Danish App Awards 2011

The very popular “Mobilbank” iPhone and Android smartphone app from Danske Bank won - not surprisingly - the most Sugarcode awards at this year’s Danish App Awards, which was held Thursday, October 13 at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.

The jury, consisting of 9 profiles from the Danish appmosphere, had within the categories; design, functionality, and usability, found the very best apps. The creators of those apps received an impressive Sugarcode award as a tribute for having made a Danish app of the highest quality.

Both DR and TV2 News were present, and the ballroom at the National Museum hosted every aspect of the Danish app business from developers to marketing representatives, and attracted as well other interested profiles, which made their appearance in order to congratulate the nominees and winners on this prestigious acknowledgement.

One of the philosophies behind Danish App Awards is to transfer proud, Danish traditions within both design and craftsmanship, to the business of software development. Nicolas Thomas, one of the minds behind the event, felt positive about the success of the event: “We live in a time, where so many people are developing smartphone apps, but far from every app is good enough to retain users. We believe that Danish App Awards has put the necessary focus on quality and professional pride in the app business.”

The jury chairman, Nikolaj Sonne (known from DR’s So Ein Ding) presented the award for the App of the Year to the team behind the Danske Bank 'Mobilbank' app. The team was well represented with both members from the Danske Bank Group and from the suppliers, Trifork and DesignIT. The Danske Bank app also won the award for best functionality, and promised in their speech to continuously innovate and improve on the app in order to make life easier for the banks's clients.

The award for best design went to the interactive children’s book app, “Sylvester’s Band”, which was developed by Uncle Handsalt. The app is available for download to Android, iPhone and iPad.

“Songkick Concerts”, an app that helps users find concerts of relevance through the user’s taste of music and  location, won the award for best usability. Danish SHAPE, who teamed up with British Songkick, developed the app, that previously had been featured by Apple as “App of the Week”.

Besides the traditional awards, two additional, special awards were given. The first was the People’s Choice award which went to the app with the most votes received via the event’s website sugarcode.com and via the iPhone app developed for the event itself. The People’s Choice award was given the game “The Marbians” published by Nordisk Film.

The popular sports app “Endomondo” also received a Special Achievement award, as the jury felt the app was so good it should be acknowledged at the event even though it did not meet the basic requirement for a nominee, i.e. to have been developed within the past 12 months.

On another note, jury member, Joachim Bondo expressed in his welcome speech, that it takes enormous amounts of love, dedication and hard work to develop an app that is is “beyond delicious”. This also became very clear during the night, as every spokesperson behind the winning apps mentioned that the best result was only possible when you develop with your heart and with the user in mind.

The complete list of winners

Sylvester’s Band for Best Design
Danske Bank Mobilbank for Best Functionality
Songkick Concerts for Best Usability
Endomondo recieved the Special Achievement Award
The Marbians Recieved the People’s Choice Award
Danske Bank Mobilbank for App of the Year

Tripod Talks did an unoffical video coverage of the show including interviews with some of the winners and judges.

This year’s Danish App Awards was arranged and funded by the two companies, SHAPE and Cocoa Stuff, and next year’s event will be presented by a union, which other app houses can join.

(Photos by Philip A. Helm)