Get Your UX On! Your Comprehensive Guide to Mobile App Design

The Internet has become one of the most powerful tools that entrepreneurs can take advantage of. In fact, there are nearly 4 billion Internet users as of 2018.

In order to stand out among your competition as an app creator, though, you’re going to have to make sure your user experience is unbeatable.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about attaining stellar mobile application design.

Minimize Loading Time

With things like Google providing information to use within a fraction of a second, our attention spans are at an all-time low. 

If your loading times are over even a few seconds, chances are your users may not wait around until your app is ready to use. Unfortunately for many developers, it’s not always possible to have a mobile application load instantly.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to accommodate this. Some of them include:

• Displaying high-quality images that help ease the loading process for the user
• Prioritizing loading content that’s visible before the user scrolls in order to keep their attention
• Progress bars to help users get through the waiting process

There are other (more technical ways) of decreasing loading time, but those are a few easy fixes if you find your app’s performance is a bit sluggish.

Make It Simple to Subscribe

The easier something is, the more likely it is that someone will do it. If your subscription form has ten fields for users to fill out or asks for too much personal information, it may be off-putting toward users.

A much better idea is to keep your subscription process as simple as possible. This is achieved by collecting only the information that you need. In many cases, this could be as little as an email.

If you do need more personal information, however, it’s comforting to users to tell them why you’re collecting it. If your app provides location services that help users interact with your community, then that would be a valid reason to ask for a ZIP code or address.

It’s also important to avoid throwing the signup form in the user’s face the moment they open your application. Instead, it’s best to display it after a certain period of time or when they attempt to exit.

Maintain Color Consistency

Aesthetics play a huge role in how enjoyable an app is to use. If colors are clashing all over the place, it will be unpleasant for the user to look at and could even mentally fatigue them.

The colors your app incorporates also need to be consistent throughout its entirety. Having a cool, calm atmosphere for most of your app and then a bright, warm vibe on a random page throws everything off.

In general, you should base the total number of colors in your palette on the diversity of your audience. If you’re targeting a wide variety of people, more diversity in your colors will help you grab their attention.

For more narrow audiences, fewer colors are a better option. For more information on how color can be used in your app’s design, check out this article.

Size Matters – Especially for Buttons

Like color, this is another attribute that not many people think about but that can make or break the app’s enjoyability.

If your app’s buttons are too small, users may have a hard time getting them to function. Even worse, the may find themselves pressing multiple buttons at once.

In contrast, buttons that are too large can get in the way of the app’s actual design.

When in doubt about how large or small to make the button, give users the option to resize them on their own. This will allow people of all sizes to use your application comfortably.

Want to design an app or app buttons properly, but aren’t sure what steps to take? This guide has everything you need to know about becoming an app creator.

Offer a Search Option

As previously mentioned, people want information instantly. If your users have to scroll through your app for seconds (or even minutes) at a time in order to find what they’re looking for, they may stop using it altogether.

The search box (or icon) should always be at the top of the screen, either centered or in the corner. It’s also best to make sure that it scrolls with the user when they do so that they can always access it.

During the actual search, having the form autocomplete for popular queries will help users both save time and find what they’re looking for. 

Font Matters, Too

Just like how you need to choose the appropriate colors for your site, you’ll need to incorporate a font that meshes well with your content.

For example, if your app is geared toward offering users home workout ideas and tutorials, a flowery font isn’t going to fit well (and may even turn some users away).

It’s also important to not sacrifice legibility for appearance.

Lastly, the spacing between lines plays a role in user experience and should also be prioritized.

Creating Captivating Mobile Application Design Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about mobile application design in mind, you’ll be well on your way to making sure your users enjoy every moment they use your app.

Want to learn more about what you need to keep in mind as an app developer? This article has plenty of useful information.