T-Minus 168 hours until the completion of my first app. This is Operation ReSkin. My mission, should I choose to accept, is to re-skin an existing app and release it to the iOS app store.
7 days may seem like a short turn around, but I’m taking a bit of a shortcut the first time around. For those unaware of the process of reskinning apps (or app flipping), it is the process of taking an existing completed app and swapping out the art assets (“skin”) with your own artwork. There are many passionate, divergent opinions on the validity of this method and business model. Some claim its disrespectful to the craft, while others claim its simply good business sense. I’m not taking sides on this debate at the moment. My purpose for this project is simply to experiment.
Why re-skin an app rather than building my first app from scratch? Well, I want to experience the entire launch process of an app as quickly as possible. Since I am not a coder, I want to leverage my existing skills and talents in design and marketing to get my foot in the app store. My hope is that by going through this reskinning process, submitting the app to the app store, and experimenting with app store optimization (ASO) techniques, it will give me some insights and experience that I can apply toward the creation of my first 100% original app.
D-Day is November 8th 16th. On that day I will be submitting the final re-skinned app to the app store. During these 7 days, I will be documenting my progress and the steps I take to find the app of my choice, re-skin the app, and submit it to the app store.
Check back soon for my next post to see how I will go about the selecting the right app source code to re-skin!
UPDATE: Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I was unable to begin this project during the past week. But with the extended weekend, I will be able to devote some time to this. I have changed the due date to November 16th.
Jonny says
Reskinners are not stealing codes! They rightfully bought them! And app stores accepted them! Rest is moot babble!
Shane K. says
I am not sure where anyone said anything about code theft, but OK.