implement high-fidelity design and interaction;
For inspiration, we recommend the following websites:
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I am a developer, a designer, and the founder and CEO of Zolplay, a company I established after returning to China following three years of study and work in the United States. At Zolplay, our mission is to create applications and products that are not only visually appealing but also engaging and enjoyable to use.
We have completed many client projects and have been collaborating with American companies to develop a game QA automation platform called Live Aware.
In the future, we hope to create more original works, stay true to our initial goals, and bring more fun to software.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
For those who prefer Chinese, you can subscribe via Quail. Creators interested in featuring their products are encouraged to submit them through our form, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
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