The most important thing to keep in mind when designing a mobile app
is to make sure it’s both useful and intuitive for your users. If the app is
not useful, it has no practical value. At the same time, if the app is useful
but requires a lot of time and effort, people won’t bother learning how to use
it. Good visual design
addresses both moments: It has a clear focus on key users’ goals and removes
all obstacles from their way by bringing clarity into user interface. But
creating good design is not an easy task. In order to help you create really
great mobile user experience we’ve prepared these 12 UX design principles.
1. De-clutter your user interface
You need to focus on delivering messages in
a clear and concise manner, so try to keep the UI as “invisible” as you can—focus
on the essential content.
2. Design for interruption
The critical flow should be crystal clear
for the user, so break down larger tasks into smaller ones so as not to
overload the user. A simple rule of thumb: one primary action per screen. Short
mobile sessions also mean that you must design for interruptions—allow users to
save state and re-engage with an app later.
3. Make navigation self-evident
Use easily recognizable functions that are
inherent in other well-known apps in your category together with simpler
layouts. Good navigation should feel like an invisible hand that guides the
user along their journey. After all, even the coolest feature or the most
compelling content is useless if people can’t find it.
4. Making a great first impression
It’s no surprise that a first impression is
a big deal for mobile app. Just like a person, your mobile app doesn’t get a
second chance. The trick with onboarding is to show just what users need to
know to get started—nothing more, nothing less. If you’ll keep onboarding light
and simple, you’ll see an increase in usage.
5. Align with device conventions
As you build your app for Android/iOS,
don’t carry over themed UI elements from other platforms and don’t mimic their
specific behaviors. Input fields, check boxes, switches and other functional
components should give a native feel. You should use the native components as
much as possible, so that people know how to use them, and trust your app with
their sensitive data.
6. Design finger-friendly tap-targets
When you’re designing mobile interfaces,
it’s best to make your targets big enough so that they’re easy for users to
tap. Create controls that are 7 to 10 mm in size so they can be accurately
tapped with a finger. The edges of the target should be visible when the user
taps it.
7. Design controls based on hand position
Hand positions and grip should influence
the placement of controls on a mobile design. It’s important to place top-level
destinations and frequently-used controls within the thumb’s reach
8. Create a seamless experience
Users can use your apps on a phone, on a
tablet, or on a desktop, and when users engage with the app through a specific
device, they see it as one of the many interactions that make up their overall
user experience with the app. A seamless user experience—regardless of
device—is one of the most important requirements for a usable cross-device
experience.
9.Use subtle animation and micro-interactions
By injecting subtle details—like animated
microinteractions, animated feedbacks, or in-app sounds—into design, you can
make users feel like they are interacting with something that’s has a
personality. And showing personality in your app, website, or brand can be a
very powerful way for your audience to empathize with you.
10. Focus on readability
Keep in mind, that text content should be
legible. A rule of thumb for mobile: Text should be at least 11 points so it’s
legible at a typical viewing distance without zooming.
11. Don’t interrupt your users
Avoid interrupting users by asking them to
rate your app if they’ve only recently downloaded it. Instead, wait until they
prove to be repeat users and they’ll be more likely to rate your app and
provide more informed feedback.
12. Refine your design based on user testing
Even the most thought-out UX will
ultimately contain some unseen flaw when put into the real world. That’s why
it’s so important to test your app with real users on a variety of mobile
device. Treat your app as a continuously evolving entity, using data from
analytics and user feedback to constantly improve the experience.
Source: Adobe
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