Who would’ve thought 20 years ago that we’d be doing everything on our phones? From sending emails to talking to people on other continents and checking world news, smartphones play an integral part in our lives now, and it’s hard to imagine where we’d be without them. Yet, behind those fancy apps and shiny phones, there are a lot of people who are hard at work, and the field of mobile app development is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. It’s not an easy one to get into though, and there are a lot of essentials you’ll need to keep in mind when it comes to mobile app UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) design.
Connecting to the user
While this one is more related to UX, it also plays into UI. The former is literally the user experience, and how they feel before, during, and after using the app. This is why it’s crucial for developers to create an app that can connect to users on a personal level, which is how you guarantee they’ll spend time on the app – the ultimate purpose of UX. Developers should be well aware of the user’s needs and behavior based on previous research, and that way they can create the perfect UI and UX that will ensure that the people who do use the app will enjoy a fruitful, seamless experience.
Trial and error
To create the optimum user experience and interface, you’ll need to spend a lot of time trying different things to see what the end product looks like. It’s definitely not something you can do overnight, and a lot of trial and error is involved. If you use an iphone mockup or that of any other device, you can test your design and see what the final interface and experience look like. By doing that, you can ensure that all issues are handled before the app sees the light of day.
Keep things simple
Nobody likes to spend time on an app feeling confused and not sure what to do. If that happens, then your UI has a problem and your UX will ultimately be poor as well. It’s important that you keep things simple, whether it’s with your text, visuals, or any other element of the app. That way, people can navigate seamlessly and enjoy a good experience with your app, which means your UI/UX design is good.
Use familiar elements
While innovation is always welcome, it shouldn’t play in your UI/UX design. People like to see familiar elements in the navigation and overall experience with the app, especially if they’re using it for the first time. It makes their lives much simpler, and they can easily navigate without having to spend too much time figuring out your unfamiliar interface.
The most essential aspect of your UI/UX design is giving people what they want. If your users get what they want, they’ll have a good experience on the app, and they will spend more time with it, which is what you aim for. If people need familiarity, give it to them, and they definitely want speed, so always make sure that the app is quite responsive – because that one can really be a deal-breaker.