10 app design tips

Designing a great app can be a challenge, whether you’re just starting our or one of those app developers that’s been developing for years. Knowing the latest trends, the best ways to market and get your apps to make money takes time, but hopefully, these 10 design tips should ensure you’re on the right track to designing a great mobile app.

Keep the app focused

A good mobile app should be able to do a certain thing in a perfect way. As a result, a developer should be able to state clearly what the app can do in a single sentence without applying any “ands.” Overcomplicating your app will make it more difficult for you to develop and more difficult for a user to get to grips with. Keep it simple.

Get Navigation Right (and that pesky back button)

The app you develop should be able to use the back button to navigate through the app in a consistent manner and not cause frustration. The developer should use a back button that sits where all back buttons should be – on the top left-hand corner for convenient use.

Keyboards matter

The app designer should consider the look of the screen the moment the on-screen keyboard is active. This should be designed in a manner that the user has sufficient on-screen context so that they can easily identify what they are doing even when the on-screen keyboard is off.

So do placeholders

Think through Placeholders. If the app has less data input fields, placeholders in the field are sufficient and make the app appear cleaner. On the other hand, an app that has more data input fields, placeholders as an alternative to field labels confuses the user.

Test New Features

Due to the revolution in today’s’ technology in web apps, usually, beneficial features are added to a sub-menu. In mobile apps, however, some features can make the interface appear disorderly and challenging to navigate. Testing what works and what doesn’t will ensure you understand how to optimise the user experience.

Place Tabs in the Right Location

The main point on this tip is that if the app depends on a tab concept as the main navigation to the primary topic areas of the app, the designer will need to place them where the user can easily access them, else they might miss out on content that should be easy to find.

Consider the size of the buttons

The buttons of the app should be designed to be big enough to allow ease use. The buttons of the app can be tested by installing the app in a smaller phone to ensure that it is comfortable to use. If not, make the buttons a little larger- but don’t eclipse the screen.

Consider the Location of Buttons

The bottom half of a smartphone being held by a user can be easily accessed by the use of the thumb finger. Users who use the right hand can reach the bottom right section of the phone at ease and left-handed the opposite side. This is a point that ought to be considered if the app is intended to be used with one hand.

Check the Image Resolution

When designing an app, app developers should consider the resolution of the smartphones to be installed on as devices with low resolutions may make the app appear grainy and fuzzy.

Get help

If you’re struggling to any or all of the above when developing your app, you should certainly consider getting some help. There are great app development companies out there that can really help you to get what you want out of your app.

When these tips are strictly adhered to, the app has a much better chance of reaching the target audience, and you’re likely to see more success if you consider these 10 handy hints.