Sean Heber in Elk: "ChatGPT and other AI services are basica..."

ChatGPT and other AI services are basically killing @Iconfactory and I'm not exaggerating or being hyperbolical.

First Twitter/Elon killed our main app revenue that kept the lights on around here, then generative AI exploded to land a final blow to design revenue.

July 11, 2025 at 2:17:08 PM

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Tapestry's Kickstarter was a bit of a hail mary, but people aren't subscribing in great enough numbers to replace Twitterrific revenue and that combined with the sudden free-falling design revenue might just be the end of us.

I know nothing I say is going to get anyone to stop using ChatGPT and generating a new app icon in 5 minutes for the app that you also had ChatGPT write for you in a few hours, but I'm not sure what the rest of us are supposed to do about making enough money to, ya know, live.

I think perhaps because @Iconfactory design is quite good people have this impression that we're sitting here on a pile of money or something and some huge powerhouse - nope. We've been barely making it since Elon/Twitter. There's only 6 of us and there's no war chest.

@bigzaphod @Iconfactory I don’t know what to say except that several years ago I paid Iconfactory to design an icon for my app and, while it felt expensive at the time, the design process was great and I was incredibly happy with the result. Money well spent.

I’ve been a huge Iconfactory fan since the 90s. I hope to remain so for a long time to come.

@jeff @Iconfactory

Replying to someone

@jeff @bigzaphod @Iconfactory

As an app consumer, I’ll add that a good icon can help decide if I am going to buy an app or not. Between two apps of roughly the same quality, I’ll always go with the one with the better icon. And that better icon is never going to be one designed by ChatGPT.

Replying to someone

@jeff @bigzaphod @Iconfactory

My new website for Tap Forms Pro was designed by The Iconfactory. They did an amazing job.

And none of my app icons were or will be AI generated.