Have you ever wondered why some mobile apps become runaway successes while others fizzle out? The answer often lies in their design. Even if your app has all the functionality users need, a poor design can turn them off and drive them to your competitors. In fact, according to a survey by Clutch, almost half of mobile app users consider design to be the most important feature of an app.
While catering custom mobile app development services to the clients, we generally come across different queries from the clients. Our clients usually ask us about the prime factors that make any custom software or mobile apps a successful venture in the market.
Well, there is no such aspect of custom software development that can ensure its success among users, but there are some guidelines that can help create product success. For some clients, it is the features of the custom software and mobile apps that decide their destiny in terms of user’s acceptance and revenue generation.
But, there are many examples even from well renowned software development companies that have failed the user’s expectations in terms of offering the required features to the software or the application.
Among the possible reasons one important is that these software or the mobile apps failed to deliver flawless user interface (UI) experience. To put it simply, we can say that the designs of those IT solutions were not user-friendly.
So, the point of reference for every custom mobile app development company is to design software and app solutions having extraordinary UI. Additionally, the features of the app need to be impeccable enough to draw the client’s attention towards the services.
In the nutshell, we can say that excellent UI plays a crucial role in the success of custom application mobile app development services to a great extent.
So, let’s find out what it needs for designing awesome custom software/mobile apps user interface that can result in great experience.
Embrace the Tried and True
When it comes to creating a successful mobile app UI design, consistency is key. Users are drawn to apps that feel familiar and intuitive, so it’s important to stick with design elements and patterns that have proven effective.
By utilizing established design patterns, such as clear navigation menus and easily recognizable icons, you can help users feel more comfortable and confident in using your app. Don’t be afraid to borrow from successful apps in your industry or niche, but be sure to put your own unique spin on things to stand out.
Grids: The Secret Weapon for Clean and Consistent
Using a grid system is a fundamental principle of graphic design, and it’s no different when it comes to designing mobile apps. A grid provides a framework for your design, allowing you to create a clean and consistent layout that is easy to navigate and visually appealing.
When designing on a grid, you can align and space elements with precision, ensuring that your app looks polished and professional. This can also help with responsive design, ensuring that your app looks great on all devices and screen sizes.
Develop easy-to-understand Wireframes
Another common mistake that UI designers commit is not sketching the wireframe of the product in advance. Jumping directly to the design may lead to a bunch of flaws in the final UI. Wireframe works as a master plan for the mobile app developers while they work on the UI. Wireframes help designers in creating perfect designs without any distraction.
Moreover, wireframes help designers to remember the step-by-step proceeding of the designing process. So, for effective UI designing one must work on wireframe before switching to designing part.
4. Selection of Color
Apart from wireframes, colors make a significant difference in the quality of the IT solutions especially in the case of mobile apps. A good UI designer must have good color choice that can help in making a product look more appealing to the users.
Sense of choosing the right colors for respective product develops with time and experience. So, UI designers must keep working hard on their UI designing skills to improve and to enhance their experience.
5. Blend Useful and Intuitive Experiences
Designing a mobile app isn’t just about making it look good, it’s also about making it easy and intuitive to use. A user should be able to open your app and immediately understand how to navigate it without any confusion.
One way to achieve this is by blending useful and intuitive experiences. This means that the app’s design should reflect its purpose and the user’s needs. For example, if you’re creating a food delivery app, the design should prioritize making it easy to find restaurants and place orders. The user should be able to quickly access the search function and the ordering process should be straightforward and streamlined.
6. Less is More
We know, simplicity is key and users have little patience for apps that are cluttered or difficult to navigate. By cutting out the clutter and streamlining the user experience, you can create an app that is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.
One way to achieve this is by focusing on the most important features and information and removing anything that’s unnecessary. This not only makes your app look more polished, but also helps users focus on what matters most.
Another way to reduce clutter is to use clear and concise language throughout your app. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may confuse or intimidate users. Instead, use simple and straightforward language that is easy to understand.
7. Find Your Way with Ease
With a clear and intuitive navigation, users can access all app features without feeling overwhelmed by too many options. A simple labeling system can make all the difference, as can incorporating user-friendly gestures like swiping and tapping. By providing an efficient and seamless navigation experience, users are more likely to engage with your app and find what they need quickly. Ultimately, a well-designed navigation system can lead to a more positive user experience, helping your app stand out from the competition.
8. Design for Thumbs
Mobile devices are primarily used on the go, which makes it essential to design for one-handed operation. Users should be able to access all the important features and content of an app without having to use both hands. By designing with thumbs in mind, you can create an interface that is both intuitive and convenient.
To achieve this, it’s important to place the most frequently used features within easy reach of the user’s thumbs. This means designing the app’s layout and navigation in a way that is optimized for one-handed operation. You can also consider incorporating gestures and shortcuts that allow users to access features with a single thumb movement.
9. Need for Speed
The appearance of speed can greatly impact the user experience. Studies show that users expect apps to load quickly and respond immediately to their actions. Even a delay of just a few seconds can lead to frustration and decreased engagement.
To give the appearance of speed, designers can use various techniques such as animations, transitions, and loading indicators. Animations and transitions can make the app feel more responsive and engaging, while loading indicators reassure users that their actions are being processed.
10. Get Notified Right
Notifications can make or break the user experience in a mobile app. If they are poorly timed or irrelevant, they can annoy users and lead to uninstalls. On the other hand, well-crafted notifications can enhance the user experience and keep users engaged with the app.
To create effective notifications, it’s important to think carefully about the timing and content of each message. Notifications should be relevant to the user’s interests and actions within the app. They should also be timely, without being too frequent or intrusive.
11. Establish Security from the Get-Go
Incorporating trust and security features into your mobile app design is crucial for building a loyal user base. Mobile apps often deal with sensitive user data, which makes it imperative to prioritize security measures.
To enhance security, using encryption to protect user data both in transit and at rest is recommended. Further security can be implemented through two-factor authentication and frequent security updates.
Trustworthiness is equally important, and this can be accomplished through transparent privacy policies and clear communication with users regarding data usage. Displaying trust badges from reputable security companies can also help establish credibility.
12. Bring Your App to Life
Animations and micro-interactions can add a delightful touch to your app and make the user experience more engaging and interactive. Animations can be used to visually communicate changes in state or progress, while micro-interactions allow users to interact with the app in small, meaningful ways.
One effective way to incorporate animations is through the use of loading screens, where creative animations can entertain users while they wait for content to load. Animations can also be used to guide the user’s attention to specific elements on the screen, such as highlighting a button or indicating a change in state.
Micro-interactions can take many forms, such as small animations triggered by user actions or playful feedback for completing a task. For example, a “like” animation that pops up when the user taps a heart icon or a subtle vibration when a message is sent can create a more enjoyable user experience.
13. Timing is Key
Knowing when to present users with information, prompts, or notifications can greatly impact their overall experience and engagement with your app. Acting “just in time” means delivering information at the right moment to maximize its impact.
One example of just-in-time design is the use of contextual prompts. These are prompts that are triggered by specific user actions or behaviors, such as a reminder to rate the app after a user has completed a task. By presenting the prompt at the right moment, the user is more likely to engage with it and provide valuable feedback.
14. Reveal or Conceal
The option to hide or show passwords is a small yet powerful feature in mobile app design. By giving users the ability to toggle between a hidden password and a visible one, you can enhance the user experience and improve security.
When users sign up or log in to an app, they typically have to enter their password. By default, the password is often hidden with asterisks or dots. However, including a small “eye” icon next to the password field allows users to toggle between the hidden and visible password. This gives users the ability to ensure they are typing their password correctly, which can help reduce frustration and errors.
15. Maximize User Experience with Large Touch Areas
Designing for mobile devices requires considering the limitations of the platform, including small screen sizes and touch-based interactions. One way to improve the user experience is to make sure that touch targets are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger.
Having large touch areas improves usability by reducing the chance of accidental clicks and making it easier for users with larger fingers or impaired motor skills to navigate the app. According to Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, the minimum recommended touch target size is 44 points (or 44 pixels), with a 5-point buffer zone around the target.
Incorporating large touch targets into your app design can be achieved through various means, such as using large buttons and spacing them out enough to avoid overlap. Additionally, incorporating haptic feedback or visual cues when a button is tapped can improve the user’s sense of control and satisfaction.
16. Design Never Stops
Design is not a one-and-done process. It requires ongoing attention and updates to keep up with evolving user needs and trends. Updating your app’s design can improve user engagement, increase retention rates, and ultimately drive business growth.
Regularly updating your app’s design can also help you stay ahead of the competition. By incorporating the latest design trends and technologies, you can create a cutting-edge app that stands out from the crowd.
Additionally, user feedback should be incorporated into your design updates. By listening to user feedback and incorporating their suggestions, you can create an app that better meets their needs and expectations.
In the conclusion
While the above-illustrated points can help exceptionally in designing a perfect UI for a project, it is always suggested to meet clients personally to know their requirements.
The requirements are sure to differ depending upon the specific needs of the project and therefore, it is always suggested to have an elaborate discussion with the clients to know their preferences.
An excellent product UI can make all the difference in the success of the project. This makes it important for the UI developers to have a good understanding of the trends that are prevailing in the industry. This is one of the sure-shot ways of designing custom mobile app development solutions for the clients.
In case, the clients are happy with your services, they will for sure recommend your web development services to others.
We hope this blog post will help budding and experienced UI designers with their professional skills. For more updates and news stay tuned to our official blog section.
Finoit Technologies (I) Pvt. Ltd is an ace software and mobile apps design and development company. For more information related to custom software & mobile apps design and development services, write to us at [email protected]
