Case studies · Building materials · 2013
An iOS inspiration and catalog app for a ceramic tile manufacturer
A ceramic tile manufacturer brought its catalog to an iOS inspiration app, so customers and specialists can explore products and room settings from a mobile device.
- native inspiration and catalog app
- iOS
The challenge
Choosing a floor or wall tile is a visual decision. Customers want to see how the product looks in a real space, compare colors and formats, and share options with their family, architect, or contractor. A printed catalog falls short: it's heavy, it goes out of date with every new collection, and it can't go everywhere.
For a manufacturer with a broad catalog, the challenge had several parts:
Show products with images that inspire, not just with spec sheets.
Organize the catalog so it can be explored without getting lost among collections, colors, and formats.
Reach customers where they were already looking: on the phone or tablet they carried with them.
Provide a tool that would also help the people who recommend the product during a visit or in a showroom.
In 2013, as apps were becoming the natural channel for this kind of experience, a ceramic tile manufacturer decided to bring its catalog to an inspiration app.
The solution
AVILA® developed a native iOS inspiration app with the manufacturer's catalog. The app brings together room-setting images and catalog products in an experience designed for exploring at your own pace and deciding with better information.
There were three core decisions:
Inspiration first. The app starts from what the customer wants to achieve in their space and leads to the product, instead of starting with a list of product codes.
The catalog inside the app. Products are on the device the customer already uses, ready to show during a visit or a conversation with their architect.
Native iOS development. A native app makes the most of the device's screen and performance, which matters when the experience depends on image quality.
This project was part of AVILA®'s mobile app period in 2012 and 2013, when we developed institutional, catalog, and civic-engagement iOS apps. The relationship with this client continued afterward on other technology fronts, such as Azure and Office 365 management and the web portal with its product catalog, which we developed and evolved from 2013 to 2025.
If your company wants to put its catalog in your customers' pockets, see our mobile apps and websites, landing pages, and e-commerce.