Apple Design Awards 2024: Indie Apps Overtake Tech Giants
Apple has unveiled its 2024 Design Awards (ADA), signaling a strategic pivot toward smaller independent developers and startups. In a year marked by intense regulatory scrutiny over its App Store business model, the company’s selection process notably bypassed major tech giants, leaving out ubiquitous AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
Prioritizing the Indie Ecosystem
The list of finalists and winners reflects a clear preference for creative, niche, and technically refined software. While the tech industry has been dominated by the rapid expansion of generative AI, Apple’s honorees largely focus on specialized utilities and artistic tools. Among the standout finalists were small to midsize creators such as Copilot Money, SmartGym, and the recipe manager Crouton.
Even when larger developers appeared on the list—such as HoYoverse with Honkai: Star Rail or Activision with Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile—the recognition was tied to specific technical achievements. These include the implementation of Apple-proprietary technologies like MetalFX or hardware-level optimizations for M1 and newer silicon.
The AI Exception
Artificial intelligence, despite its massive footprint in the current software market, was notably absent from most of the accolades. The web browser Arc Search was a rare exception, recognized for its integrated AI agent and “Call Arc” feature. This exclusion persists even after the widespread success of services like ChatGPT, which remains absent from Apple’s marquee design awards for the second consecutive year.
this one hits different, so so proud of the team pic.twitter.com/njoIV0vukm
— Josh Miller (@joshm) May 28, 2024
2024 Apple Design Award Winners
Apple categorized its winners based on core values, including innovation, inclusivity, and spatial computing. The following apps were selected for their exceptional design and execution:
- Bears Gratitude (Delight and Fun)
- NYT Games (Delight and Fun)
- oko (Inclusivity)
- Crayola Adventures (Inclusivity)
- Procreate Dreams (Innovation)
- Lost in Play (Innovation)
- Crouton (Interaction)
- Rytmos (Interaction)
- Gentler Streak Fitness Tracker (Social Impact)
- The Wreck (Social Impact)
- Rooms (Visuals and Graphics)
- Lies of P (Visuals and Graphics)
- djay (Spatial Computing)
- Blackbox (Spatial Computing)
Wow. We're overjoyed– and, frankly, in disbelief– that Rooms is a finalist for Apple's 2024 Design Awards. As if this honor weren't enough, we appear to be the only app that's a finalist in two categories!
Thank you, @Apple, for recognizing @things! 🙏https://t.co/4KAIQEffi1
— Jason Toff (@jasontoff) May 28, 2024