Friday 10 June 2016

Designing Mobile Apps, Where to Start?


Every year mobile consumers are more and more demanding. The possibilities of mobile devices are constantly growing: for example, 3G was replaced by 4G that provides higher connection speeds and lower energy consumption.

The use of applications without interrupting daily affairs became a commonplace. According to the statistics, an average user spends 2.5 hours per day viewing his mobile gadgets, and about 75% of this time he spends in mobile applications. At the same time, a new generation of devices with large screen sizes and resolutions is a challenge for developers.

A company which has no high-quality mobile application will likely to lose the competition. Thus, as a business owner, you have to keep the attention of the consumer for as long as possible and lead him to purchase or order.

Design Contest professionals have recently discussed the problem of mobile apps design. We found that to design the best mobile application, you need to watch out for future trends and, of course, take into account the general rules and the needs of the particular audience: that is, the design of a mobile app. for students is likely to be completely different from apps. made for housewives. Read more details and tips below.

#1 Focus on UX

8 out of 10 users have a Smartphone; 1 out of 10 has a wearable device. Mobile devices will push the desktop ones out of the game in the next few years. UX is very important for all businesses, marketers and designers to highlight their products on the market.

There is also a tendency to create narrowly-focused applications instead of ones with frequent but minor updates. Simple navigation and advertising in applications are trends for the nearest future. Analytical data will play an important role as well since intuitiveness is a powerful advantage for any application.

Security remains one of the most difficult aspects for mobile designers and developers. That is why you have to pay a lot of attention to authorization algorithm in order to prevent damage from intruders.

#2 Blurred Backgrounds

It was one of the main web design trends in 2015, and it has some changes to grow in mobile applications. Such background allows designers to abandon complex lurid designs and highlight the call to action button that generates conversions for your business. The blurred background is perfectly suited to visually highlight the text and beautify the overall picture. Soft and unobtrusive shades are the best.

#3 the Simpler – the Better

Users adore websites with easy navigation. Visually pleasing mobile applications with clear fonts and intuitive interface are very popular among users as well. Pull-down menus are much more convenient than bright or flashy elements.

Your task is to make sure users can easily find the content, information or service they are looking for. Simple navigation provides smooth, trouble-free, relaxing, and user-friendly experience. Menus and navigation should have a professional appearance, being as simple and understandable as possible.

#4 Innovative Scrolling

Given the increase in the frequency of use of bright colors, large images, and large bright fonts, you may stand out in another way, namely by using a convenient scrolling. Users get annoyed when they have to spend too much time on clicks; convenient scroll simplifies navigation and increases the visual appeal of your mobile app.

#5 Large and Bold Fonts

First mobile applications consisted primarily of text due to the slow connection speed. Many things got changed, but not the trend of large and not overloaded texts that are very convenient for perception: a user can gather the necessary information at a glance.

Although thin fonts look impressive on high-resolution screens, large, bold and colourful fonts can make your application memorable and unique. A well-thought set of fonts can bring to life even the most mediocre application.  Also, designers actively use monochrome background combined with white font and contrasting elements.

#6 Simple Color Gamuts

Modern users prefer a mixture of gentle and simple colors. However, it makes sense to use the colors of your brand to convey its value. Red, neon and bright green popular a few years ago are now out of date – now designers choose soft color schemes and calm warm colors.

#7 User Interface Based on Context

An application depending on the context is able to determine the location of the user, his activity, and time and how these factors may affect the user's actions. For example, such applications can identify nearest shops, gas stations, etc.

#8 3D Design and Design for Large Screens

In previous years, major brands such as Apple and Microsoft used flat design. However, 3D is not dead – it may come back and become even stronger than before. It gives feelings of life and energy.

Smart phones are becoming bigger and bigger, and there's even a new type of gadget – phablets – a hybrid of a smart phone and a tablet. As a designer of the mobile app, you have to account the way users hold their devices: 10% of users are left-handed, so interactive elements should be available from any side of the screen. Besides, it is necessary to choose the optimum size of these elements.

#9 Social Buttons

50% of consumers follow the recommendations given in social networks. Your application must be integrated social networks to allow the user to log in by using his favorite platform.

#10 Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Instagram is in its heyday at the moment. This application has broken several records of popularity, so that many other applications started to copy it features. I don't call you for blind copying but learning from the best is worth it.

#11 Swipe Navigation

Smart phones are evolving, representing both new opportunities and new challenges for developers. For example, users of mobile devices can "pull" the screen to zoom the content and use "swipe" to navigate. Such control is more natural and comfortable for the fingers than push. Perhaps the most striking example of this type of interaction is Tinder in which users swipe to the right to if they like the profile, and to the left – if they do not.

#12 Considering Wearable Devices

As said, mobile devices become bigger and bigger, and some of them no longer fit the pocket. This fact encouraged companies to create portable always-at-hand devices with small screens. Apple Watch is the greatest confirmation of the trend. In this case, color, contrast, and typography are particularly important and should adapt to the user's current location and requirements.

#13 Multilayered Layouts

Multi layer layouts combine flat design, geometric forms, and laws of the physical world. The design simulates the way objects move and interact in reality by means of light and shade. Objects moved by the user on the screen cast shadows and seem volumetric / moveable. As for Flat, it makes pictures even more stylish.

Well, hope the listed tips will make things a little bit easier for you. Feel free to share your experience in app design in comments.

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