Story time about the emotional rollercoaster called the Apple Design Awards! 🏆
Exactly one year ago, I was in Italy when I got a call from my Apple Partnership Manager. They told me:
"You know the drill. Art of Fauna is a finalist for the Apple Design Award in Inclusivity. But unfortunately again, it did NOT WIN."
When they hung up, I was left excited, but also disappointed. I knew the drill because it was actually my third time being a finalist in Inclusivity. I was one in 2022 and 2023 with my games "Letter Rooms" and "Ancient Board Game Collection" respectively.
And Art of Fauna was objectively my best shot yet. I felt like if this is not going to win an ADA, nothing out of my feather ever will. So for then next 10 minutes, I was more disappointed than I probably should have been.
And then I got a second call. Again, it was my Apple Partnership Manager. And they said:
"I was wrong there with the category. You are not a finalist in Inclusivity. You are a finalist in Social Impact".
And then they paused.
"But you've won in Inclusivity".
And I can't even find words to describe how that felt. Two nominations, one win for Art of Fauna. And to understand this fully, you have to know more context.
In 2015, I won the student Apple Design Award with Elementary Minute. But the student ADA was never held to the same standards as the regular one. But back then, this same Apple Partnership Manager told me "One day, you are going to win the real thing".
And now, 10 years later, right before this person was about to retire - They told me that I have really won the *real thing*. You always dream about things like this to happen, but its insane when they really do.
Klemens 🥳
Dinesh Harjani