App Sketchbook

I started App Sketchbook in 2009 while teaching myself mobile design. At the time, the iPhone App Store was still new and there was little design guidance available online. I wanted a sketchbook that worked better for mobile layouts and flows, so I designed one.

The first print was 300 copies. I launched the product using a simple one-page ordering site connected to PayPal and shared it through early social channels like Twitter and Facebook. It sold out in six hours! Side note: AMA about posting a product for sale before going on vacation.

I packed and shipped orders, managed inventory, and responded to customer emails on nights and weekends. As demand grew, I expanded the product line to include additional sketchbooks, including versions designed for web and responsive layouts as those needs became more common.

The sketchbooks received shoutouts in books written by industry-defining voices like Tapworthy by Josh Clark and iPhone Developer Guide: The Missing Manual by Craig Hockenberry. I also produced custom branded editions for companies including AOL and Mailchimp, as well as for UX-focused conferences.

I ran the business until 2020. By then, sales had slowed, design tools had shifted toward fully digital workflows, and my inventory was depleted. Rather than take a chance on a restock or go down the path of reinvention, I chose to close the business.