Rounding up our judges panel for the AdMob Student App Challenge

Meet our final two judges, Craig Warner and Jon Potter. Craig brings a wealth of experience from a Google perspective, while Jon provides insights from the Application Developers Alliance. Read below for their perspective on app development: their suggestions will be a major part of the judging criteria for the AdMob Student App Challenge.

Craig Warner

Head of Publishers, Domains and Distribution, Google

What is your background and experience working with apps?

Help support the leading global app creators to make money through ads and in-app purchase.

What is the most important thing you look for when reviewing an app?

Simplicity.

What tip(s) would you give to a new app developer building their first app?

Ask yourself if you would actually use the app for more than a day.

What are some golden rules of app design?

Transparency about how you collect and use user data.  Performance and stability.

Anything else you want student developers to know?

Apps are not new, it was the way users interacted with computers before the web. The primary difference is price (much lower) and number of potential users (much greater). The fundamental characteristics of a great app don't change much over time.

Jon Potter

Co-founder, Application Developers Alliance

What is your background and experience working with apps?

My professional focus has been educating governments and public officials about apps and the app economy - promoting and protecting apps that disrupt entrenched industries (which often seek government protection) and also apps that independently draw government and legal attention (e.g., due to privacy, health care or other regulatory concerns). In 2012 I founded the App Developers Alliance, where I was President until late 2015.

What is the most important thing you look for when reviewing an app?

I review apps as a consumer (clear presentation, clean look, improve my life) and as an investor (solve a problem, improve many lives, disrupt large industries).

What tip(s) would you give to a new app developer building their first app?

Identify clear goals and deliverables. Stay focused.

What are some golden rules of app design?

Simplicity and clarity. Do one thing very well. Deliver value while I am disconnected (i.e., on an airplane).

Anything else you want student developers to know?

Great ideas require great teams to become great experiences and great businesses. There are so many magnificent opportunities - in consumer apps, industrial apps, socially beneficial apps. Play to win but don't forget to enjoy the ride.

As a reminder, there are only six weeks left before the final project submission date of June 28, 2016. In the coming weeks, we will shift our focus from app development and design to project completion, with reminders on timeframes and some best practices for your business report. If you’d like to learn more about the judging process please visit our AdMob Challenge judges page for more details. Lastly, remember to continue to follow us on Twitter, and keep an eye on #AdMobSAC16 too, for regular updates on the challenge.