App Showcase: Artist.ai

What it does

Artist.ai is a mobile application for generating AI art. It allows users to create images from text prompts, but its capabilities extend further. Users can also provide a reference image or a hand-drawn sketch to guide the AI's output, offering a greater degree of creative control. Beyond general art creation, the app includes a separate feature for generating stylized AI avatars based on uploaded photos.

Where it shines

The app stands out by giving users tangible control over the creative process. The 'Reference Image Strength' slider (02:15) is a great example. It lets users decide exactly how much influence a source photo has on the final image. This moves beyond simple text prompting and into more nuanced art direction. Furthermore, the ability to use a sketch as a reference (04:27) opens up another layer of creativity, allowing for unique compositions guided by a human hand.

UX highlights

• Visual-First Onboarding: The app immediately shows off its capabilities with full-screen, auto-playing carousels of art (00:04), creating a strong first impression without requiring any user input.
• Granular Creative Control: The 'Reference Image Strength' slider provides a simple, intuitive way for users to fine-tune the AI's output, balancing reference adherence with creative freedom.
• Multiple Input Methods: The app supports text prompts, reference images, and even sketches, catering to a wide range of creative workflows.
• Clear Feature Separation: The main interface cleanly separates 'Generate Art' from 'Create Avatars,' guiding users to two distinct value propositions.
• Organized Project Management: A 'Projects' tab (09:06) allows users to view and manage their saved creations, keeping their workspace organized.
• Contextual Rating Prompt: The app asks for a rating (04:09) immediately after a creative action, which is a good moment to capture user sentiment.

Monetization & growth

Artist.ai employs a hybrid monetization strategy. First, it presents a soft paywall with a free trial to unlock core features after a brief onboarding flow (00:51). However, even for subscribers, some features require an additional purchase. The AI Avatar generation, for example, is positioned as a premium one-time purchase (07:55), requiring users to pay separately to access that specific pack. This model allows the app to maintain a recurring revenue base while upselling high-value, specialized features to engaged users.

Who it’s for

This app is designed for a broad audience, from digital artists and designers looking for a mobile ideation tool to social media users and hobbyists wanting to create unique images. Its multiple input methods make it accessible for those who prefer visual guidance over mastering complex text prompts. The avatar feature specifically targets users looking to create personalized profile pictures for social platforms.

Notes & opportunities

The hybrid monetization model, while potentially lucrative, could create confusion. A user might subscribe thinking they've unlocked everything, only to face another paywall for avatars. The app also experienced a few error pop-ups during the recording (e.g., at 03:53 and 04:56), which could indicate stability issues. Finally, the navigation between the main feed ('Arts'), 'Projects', and 'Avatars' could be streamlined to create a more cohesive user experience.