ChatGPT and other AI services are basically killing @Iconfactory and I'm not exaggerating or being hyperbolical.
First Twitter/Elon killed our main app revenue that kept the lights on around here, then generative AI exploded to land a final blow to design revenue.
@bigzaphod @Iconfactory I don’t know what to say except that several years ago I paid Iconfactory to design an icon for my app and, while it felt expensive at the time, the design process was great and I was incredibly happy with the result. Money well spent.
I’ve been a huge Iconfactory fan since the 90s. I hope to remain so for a long time to come. ❤️
My new website for Tap Forms Pro was designed by The Iconfactory. They did an amazing job.
And none of my app icons were or will be AI generated.
@bigzaphod you forgot to mention that Apple is coming out with a suite of operating systems where this is an acceptable icon.
(In short, If we want the @Iconfactory to survive buy Tapestries.)
When I orient my phone to put the screen into landscape mode it ends up displaying stuff the right way up but the rotation animation is in the wrong direction. The impact on usability is very minor but it's also such an obvious bug that it's hard to reconcile with my memories of Apple products from decades ago!
@bigzaphod There are a handful of high profile examples that make people think most indies/small co’s are making lots of money, but the reality is most of us are making just enough to get by doing something we love — or have some other job to sustain us.
For what it's worth, I backed Tapestry (is there a way to subscribe while being a backer?), subscribe to Wallaroo, and recently bought xScope again (for some reason I had the app store version)
@montyhayter ❤️
One way to subscribe as a backer is to go to Settings / Advanced Settings / Reset Unlock which basically clears out the backer flag. Then you can sub in the usual way and re-unlock backer via that URL and get the bonus icons, too.
@bigzaphod I would actually love to get some design work done, but honestly I'm facing my own headwinds that make viability beyond a year out questionable, so I can't really afford to.
I need to diversify, but so many ideas I would otherwise pursue are just as vulnerable. Which sucks, because at this point I'm probably unhireable — not that it matters, I'd hate going back to a corporate job.
I’m very sorry to hear Iconfactory is struggling. I’ve been a big fan for decades. Not all products are hits. A Twitteriffic for Mastodon would likely do well though.
My opinion? The company should consider joining @panic - the two companies align very well. cc @cabel @chockenberry
@bigzaphod @Iconfactory I am sorry to hear this, and I understand the frustration. I was hoping to do an ad in Tapestry soon, but a combination of tariffs and ‘AI’ is affecting the bigger clients to a degree that their cashflow problems are becoming my cashflow problems 😞
Fingers crossed for improvements in the near future! 🙏🏻
P.S.: Can we still expect a Mac version of Tapestry in the foreseeable future?
@bigzaphod I completely understand your predicament.
As a wannabe developer, I'm almost certainly going to go to ChatGPT to generate an app icon for my bound-to-fail app.
However at the same time, I want products like Iconfactory to be successful.
I don't really know the answer, but the answer has to be something related to adding services to your product that AI can't - for example, build into your app am online P2P rating system, so users can vote for which is your best icon?
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