We were first approached to work on the Waterstones project in mid-2010. The initial phase included developing an iOS app, a dedicated mobile website, and an API to support a future eBooks initiative-all within a tight 12-week deadline. It was crazy ambitious, especially in the early days of iOS development when modern frameworks and tools were non-existant.
To meet the timeline, we knew it was critical to avoid feature creep and constant “last minute” changes. We began by designing full end-to-end mockups, which we then turned into an interactive prototype. This gave the Waterstones team a clear sense of how the app would look, feel, and function—well before any code was written. This approach allowed us to quickly validate the UX and make design adjustments upfront, saving significant time and effort later in the development process.
The Result: The App, Mobile site and API completed and launched with excellent positive feedback from customers.
Following the success of the initial launch, we continued our partnership over the next three years to expand Waterstones’ digital presence across multiple platforms. Together, we delivered a feature-rich Android eBooks reader, dedicated apps for iPad and Windows Phone 7, and even a Palm OS app – one of the first UK m-commerce apps available on the Palm Store (remember the super-secret device we mentioned).
In parallel, we continuously enhanced the existing apps and APIs, iterating on new features and improvements based on real customer feedback to ensure the experience remained modern, reliable, and user-focused.
We’d love to have a chat to understand and discuss your project. Even if you’re still in the early idea phase. We’re happy to advise and guide you along the way.