2,000+ Comics
in Your Pocket
2,000+ Comics
in Your Pocket
Standaard Uitgeverij, Belgium's largest comic publisher, needed a digital platform to bring their 2,000+ album catalog to mobile readers. Unlock'd built the app from concept to launch.
The platform gives subscribers access to the full comic catalog on phone and tablet. Readers can download albums for offline reading, browse by series or genre, and pick up where they left off across devices.
Bringing a legacy comic catalog to digital meant convincing publishers, authors, and distributors that subscriptions wouldn't cannibalize print sales. Standaard Uitgeverij needed a technical partner to build prototypes and help navigate the stakeholder process.
Using our six-step framework, we built prototypes, joined on-site meetings to help convince stakeholders, and supported Standaard Uitgeverij's market research before developing the full platform.
1. IDENTIFY & VALIDATE
Print comic sales were declining while digital reading was growing across Europe. Standaard Uitgeverij saw an opportunity to reach new readers through a subscription model for their 2,000+ album catalog. We came on board to build the prototypes that would help them test this idea with real audiences.
1. IDENTIFY & VALIDATE
Print comic sales were declining while digital reading was growing across Europe. Standaard Uitgeverij saw an opportunity to reach new readers through a subscription model for their 2,000+ album catalog. We came on board to build the prototypes that would help them test this idea with real audiences.
2. IMPACT MAPPING
We mapped subscription features to business outcomes: a reading experience that matches print quality drives retention, smart discovery helps readers find their next series, and offline access removes the last barrier to switching from physical books. Each feature was prioritized by its impact on subscriber retention.
3. COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT
Authors and distributors worried digital subscriptions would cannibalize print revenue. We joined Standaard Uitgeverij in on-site meetings with stakeholders, helping navigate concerns and presenting working prototypes that made the digital reading experience tangible rather than theoretical.
4. INTERACTIVE PROTOTYPING
We built working prototypes that Standaard Uitgeverij took to Boektopia and classroom visits, letting kids and other audiences try the reading experience firsthand. The reactions from real readers gave stakeholders the confidence to commit. These sessions also revealed that panel-by-panel navigation on phones felt more natural than page scrolling, shaping the final reading modes.
5. PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT
We built the platform with Flutter for iOS and Android, integrated Supabase for authentication, and connected a .NET backend for subscription management and content delivery. The app launched with the full catalog available from day one. Covered by De Tijd, Het Laatste Nieuws, and Gazet van Antwerpen.
6. CONTINUOUS ITERATION
Analytics revealed that readers consume more comics on phones than tablets, and that personalized recommendations drive 3x more discovery than browsing. These insights shaped ongoing feature development, from reading mode defaults to the content recommendation engine.
From on-site stakeholder meetings and prototypes tested at Boektopia and in classrooms to a platform covered in national press. We helped Standaard Uitgeverij navigate the path from concept to a subscription platform with 2,000+ albums on day one.
Want this approach for your project?
Flutter app, Supabase auth, and .NET backend, built for offline reading and secure content delivery
The app handles authentication through Supabase, fetches catalog data and subscription status from a .NET backend, and caches comic pages locally for offline reading. DRM protection ensures content is only accessible to active subscribers.
Imagine diving into a digital comic with an experience designed for both phone and tablet users.
On phones, enjoy a picture-by-picture film reel that makes each frame come alive. On tablets, the default mode presents an endless page that scrolls from left to right, simulating the feel of reading a real comic book. This mode includes dynamic zooming animations that focus on key details like explosions or panoramic scenery.
For a traditional reading experience, switch to full-page view similar to a PDF. All modes support pinch-to-zoom and edge-tap navigation, ensuring you stay immersed in the story.
"The collaboration with the team was seamless and the quality of work has set a new standard."
Walter De Roeck
Director IT & Innovation, Standaard Uitgeverij
2,000+ Albums
Built with Flutter for native performance on iOS and Android, with a design system created alongside Standaard Uitgeverij.
The app uses a scalable design system that adapts to different screen sizes and reading modes. Flutter's single codebase delivers native performance on both platforms while keeping development and maintenance efficient as the catalog grows.
Kan de smartphone de strip redden?
"Met platforms zoals Strips.be krijgt de stripindustrie een nieuwe dynamiek, waarbij toegankelijkheid en digitale innovatie hand in hand gaan."
— De Tijd
Onbeperkt Jommeke en Kiekeboes lezen voor 6,99 euro per maand
"Onze journalist testte het uit en vroeg aan specialist Tim Raats (VUB) of dit kan aanslaan. 'Dit zou weleens veel mensen over de streep kunnen trekken.'"
— Het Laatste Nieuws
Voor €6,99 lees je 2.000 albums
"Standaard Uitgeverij lanceert app voor stripverhalen die de volledige catalogus toegankelijk maakt op je smartphone."
— Gazet van Antwerpen
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