Blynk is a platform compatible with iOS and Android, used to control Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other microcontroller boards via the Internet. It’s a digital dashboard where experts and enthusiasts alike can build a graphic interface for their project by simply dragging and dropping widgets. While other apps require strong coding skills and expensive hardware, Blynk makes it incredibly easy to set everything up and start tinkering in less than five minutes. The only requirements are a microcontroller board, a smartphone, and an Internet connection.

The dashboard is designed as a modular grid where various widgets can be placed in any order. Each widget represents a microcontroller and has a unique settings screen where it can be set up and customized. Widgets include: buttons, sliders, timers, displays, joysticks, LEDs, GPS, and an accelerometer.

Blynk was successfully funded on Kickstarter by 2,321 backers. Their pledges, totaling $49,235, exceeded the project goal by nearly five times.

Read the full case study with juror comments here: [http://www.aiga.org/cased-2015-winner-blynk-app]

“I love the idea of making custom remote controls accessible to anyone. The user interface seemed easy to use and rather intuitive—embracing those familiar with the language, but also easy to use for those just learning the ropes.” —Bryony Gomez-Palacio