Be My Eyes, Blind Drive, and Voice Dream Reader Among Finalists for 2021 Apple Design Awards

By AppleVis, 1 June, 2021

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starting next week, Apple has today announced the 36 finalists for this year's Apple Design Awards; and it's great to see that in the running are three apps which will be familiar to most in our community - Be My Eyes, Blind Drive, and Voice Dream Reader.

The awards honor excellence in innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement in app and game design. This year, Apple is dividing the finalists into six different categories: Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation.

This is the first occasion that the finalists have been announced ahead of time, with Apple saying that the shortlisted apps are “an impressive collection of apps and games produced by some of the most talented developers in the world.”

Amongst the past winners is Blackbox,, a puzzle game which won an Apple Design Award in 2017 for its accessibility, uniqueness, game play, and innovations.

It would be tremendous if one or more of Be My Eyes, Blind Drive or Voice Dream Reader can do likewise this year.

Be My Eyes connects blind and low vision users with a global community of volunteers to provide free visual support with tasks like reading small print, matching clothes, troubleshooting technology, setting up home appliances, or any other simple task a volunteer can complete over live video. It has been shortlisted in the Social Impact category.

Blind Drive is an audio-arcade action game, described by its developers as an hilarious black comedy that has full VoiceOver support. It has been shortlisted in the Innovation category.

Voice Dream Reader is a text-to-speech reader that turns any document and ebook into audio. It also supports audiobooks and DAISY text-based books. Voice Dream Reader is optimized for VoiceOver, Braille and switch control. It has been shortlisted in the Inclusivity category.

The complete list of finalists is:

Inclusivity

Delight and Fun

Interaction

Social Impact

Visuals and Graphics

Innovation

Apple will announce the winners of this year's Apple Design Awards on Thursday, June 10 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. The awards show will be streamed via the Apple Developer app and the Apple Developer website. Our congratulations and best wishes go to all of the shortlisted developers.

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Comments

By Matthew Whitaker on Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 14:18

That's great. Hope one or more of the three apps mentioned will win. :-)

By Khushi on Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 14:18

amazing