XD Essentials: 12 Splendid Tips for Effective Mobile App Design
If you are thinking about the ultimate user experience before starting a new mobile app design service, then this is the time to start. One of the most important things to keep in mind when designing a mobile app is that it is useful and intuitive for your users. If the app is not useful, then it has no practical value. At the same time, if the application is in much need but due to lacking time & effort, people won’t bother much about learning. The good mobile app design addresses both moments: Main focus is targeted on the user’s goals and eliminating all their obstacles by explaining the user interface. But creating a good mobile app design is not an easy task.
Prepare these 12 UX mobile apps design principles to create a really great mobile user experience.
1. Your User Interface De-Clutter
An immense factor in creating a mobile UX shine of your app is its user interface. Interpretation is the most important feature of a great UI. User attention is a valuable tool and should be allocated accordingly. Cluttering your interface overloads your user with too much information. Because of the limited screen estate in the mobile display, every added button, image and the text makes the screen even more complex. You need to pay attention to delivering messages clearly and concisely, so try to keep the UI as “invisible” because you can easily focus on fundamental stuff.
2. Design for Interruption
The mobile device that you are designing will be used “on the go.” Users need to quickly complete one core task in mobile apps – pay and check for new messages, etc. This important flow should be crystal clear for the user. So large tasks are divided into smaller numbers as the user doesn’t get overloaded. A simple rule of thumb: one primary action per screen. Every user who uses the screen that you have designed for the application must support only one action of the real value. Short mobile sessions also mean that you must design an abstraction – allow users to save the state and then re-engage with an application.
3. Make the Navigation Self-Illustrated
Know your user and design to support the user’s core needs. Use easy-to-use functions that are intuitive in other popular apps in your category with a simple series. Keep these functions clearly on the surface and make it clear and intuitive. Navigation should help in finding these functions. Good navigation is like an invisible hand that guides the user through their journey. After all, if the people cannot find it, then the coolest feature or the most amazing stuff is getting futile
4. Create Amazing First Impression
No wonder the first impression always creates the last impression for anyone. Like a person, your mobile app also doesn’t get another chance. There is only one chance to impress someone to become a user because if you are disappointed for the first time, you can bet (with 80% confidence) you won’t come back. Onboarding should not be standard or disrupted, instead, it should be user-friendly. Think about Onboarding to create an entry path for people to use the app. It includes many different techniques to engage users for the first time, but it should only be manipulated if it’s really very important. The trick with onboarding is to show what users need to understand to get started—nothing more, nothing less. If you’ll keep onboarding basic and simple, you’ll directly get to know the rise in usage.
5. Align with Device Assemblies
When you are creating your app for Android / iOS, do not carry themed UI elements from other platforms and do not copy their distinctive behaviors. Because if you duplicate elements from one platform to another, you are at risk involved with user experience and conversion. Input fields, switches, checkboxes and other functional components should be given the original feel. You should use as many as original elements so that people know how to utilize it, and trust your app with their sensitive data.
6. Design Finger Friendly Tap-Targets
Small touch targets are hard to hit when compared to a larger competition when you’re designing mobile interfaces, expand your goals so that it is easy for users to tap. Make 7 to 10 mm size controls so that they can be tapped accurately with a finger. The size of such a button allows the user to fit closely within the target’s finger. The target edges will appear when a user taps it.
7. Design Controls based on Hand Position
Hand positions and grip should affect the placement of controls on mobile app design. It is important to place high-level objectives and frequently used controls within thumb reach. In the following figure, the diagram that appears on a mobile phone screen is approximately the access chart, in which the colors indicate that the user can reach the areas with a thumb to interact on the screen. Green indicates the area that a user can easily reach; Yellow indicates an area that needs height, And red indicates the area for which users need to hold the device.
8. Create a Seamless Experience
Users can use your apps on phones, tablets, or desktops, and when users are affiliated with the app through a special device, they consider as one of the many interactions that make their entire user experience with the app. Users often don’t complete their activity at a single meeting or through a single device, so apps have a competitive advantage for users who allow them to switch tasks while completing tasks.
9. Use Subtle Animations and Micrometers
User-experience is not just about usability. It’s also about perceptions. Small small things make your user experience truly engaging and memorable. By introducing complex details like animated feedbacks, animated micro-interactions, or in-app sounds in design, you can make users feel like they are communicating with something that has a good personage. And exhibiting personality in your website, app, or brand can be a very effective way for your audience to empathize with you.
10. Focus on the Readable
When compared to desktops, mobile devices have relatively few screens, which means that they have to adjust lot of information on a small UI. You might have a fascination to squeeze everything down in attempt to provide as much details as possible, but you should hold that temptation. But keep in mind, that text content should be readable. Thumb rule for mobile: Text should be at least 11 points so that it should be readable at special viewing distance without zooming.
11. Do not disturb your users
No one really wants to be disrupted, for something worthless, when they’re in the middle of something important. Avoid preventing users from asking to rate your app, instead of waiting for them to download, wait for the repeater users to rate the app as to be more likely to provide a better feedback
12. Refine your design based on User Testing
The mobile application design looks better when viewed on a mobile digital screen but almost doesn’t work even half when used on actual mobile devices. Even when put into the real world, the most thought-out UX will contain some really unseen flaws. So it’s very important to test your app with real users on various devices (iOS mobile & Android mobile). You should ask actual users to complete routine tasks, so as to see how well the design really works. Treat your app as a constantly evolving entity, using analytics data and continuously improving the experience.