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Ask HN: I want your opinion on this

2 points_fvh33 comments

Hi, I am creating a productivity app, it was very loosely inspired of this project:

Screenshot: https://pixeldrain.com/u/4rP6zV8e Link: http://personal-management-system.pl/dashboard#tab-1

I want to use the "fluent" design system by Microsoft, It is in the same field of Microsoft's new "Loop" app -a notion clone-, therefore it may look very similar on first glance to the average consumer since it uses the same design system. Should I switch the design system (flutter) to something else since to avoid confusion and to differentiate? I intend to market this app meaning it will appear on those "Best ... lists" meaning people will mainly see screenshots of the app.

** PSA: Mainly a personal project, I do not intend to monetize it, my reasoning for wanting external growth isn't financially motivated **

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You just want opinion correct?

I think you would have to provide a lot more information on what it is, what’s unique about it, what your goals for it are, who the target user is etc.

Like, maybe your ideal user doesn’t care whether it looks unique? Or maybe the fact that it looks familiar is exactly why they go with it?

Or perhaps making or modifying a design system is something you actually really want to learn about personally? Or you see that as the only reason why someone would choose your app?

Personally - I would try acquiring the first user/s by focusing as much as possible only on what it actually does, ie. productivity. Then I would try to base those kinds of decisions on what they actually tell you. And on what you see them doing with it.

Thanks for commenting!

I consider myself skilled in social media content creation, therefore I think the best way to market this would be via platforms like tiktok, youtube etc. Especially on the specific productivity nichés on those platforms, generally the people who watch those video's aren't very tech literate and will probably consider looks into their decision of productivity app, however I don't think it will be close the sole reason.

I would describe the app as a "jarvis" like dashboard, with widgets, a kanban board, note taking & storing capabilities with the interactivity and obsidian.md

I think I might stick to your idea of acquiring a few users first especially because this is my first big project.

Those first users will be hard, they’ll have to trust you and commit.

Anecdotally, in my own experiences with something somewhat similar what surprised us was that the less polished what we showed during UX research, the more willing users were to tell us what they really thought and gave more suggestions. We actually started showing even rougher mock-ups and prototypes than we had to. Completed versions were treated as “finished”. That’s just something to think about.

I would try to find a niché - a productivity app for X. Then those first users feel more inclined to stick around.

Good luck!

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