AppleVis Extra 109: Interview with Klemens Strasser, Developer of Art of Fauna

AppleVis Podcast

Episode Title: AppleVis Extra 109: Interview with Klemens Strasser, Developer of Art of Fauna

Guest: Klemens Strasser, Indie iOS Developer and Winner of the 2025 Apple Design Award

Hosts: David Nason (Dave) and Thomas Domville(AnonyMouse)

Length: \~45 minutes

Episode Summary

In this inspiring and insightful episode, Dave and Thomas speak with Klemens Strasser, the creative mind behind Art of Fauna, a beautifully designed and highly accessible educational puzzle game for iOS. Klemens shares the journey of his app from concept to being honored with an Apple Design Award for Best Design at WWDC 2025.

The discussion touches on accessibility in app development, the importance of inclusive design, how Art of Fauna was built with VoiceOver users in mind, and the motivations that drive Klemens to ensure his apps are usable and enjoyable for everyone.

What Is Art of Fauna?

A nature-inspired puzzle game that lets players:

• Solve image-based or text-based puzzles about animals
• Learn fun facts from 18th- and 19th-century scientific illustrations
• Choose between visual or VoiceOver-friendly game modes
• Experience soothing soundscapes and educational content

Topics Covered

✅ Accessibility and Design

• Klemens’ passion for inclusive app design
• VoiceOver integration in puzzle gameplay
• Importance of building accessibility from the ground up
• Apple’s new “Accessibility Nutrition Labels” and their potential impact

✅ The Apple Design Award Experience

• Klemens shares how he learned he won
• Insights from attending WWDC and being nominated multiple times
• How previous apps (Letter Rooms, Ancient Board Game Collection) laid the foundation

✅ Development Process

• Why Klemens chose UIKit and SpriteKit over Unity
• Collaboration with VoiceOver users and accessibility engineers
• Beta testing and iterative design for inclusive play

✅ Game Structure and Monetization

• 10 free puzzles included
• Five themed puzzle packs available for a one-time fee
• No subscriptions—premium content is pay-once
• Periodic content updates including:
  • Friends of Fauna: users upload animal photos to receive monthly puzzles
  • Earth Day Bonus Pack: free bonus for bundle buyers
  • Donations: 20% of proceeds go to wildlife conservation

What’s Next?

Klemens announces his next indie app: Pocket Shelf – a new reading tracker app scheduled for release alongside iOS 26.

Connect with Klemens

• Website: strasser.app
• Twitter / X: @klemensstrasser
• Blog (coming soon): Posts on Art of Fauna donations and accessibility updates

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Indie developers exploring accessibility
• VoiceOver users seeking innovative, inclusive games
• Educators and parents looking for meaningful screen time for kids
• Anyone curious…