Mobile Archives - Designerly https://designerly.com/discover-design-tech/mobile/ Digital Design + Marketing Magazine Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:21:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://i0.wp.com/designerly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/11/cropped-favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Mobile Archives - Designerly https://designerly.com/discover-design-tech/mobile/ 32 32 186359583 How to Impress Users with Your Dashboard Mobile Design https://designerly.com/dashboard-mobile-design/ https://designerly.com/dashboard-mobile-design/#respond Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:40:14 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=16682

Your dashboard’s design elements should be understandable at a glance, look visually appealing, and fit within the bounds of a mobile device’s screen. Making everything work together can feel challenging, but it’s much easier when you have help. Here’s how you can elevate your dashboard with mobile design tips. 1. Understand Your Objectives Before creating…

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Your dashboard’s design elements should be understandable at a glance, look visually appealing, and fit within the bounds of a mobile device’s screen. Making everything work together can feel challenging, but it’s much easier when you have help. Here’s how you can elevate your dashboard with mobile design tips.

1. Understand Your Objectives

Before creating your dashboard’s mobile design, you need to determine your objectives. The purpose of data aggregation and visualization determines the dashboard’s overall appearance. First, you must decide if yours is operational or analytical. 

An operational dashboard focuses on quickly delivering as much relevant information as possible. For example, if you were displaying information on stocks or traffic, you’d want the UI to be simple and easy to understand because the situations are time-sensitive.

On the other hand, an analytical dashboard provides an overview of the most critical information available. This kind includes things like marketing trends or key performance indicators. The data you display and its purpose will determine which type you should use. Consider who your audience will be and how they need to be able to view it.

2. Prioritize Your Data

A mobile user should be able to view everything important right when they open the dashboard. Since you likely can’t fit everything on the first screen, you must choose only relevant information and prioritize your findings. Everything should have a clear purpose and connect to your objective.

For example, if you were designing your dashboard to display audience statistics, it would be more important to include demographic data over the number of premium subscriptions they’ve bought. Even if the information seems important to you, it might not be relevant to the dashboard or your audience’s objectives.

Consider what’s most important to your users, then incorporate it. Your aim shouldn’t be just to include the most critical data right away since everything should connect. Think about how everything relates to each other before you settle on something.

3. Choose Relevant Visuals

There are dozens of kinds of tables, charts, and graphs, so you need to determine which fits best in a dashboard with a mobile design. For example, while a pie chart and bar graph could both display demographic data, the first option is the clear choice. On top of being more visually appealing, it’s much easier to read.

However, you’re not bound to charts and graphs. Although they are a great way to deliver information, sometimes simplicity is key. For instance, if you had a statistic as simple as new users, you could just display the number on its own. 

You can get as creative as you want as long as your objective and design elements remain clear. That being said, it’s best to stick to the classic mobile design rules. Keep things simple, flat, and easily translatable. Users should be able to instantly recognize what your graphics mean and how to read them.

4. Determine the Layout

When making a dashboard with a mobile design focus, the right layout is critical. It’s one of the most essential parts because it determines many other visual decisions. Even after determining which data you’ll prioritize, you must still choose how to display everything. 

Most people block each statistic into separate spaces to make things easier to navigate and read. While you could technically put anything anywhere, your dashboard will be much more effective if it is cohesive. Users should be able to see the relationship between data points at a glance. 

The size and spacing of each design element affect how users view and interpret the data. Since visual hierarchy simplifies navigation and information absorption, it’s crucial to consider it when constructing your dashboard’s layout. The best approach is to draw up multiple layouts to compare which ones work best.

5. Figure out Your Design

The color, contrast, and saturation of your dashboard in a mobile design can make or break it. Unappealing visuals can throw users off, even if you have a solid layout and easy-to-understand statistics. Try to make your design elements look simple and appealing.

The regular graphic design rules bend at this point since you’re dealing with data visualization. While a purple monochromatic chart may look great, it makes the information more confusing to the user. You have to use unique colors that contrast well so they can immediately see the distinction between data points.

Design elements and graphs should be consistent with one another. If everything looks visually connected, the user understands the UI better and can adapt faster. For example, if you expand a chart when they tap on it, they’ll expect other things to behave the same way. It’s important to understand their expectation and design your dashboard accordingly.

6. Incorporate White Space

Although it’s good to show the user as much relevant information as possible when they first open the dashboard, filling all of the available room clutters it. Even if you have white space between each design element, the charts and graphs can get confusing to interpret if they don’t have enough.

Make sure you include plenty of empty space throughout your dashboard. Finding the best balance on mobile can be challenging when you have so much information to display, but it’s necessary. Even if you can’t fit everything where you want it, the user won’t mind scrolling down to see the rest.

7. Include Supporting Design Elements

Tooltips display relevant information to help users. If you include them in your dashboard’s mobile design, they can elevate it. The ability to have hidden clarifying details is vital when you’re working with limited space. Since they only appear when a user interacts with something directly, they’re a fantastic workaround to clutter and blocking. 

Although dashboards are for showing the maximum amount of relevant information as quickly as possible, some users might want to immerse themselves more. For this reason, it’s a good idea to include tooltips to give them the option.

Additionally, it’s wise to include small, subtle graphics to help the user understand the visuals better. While a bar graph counting new customers normally takes a second to interpret, a small arrow representing gains or losses makes it understandable at a glance. Feel free to experiment with icons, animations, and graphics until you find something useful.

8. Implement Tactile Feedback

As of 2021, over 63% of people use their mobile devices to go online. Most have grown to expect standard features like tactile feedback, meaning you should implement it in your mobile design. You can integrate it with tooltips for a more engaging experience.

Even if you don’t want to create custom visuals or animations, you can still slightly darken what they engage with or vibrate their device. If they know the dashboard recognizes their input, they’ll feel much more involved. This feature aims to make the user feel like their interactions matter and they’re being heard.

No matter what approach you take, every button or interactable design element should be large enough so the user can read it properly. Additionally, their placement should reflect how mobile focuses on actions like swiping and tapping.

Enhance Your Dashboard Design

A dashboard has to simplify complex information to be easily understandable by everyone. It’s a big ask, but it gets much easier once you know the right tips and tricks. People will appreciate additions like tooltips or tactile feedback since they improve the user experience.

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5 Best Platforms to Create Apps for Free https://designerly.com/create-apps-for-free/ https://designerly.com/create-apps-for-free/#respond Sat, 16 Sep 2023 18:29:40 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=16598

As a small business, it is essential to create apps for free with little to no hassle. It seemed an impossible feat until now. Before, you had to hire a developer skilled at coding. They needed to work around your preferences and determine a strategy to meet you and your audience’s needs. Additionally, you would…

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As a small business, it is essential to create apps for free with little to no hassle. It seemed an impossible feat until now. Before, you had to hire a developer skilled at coding. They needed to work around your preferences and determine a strategy to meet you and your audience’s needs. Additionally, you would have to wait weeks or even months before the final product was complete. Building a mobile app took time, precision and money. 

However, all of that is irrelevant today, as you can now create apps without code and with tight budgets. Coding is a complex task within itself — however, these platforms allow you to create custom-made apps with quick-start templates and drag-and-drop functionality.

1. Appy Pie

Appy Pie is one of the most popular app builders among developers. It’s a cloud-based, no-code development platform that allows you to create mobile apps without coding knowledge. 

One of the reasons users love Appy Pie is because of its drag-and-drop functionality. A feature like this in your app-building platform makes product creation easy and intuitive.

Appy Pie also features lots of templates, so you have a library of pre-built apps ready to help you get started in your app creation journey. Just choose a template that aligns with your business’s objectives and customize it to your liking. 

Once you’ve finished building your app, you have various publishing platforms, including Google Play and Apple. So, you have opportunities to reach a wide audience from these top app stores.

Key Features of ApplyPie:

  • Drag-and-drop design interface
  • Variety of app templates
  • Monetization options
  • Real-time app updates
  • Integrated analytics 

2. BuildFire

BuildFire makes mobile app creation easy with its versatile and scalable platform. Whether or not you know all about coding, this app creator caters to your needs. You can either create your new app with its drag-and-drop interface or build it just the way you like using your developer skills. With this kind of flexibility, you can create something that easily suits your needs. 

BuildFire also has over 150 plugins in its marketplace to add to your app’s functionality. So you can build one with the top integrations for more powerful creations. 

Moreover, BuildFire lets you monetize your platform in any way you want. You can enable in-app subscription plans or sell physical products through your Shopify store. It also allows you to send custom notifications to push users through every step of their journey.

Key Features of BuildFire:

  • Plug-and-play functionality
  • High customization through coding integration.
  • Real-time preview
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Push notifications
  • E-commerce integration

3. Adalo

Adalo is the perfect app builder for anyone who wants to create their apps for free and pay to publish them. It allows you to create visually stunning and interactive applications without coding requirements. 

What makes Adalo unique is its focus on creating database-driven apps. Users can craft databases from scratch and use its internal builder or third-party integrations like Xano. 

Another part of Adalo is its emphasis on design. When your goal is to build beautiful apps, this platform allows for it. You can easily customize your product through numerous themes, colors, typography and layouts. The more customizable options you have, the better — since you can create something that aligns with your brand and user experience.

Key Features of Adalo:

  • Visual design interface through drag-and-drop actions.
  • Built-in database creation
  • Custom actions
  • Pre-built components marketplace
  • Native and web apps
  • Third-party integrations

4. Google AppSheet

Google AppSheet is another great no-code platform that lets you create apps for free. While it enables you to develop tailor-made apps for your business, one thing that stands out about AppSheet is it lets you build apps using data. AppSheet captures data using barcodes, photos, forms and more, which is useful for making the right app for your audience. This focus on data-first app building ensures your products are relevant and responsive to changes in real-time. 

Another highlight is its workflow automation. You can use bots to automate repetitive tasks through triggers and established workflow rules. If you build more apps than you can count, workflow automation becomes invaluable since it streamlines your development processes.

Key Features of Google AppSheet:

  • Data integration
  • Easy-to-use platform with drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Responsive design
  • Offline access and syncing when reconnected.
  • Custom branding
  • Rich UX components

5. Thunkable

Thunkable has everything you need to create an app for free. This block-based app builder was designed to empower non-developers to develop mobile apps for iOS and Android without code. With its intuitive interface and drag-and-snap functionality, you can easily piece blocks together to define your app. 

Thunkable stands out as a free app builder because of its focus on the user. The company wants a seamless experience building native apps and providing high performance for customers. Yet, if you find yourself having issues developing your app, Thunkable has tons of free learning materials and a large community for questions and tips. 

Pre-built templates are excellent for giving you ideas on how to get started. However, templates can sometimes limit your creativity and prevent your business from reaching its full potential. That’s where Thunkable makes a difference. You can start with a blank slate and build anything you desire without being confined.

Key Features of Thunkable:

  • Drag-and-snap features into place.
  • Live testing
  • Extensive library of UI elements and functionalities
  • Cross-platform development
  • Customizable design
  • Extensions through third-party apps

Create Apps for Free With the Right Platform

Choosing the right app builder is essential for creating the right app that fits well within your budget. While all of these apps are free, some require you to pay for extra capabilities. 

With that in mind, be sure to look at whether you need to create an absolutely free app. You should also choose a platform based on your other needs. For instance, if you need something with easy data integration, then Google AppSheet would be more suitable. Yet, if flexibility and pre-built components are a priority, BuildFire may give you just what you need. 

On the other hand, Thunkable is easy to use and lets you create apps from scratch or start with a template. Whichever functionalities you prefer, list them and choose one you believe is right for you.

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The Best All-in-One Chat Apps for Android, According to Us https://designerly.com/the-best-all-in-one-chat-apps-for-android-according-to-us/ https://designerly.com/the-best-all-in-one-chat-apps-for-android-according-to-us/#respond Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:22:59 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=16083

Over the past ten years, there has been a significant change in how people communicate, with many individuals now preferring different chat apps over phone calls and email. Messengers are now incredibly common and provide a lot more than just a way to send messages. Chat apps for Android offer customers a variety of communication…

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Over the past ten years, there has been a significant change in how people communicate, with many individuals now preferring different chat apps over phone calls and email. Messengers are now incredibly common and provide a lot more than just a way to send messages. Chat apps for Android offer customers a variety of communication features, including video calling, sharing, and instant messaging, to stay in touch with friends and family. Individuals choose chat apps they feel comfortable using and delete others because they use messengers on a daily basis. We created this article to highlight our selection of the top all-in-one Android messaging apps because not all messengers are created equal.

How Can a Messenger Be Effective?

No one wants to wait for their messages to be delivered; otherwise, they would have sent a letter. A good messenger must be quick and trustworthy. Also, if a program frequently breaks, its installation won’t last long. In order to allow users to customize their experience, the app should also be user-friendly, with an easy design and adjustable features.

Features that Every Good Messaging Software Must Have Crisp, Clear Voice and Video Calls

Messages don’t always express intent or feelings. In order for users to communicate with their contacts in real time, a messenger software must provide high-quality voice and video call capabilities. Everyone should be able to make free and simple calls.

Encryption From End-to-End

Another essential component of a secure messenger is end-to-end encryption. It makes sure that nobody else, not even the app’s administrators, is able to see the messages transmitted by the sender and the receiver. Users of the app who might share private or sensitive information are protected by this feature.

Security

Security is yet another crucial component. Two-factor authentication, which asks users to enter an additional code the app sends to their mobile device before accessing their account, should be a part of every messaging service. Users ought to be able to report shady behavior and prevent unwanted contact. Furthermore, blocking hazardous content, malicious links, and phishing efforts safeguards users.

Group Conversations

Users can converse with several contacts at once using group chats. A decent messenger should support a large number of users and have an intuitive interface for forming and maintaining groups. The capability to mute discussions, make polls, and share files with the entire group are other must-have group chat capabilities.

Channels

Like a virtual bulletin board, channels are a terrific way to distribute messages to big audiences. This functionality will be included in a good all-in-one messenger app, enabling users to establish and subscribe to channels of interest. This keeps users abreast of news and events.

To ensure that only the appropriate individuals may participate in the debate, it should also offer capabilities for regulating user access and monitoring conversations. Moderators should also have the ability to publish and control content on the channel.

Integration of Chatbots

User conversations are automated by chatbots, who also give them useful information. For consumers to receive prompt responses to their questions, a good messenger offers smooth chatbot connections. Additionally, it should be able to comprehend natural language and respond to queries from people with precision.

Backup and Synchronization of Data

Any messaging software must have data syncing and backup capabilities so that users may view their messages on many devices and maintain a copy of their discussions in case of data loss. Moreover, the software should offer a means to export discussions, so users may save them and view them later.

Edit and Remove Messages

If users want to correct mistakes or erase messages they don’t want to be viewed, messengers should have an opportunity to do so.

Compatibility Across Platforms

A good messenger app should also be cross-platform compatible. Users can chat with contacts who are using iOS or PC on other platforms. This makes it possible for people to communicate with their loved ones no matter what gadgets they use.

Nandbox Messenger

Story

The same firm that created the nandbox native no-code app builder, nandbox Inc., has released its first invention, the nandbox messenger. They began working on the project in 2015, and the app was released in 2016. The company developed the app to demonstrate the power of its app builder. And they succeeded in developing a capable and cutting-edge free chat app. On the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, the app presently has ratings of 4.1 and 4.6, respectively. The app is also accessible through a web browser.

Significant Qualities

Multiple Profiles

Users of the nandbox Messenger can create several profiles thanks to a special feature. This makes it possible for you to have many profiles for various accounts, making it simple for you to swap between them. Users can upgrade the profile photo and description on their work account, where they communicate with their coworkers, for instance, to make it look more professional.

Integration of Chatbots

Businesses are increasingly using chatbots designed for instant messaging platforms to converse with clients and answer their questions. The ability to create and maintain your bot is one of the numerous capabilities of the Nandbox Messenger API/Bot. Moreover, users may select pre-set options from a menu added by bot builders. Moreover, the bot can be set up to filter and edit pointless communications.

Video and Audio Calls With Excellent Quality

Due to the use of WebRTC technology, which improves voice and video communication, and high bandwidth, which expands connection capacity, the voice and video call quality on the nandbox Messenger is great.

WhatsApp

Story

I’m sure you’ve heard of WhatsApp by now. It was introduced in 2009 and gained popularity right away, amassing 1 billion users by 2016. It was purchased by Facebook in 2014 and has since been included into its app library. It’s accessible on desktop, iOS, and Android.

Significant Qualities

Although not precisely a feature, consumers enjoy that the software is frequently updated with new features in order to remain current and technologically advanced. It demonstrates that the app’s creators pay attention to and value user feedback.

A Modern UI Layout

Whatsapp offers a user interface (UI) that is unique compared to rivals; the company always makes sure the design is up-to-date. It’s not only simple to the eye, but it’s also simple for consumers to understand. WhatsApp introduced its dark mode in 2022 for those who prefer it to the standard style.

Telegram

Story

Since its 2013 release, Telegram has grown to rank among the top messenger services worldwide. It was developed as a WhatsApp substitute, providing a trustworthy and secure messaging service. Its attention to security and privacy as well as its cutting-edge features account for its success.

Significant Qualities

Users can send messages that will automatically disappear after a set amount of time thanks to this distinctive Telegram feature. These transient messages are sent by senders to safeguard their privacy and personal information.

Adaptable Themes

Users can alter the appearance and feel of their app with Telegram’s vast selection of themes, which range from traditional to contemporary. Users can also change the text color, background, and font size.

Bots

Users can complete a variety of tasks with the help of Telegram’s extensive bot library. Using the Telegram bots, they can automate processes like setting reminders and doing searches for music, news, and GIFs. In order to meet the needs of users, custom bots can be made by bot developers.

Signal

The free and open-source messaging program Signal gained popularity after its initial release in 2014. With end-to-end encryption and an extremely secure protocol, it is renowned for placing a strong emphasis on privacy and security.

Significant Qualities of Chat Apps for Android

Obstructing Screenshots

A feature called screenshot blocking enables users to prevent recipients from screenshotting the communications they send. Users that share sensitive information, such as bank information, passwords, or personal information, will benefit from this feature.

Anonymous Keyboard

Signal’s incognito keyboard feature stops the autocorrect and predictive text functions from storing and sharing a user’s private data, such as passwords and credit card details, to outside servers. It’s an additional feature that strengthens the app’s privacy and security.

Messenger on Facebook

The official messaging program of social media behemoth Facebook is called Messenger. Since its 2011 release, it has grown to be one of the most widely used messaging platforms worldwide. More than a billion people use it.

Integration of Chatbots

Users may receive prompt responses to their questions thanks to the easy chatbot integrations in Facebook Messenger. Chatbots are computer programs that can comprehend natural language and give users precise responses to their questions.

Quick Games

Users of Facebook Messenger have access to a huge selection of instant games. Users can easily keep themselves occupied while conversing with their connections thanks to this function. Also, it’s ideal for individuals who enjoy a good challenge.

The all-in-one messenger apps covered in this article provide users with a wealth of tools and features for corresponding with friends and family members as well as a safe, private, and dependable method of messaging.

** The views and opinions expressed in this guest post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Designerly. Any content provided by these guest writers are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individuals.

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How to Design an App: A Beginner’s Guide https://designerly.com/how-to-design-an-app/ https://designerly.com/how-to-design-an-app/#respond Fri, 09 Jun 2023 13:06:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=15675 how to design an app

Do you have an idea worth sharing? Want to promote your business? If so, creating an app is a great way to engage your audience. But if you’re completely new to coding or design, just getting started might be overwhelming. Here are the very basics of how to design an app so you can get…

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how to design an app

Do you have an idea worth sharing? Want to promote your business? If so, creating an app is a great way to engage your audience. But if you’re completely new to coding or design, just getting started might be overwhelming. Here are the very basics of how to design an app so you can get a feel for the process. 

Draft an Outline

The first step in the app design process is to decide what your app will do. For example, if you’re building a social media app, how will users create an account and log in? Will they use their email address or phone number to help set up their account? 

Flesh out the app’s core features on a piece of paper or in a word processor. Make a detailed list of every main feature your app will support, the ones absolutely necessary for it to work. 

From there, you can write down any secondary features that aren’t as crucial to the app’s functionality. For example, once you decide on a basic login system, you can start brainstorming about letting users log in using third-party accounts like Google or Facebook. Teasing out the primary and secondary features allows you to launch an early version of your app with only the core functions. 

Perform Market Research

Once you have an idea of what your app will do, take some time to perform market research. How old is your target audience? Which genders or social groups are you likely to appeal to the most, and how can you reach a broader user base? It’s crucial to decide what your app’s conversion goals are — are you trying to get sales, downloads, sign-ups or something else? 

It’s also important to investigate your competitors. Are there any existing apps doing what your app will do? If so, how can you differentiate your app so it stands out in an oversaturated market? 

There are roughly two million apps on each major app store as of 2023, so there’s a good chance someone else has made an app similar to yours. But that should encourage you — after all, it shows that there’s a market for it.

Create a Wireframe

Forget about color schemes for a moment and think about the basics. Where will the buttons go on your app? Where will the text appear on the app’s homepage? Your app should be intuitive to navigate and simple to understand. 

A wireframe is like a blueprint for your app. It’s a skeletal framework of the app’s layout, including where a user’s profile name will appear, where the navigation buttons will be on the page and where photos and ads will be displayed. 

A wireframe usually lacks any graphics or fancy fonts — after all, it’s just a rough draft. Some people draw the wireframe on a piece of paper. There are also programs like Lucidchart, Whimsical and Justinmind that let you design a digital wireframe to see how it would look on a user’s phone. 

If you need inspiration, one idea is to download several popular apps and look at their layouts. Which features do you like? Which ones would you rather change? 

Creating a wireframe is crucial before you start coding. It’s a lot easier to work out any bugs or realize you’re missing information while you’re still in the rough draft stage. 

Create a Clickable Prototype

Between the initial design phase and the final product lies the prototype. This optional stage is where you turn your design composites into something tangible, something you can actually put on a device and swipe through. At this stage, you can start clicking buttons or swiping images in the app to navigate to different landing pages. 

A prototype is important for showing people how the app will look and gaining the support of stakeholders. However, if you don’t need external backing for your app, you can probably skip this step.

Design the User Interface

This is the fun part! Now that you have a rough draft of how your app will function and what the layout will look like, it’s time to add the user interface (UI). The UI is anything your users will interact with, including animations, buttons, text, graphics, color and other design elements. 

Upload the wireframe to a graphic design program and use it as a template to start creating a gorgeous app. Sketch, Figma and Photoshop are popular for this purpose. 

Right now, you’re just designing the app’s appearance. Focus on accessibility by using contrasting colors, large text and clear fonts. Make sure users can find what they need quickly.

For example, if you’re designing an app for a restaurant, put the business’s address and phone number on the front page. Include photos of food so people immediately know what the restaurant serves.

Add Interactive Elements

Now that your app is nice to look at, it’s time to make it functional. Much like the prototype step, you’ll be making the app clickable, swipeable or even shakeable — depending on your app’s purpose — during the UI animation process. Tools like Mockplus can help you add interactivity to a design you created in Photoshop, Adobe XD or Figma. 

Develop the App

This is where coding comes into play. You’ll use Swift or Objective C to develop an iOS app, and Java if your app is for Android. Frameworks like Flutter or React Native allow you to write a single code base and export it to either Java or Objective C. This process can save you a lot of effort and time you would otherwise spend on writing two separate codes. 

Test and Release the App

You’re in the home stretch now. Beta testing and user acceptance testing (UAT) ensure your app is ready for release. Now is the time to work out any final issues and ask for user feedback on the app’s performance.

Once you have the green light from your users, you can release the app! You can upload an Android app directly to the Google Play store since it has no formal review process. An iOS app must go through a review before users can download it. On average, Apple employees review 90% of app submissions within one day. 

Designing an App From the Ground Up

The basic steps for how to design an app are to draft an outline, create a wireframe, design the user interface and add interactive elements. From there, you have to write code to develop the app and test it before releasing it. These are just the fundamentals of how to design an app, but hopefully, it gives you a better idea of where to start. 

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Mobile App Design https://designerly.com/mobile-app-design/ https://designerly.com/mobile-app-design/#respond Thu, 13 Apr 2023 18:14:19 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=15139

Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives — from ordering food and booking an Uber to catching up on the latest trends on TikTok and shopping online. With tons of competition in the mobile app market, designers must create an app that stands out. A well-designed app attracts users and guarantees…

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Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives — from ordering food and booking an Uber to catching up on the latest trends on TikTok and shopping online. With tons of competition in the mobile app market, designers must create an app that stands out. A well-designed app attracts users and guarantees their satisfaction and loyalty.

Below we’ll explore the best mobile app design practices to help you create a product that users will love. Whether you are a seasoned designer or a newcomer, these tips will provide valuable insights into what works and doesn’t in app design. So, let’s discover mobile app design’s do’s and don’ts.

The Dos of Mobile App Design

The dos of mobile app design are essential practices for designers. Here are the top tips to keep in mind when designing an app.

Prioritize User Experience

User experience (UX) is the cornerstone of successful mobile app design. When designing an app, designers should consider the end users and their needs. The design should be intuitive, easy to navigate and visually appealing. One of the best ways to achieve this is by conducting user research to understand the target audience’s preferences and pain points.

Another key aspect of prioritizing UX is incorporating feedback mechanisms into the app. Feedback can be in surveys, ratings or reviews, allowing users to provide opinions on the app’s usability and functionality. Designers can then use this feedback to improve the app and ensure it meets users’ needs and expectations.

Focus on Visual Hierarchy

A visually appealing mobile app is also crucial to design, and one of the key elements is a well-executed visual hierarchy. Visual hierarchy refers to the arrangement of elements on the screen — a way that makes it easy for users to understand the app’s content and navigate it seamlessly.

A strong visual hierarchy ensures users can quickly identify the most important elements of the app, making the experience enjoyable and efficient. Designers can achieve this by using font size, color, contrast and placement. For instance, you should display the most important information in a larger font or with greater contrast, while details of lesser importance should be smaller or less prominent.

Another way to establish visual hierarchy is by using a grid system. This technique ensures all screen elements are aligned and spaced properly, making scanning and navigating the content easier for users. It also creates a sense of balance and harmony in the design, essential for a visually appealing app.

Optimize for Mobile Devices

When optimizing for mobile devices, remember that each has different screens, resolutions and processing. Therefore, designers should adapt the app’s design to these factors to ensure a seamless UX.

When optimizing mobile app design, one best practice is to consider the screen size. The app’s design should be flexible and adaptable to different screen sizes, from small smartphones to larger tablets. Designers can achieve this through responsive design, which automatically adjusts the app’s layout and content to fit the user’s screen.

Designers should also optimize the app’s loading speed because mobile users expect fast loading times. Research shows that even a one-second delay in loading can lead to a 7% drop in conversions and decreases user satisfaction by 16%. However, designers can optimize loading speed by compressing images, reducing the number of HTTP requests and minimizing the app’s file size.

Once you optimize for mobile, consider testing the app’s design on different mobile devices to ensure it performs well on other platforms and screen sizes.

The Don’ts of Mobile App Design

In a mobile app design, there are certain “Don’ts” that designers should avoid to ensure a successful and user-friendly app. These common design mistakes can negatively impact the app’s UX and hinder its success.

Avoid Overcrowding the Screen

Overcrowding refers to the practice of including one too many elements, such as buttons, icons and text, on a single screen. Incorporating this “don’t” of mobile app design can make navigating the app and finding information challenging, leading to frustration and a negative UX.

To avoid overcrowding, designers should arrange simplicity and clarity in the app’s design. Therefore, the app should follow the mobile UX design best practices for clear visual hierarchy and responsiveness. For example, designers should create the app using enough white space to create a visually-pleasing layout and easy-to-use interface.

Another way to avoid overcrowding is to leverage progressive disclosure. This technique lets users gradually reveal information by tapping an icon like a hamburger menu. A hamburger menu is a collapsible menu that provides users with options to navigate different pages within the app. By utilizing this design tactic, users can access additional information without a cluttered screen.

Avoid Inconsistent Design Elements

Consistency is key in mobile app UX design. Otherwise, it can confuse users, make the app difficult to use, and reduce the overall quality of the user experience.

However, you can avoid inconsistency by establishing a visual language for the app. Therefore, designers should create a style guide with a color palette, typography and other elements to keep things consistent. This also includes consistent style across buttons, icons and other interactive features.

In addition to consistent visual design, there should be consistency in interactive design. Designers should ensure interactions, such as swiping, scrolling and tapping, are consistent throughout the app. For example, if swiping left deletes an item in one part, it should do the same in another part of the app.

Avoid Overloading Users With Notifications

Notifications can be a powerful tool for engaging users and increasing usage. However, too many notifications can quickly overwhelm and annoy users, leading them to disable notifications or uninstall the app.

Avoid this “don’t” of mobile app UX design by being selective about the types of notifications the app sends. Notifications should be relevant, timely and valuable to the user. For example, a weather app might send a message when severe weather is on the radar. On the other hand, a social media app will update a user if they receive a message or friend request.

Another thing to remember is to give users control over the types of notifications they want to receive and how often. That way, designers can ensure users only receive relevant and useful messages.

Finally, the notifications should always be clear and easy to understand. For instance, each message should have a clear call to action and provide enough information for the user to take action without opening the app. Additionally, you should design the notifications to fit within the device’s notification center and are not too long or challenging to read.

Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid in Mobile App Design

Mobile app design is a complex process that requires careful consideration of user needs and preferences. By following the best mobile app design practices, designers can create effective and engaging apps that meet users’ needs. That way, they positively impact people’s lives and increase the success of downloads, user engagement and satisfaction.

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When Did Cell Phones Come Out, and How Have They Changed https://designerly.com/when-did-cell-phones-come-out/ https://designerly.com/when-did-cell-phones-come-out/#respond Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=12977 image of evolution of when did cell phones come out and how have they changed

There was a time in history when phones connected to a landline. If you were out and about, you had to find a phone booth or borrow someone’s home or business phone to make a call. When did cell phones come out and begin to change the world as we know it? Today, one can’t…

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image of evolution of when did cell phones come out and how have they changed

There was a time in history when phones connected to a landline. If you were out and about, you had to find a phone booth or borrow someone’s home or business phone to make a call. When did cell phones come out and begin to change the world as we know it? Today, one can’t imagine going somewhere without a mobile device that connects you to anyone, anywhere.

Those who are over 40 remember the first phones hitting the market in the 1980s, but the first device was invented long before it made it to market decades later. When asking “When did cell phones come out?”, you must look at the history of the cell phone and what led to its mass market release.

When Did Cell Phones Come Out?

Back in 1946, Southwestern Bell routed calls around the country. On June 17th of that year, the history of mobile technology began when a driver made a call via a handset in his vehicle. Because the technology was in the beginning stages, only a few calls could be made at a time. 

The service cost $15 per month plus $3.50 to $4.65 for each call–a heft price for the time. Since the service was limited to just 100 cities and about 5,000 customers, it wasn’t commonplace. It did set the stage for the freedom of making a phone call while on the go. 

When did cell phones come out in more places? It’s hard to completely answer the question as there were various devices in use throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s. 

The First Cell Phones

To fully understand when did cell phones come out, you have to look at the evolution of mobile telephony. From a few people having dashboard mobile handsets in their cars to today’s cellphones in nearly every hand, phones have changed a lot in 80 years or so.

According to Pew Research Center, approximately 97% of Americans own a cellphone, with 85% owning a smartphone. How did we get from when cell phones came out to here?

Inventor Nikola Tesla predicted wireless devices as far back as 1926. In an interview, he stated wireless would be a huge brain one day and people would be able to “communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.” He also predicted humans would be able to see and hear each other as though face to face. 

First Improvements

From the initial mobile telephony service introduced in 1945, technicians began improving the system. In 1965, they introduced the Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS). The new service tapped into more radio channels and added the ability for more people to call within a region and let customers dial their own calls rather than going through an operator.

In the United Kingdom, the phone company introduced a separate vehicle phone in 1959 with similar abilities to the one introduced in the United States. IMTS was similar to the first mobile telephones but had expanded range and scope. 

RCC device; photo used under Wikimedia Commons license

Radio Common Carrier (RCC)

By the 1960s, various telephone companies introduced mobile radio telephones. They used UHF 454/459 megahertz and VHF 152/158 Megahertz frequencies. The frequencies would be utilized into the 1980s when cellular made a giant leap and RCC became obsolete–much as the 8-track tape. 

Cellular Network Arrives 

Some might argue the point on when did cell phones come out and point to the development of cellular networks as the true moment when mobile devices were open to the general public rather than the rich and famous. 

Back in 1947, Bell Labs engineers had an idea for how to use mobile phones in vehicles. The concept used hexagonal cells to create a multi-directional network for cellular devices. Initially, the coverage area was poor, but as they tried different processes and learned to handoff calls from one cell tower to the next, they began to form the basis of a data signal system that would eventually bring cell service to all but the remotest of areas. 

Today, the average user spends three hours and 35 minutes a day on their mobile phone. When did cell phones come out so people could buy them?

When did the first cell phone come out?

Outside of the RCC phones, the first commercial mobile phones became available in the 1970s.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones#/media/File:2007Computex_e21Forum-MartinCooper.jpg

One of the first calls from a handheld mobile phone was in 1973 by Martin Cooper. The phone was shaped somewhat like a brick and various reports estimate it weighed around two pounds. Can you imagine carrying that size cell phone around in your pocket? The first phone had to be charged for 10 hours and worked for a 30-minute call. 

The next 50 years or so saw rapid advances as the size grew smaller, batteries more powerful and range longer. 

1980s and 1990s

motorola micro-tac
The Motorola Micro-Tac; image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In 1983, the brick phone became commercially available for around $4,000. It was still bulky and limited. However, it rapidly started shrinking in size and cost until 1989 when Motorola released the first flip phone, a Micro-Tac. The MicroTac could fit inside your pocket. 

The phone was analog and only used for placing telephone calls. It wouldn’t be until the 1990s that phones began to have the capability to send texts or get online. Both the internet and cellular technology had to reach a point where phones were able to be used as mini portable computers.

Around the turn of the century, Nokia released the 6000 series, making phones more affordable for everyday people and bringing the size to palm size. Samsung also released the SPH-I300 where users could touch the screen to make a call, paving the path for smartphone technology.

samsung sph-i300
Source: Samsung SPH-i300 image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The next phase was adding cameras and the ability to text and browse the internet. Enter the RAZR and later the iPhone, which hit the scene in 2007. It’s hard to imagine that iPhones came on the scene a mere 15 years or so ago. They continue to push the edges of technology with new releases annually.

When Did Cell Phones Come Out and Where Will They Go in the Future?

One could argue cell phones have been around since at least the 1940s due to the use of mobile telephony under car dashboards. However, the true, cordless phone for the general public is more commonly seen as being from the mid 1980s and beyond.

The advances in mobile ability in about 70 years are quite amazing. Only by utilizing teams of the smartest and most creative people were phone companies able to change the face of communication as we know it.

Where will cell phones go in the future? Expect even more abilities. Cameras will grow better, charging times shorter and battery life longer. Although there are still some minor limitations with smartphones, those will likely go away as artificial intelligence and virtual reality advances even further.

The internet of things (IoT) will continue to grow until more devices are connected to the IoT than aren’t. Everything will have a central hub and all things will be able to learn from one another to make people’s lives easier and more efficient. 

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How To Make a Mobile Version of Your Website https://designerly.com/how-to-make-a-mobile-version-of-your-website/ https://designerly.com/how-to-make-a-mobile-version-of-your-website/#respond Mon, 11 Jul 2022 13:56:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=12264

Is your website mobile-friendly? Nowadays, smartphones have become part of our everyday lives. You may even find it strange for anyone to leave their house without a mobile phone. If you go anywhere, seeing people stare at their phones is normal.  The fact is that website owners need a mobile version of their website. Mobile…

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Is your website mobile-friendly? Nowadays, smartphones have become part of our everyday lives. You may even find it strange for anyone to leave their house without a mobile phone.

If you go anywhere, seeing people stare at their phones is normal. 

The fact is that website owners need a mobile version of their website. Mobile web traffic has officially surpassed desktop — and it accounts for 54.4% of website traffic worldwide. In addition, a mobile-friendly site can drive your search engine rankings significantly.

Here are tips on how to make a mobile version of your website.

How To Make a Mobile Version of Your Website

1. Pick a Mobile-Responsive Theme

Choosing a mobile-responsive theme is your most vital step because a responsive design will easily adapt to the screen’s size. So if you’re using a website like Wix or Squarespace, you can choose customizable templates or build your own from scratch.

If you have a content management system like WordPress, be sure the theme you choose is mobile-responsive. You can use WordPress’s library to search ‘responsive theme’ and find what you need.

2. Simplify Your Content

Your content is the next important step to making a mobile version of your website. 

Take your homepage into account, for example. The main goal of your homepage should be more prominent than your desktop version. This might seem pushier — but mobile users don’t want to spend time searching for a function.

Therefore, it makes sense to encourage users to get to the end goal.

In addition to simplifying your content, ensure your text is kept short for readability. And if you have long-filling forms, keep it less distracting by asking for essential information only.

3. Adjust Button Size and Placement

Button size and placement matter because users navigate mobile websites differently. Think of the way you use your phone. Chances are, you use your thumbs to swipe and tap for more information.

However, if your buttons aren’t large enough or are in the screen’s wrong spaces, you might want to make new adjustments to create a better user experience.

For instance, buttons should be in the lower middle area of the screen for easier use.

4. Prioritize Website Speed

Website speed plays a crucial part in your search engine rankings. If it takes a few seconds to load your site, your visitors may back out and move on to something else. That’s why it’s important to consider your mobile site speed.

A few factors that affect your site’s speed are images, videos and CSS. Be sure to compress your images’ file size. And if you’re uploading videos, you can host them on YouTube and embed the code onto your site.

In addition, it’s best to keep your design simple. It will cut down on loading time and also make navigation easier.

5. Use Large, Readable Text

When working with a smaller screen, the text should be large enough to give the user the ability to read.

The font size recommendation is generally 16px for desktop monitors. Suppose you choose this size for your website. You’ll need to test how it looks with the mobile version. You may need to increase the size if you find it somewhat small.

In addition, a font that’s on-brand and simple across all platforms is best for readability purposes. It also helps to space out text with line breaks and images. Or, you can bold or italicize individual lines of text to keep them from merging into each other.

6. Avoid Flash

While Adobe Flash used to be popular, this is no longer the case. It is especially true for mobile devices since they don’t support Flash.

Flash is often for animations. However, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Instead, you can use HTML5 to add videos or animations to your web pages.

Doing so will keep your content the same across all devices and significantly boost your mobile site loading speed.

7. Disable Pop-Ups

When carefully used on a desktop site, pop-ups can work effectively. You can collect leads, email subscribers or attract more visitors to register for an online event. However, it’s best to avoid pop-ups for mobile devices because it often creates a poor user experience.

Mobile devices give you smaller screens. Therefore, a pop-up can hide the content entirely.

If you need to use pop-ups, do so responsibly to avoid user frustration and search engine ranking penalties from Google. For example, pop-ups should not cover the entire screen. They should be small enough to allow users to back out.

Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

You can see that a mobile version requires various tweaking compared to the desktop. While you need to keep up with many tasks when making a mobile version of your site, be sure to create a checklist. That way, you know what you need to accomplish next. 

Once you learn how to make a mobile version of your website, keep testing it to ensure you’ve optimized it for a good user experience.

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Mobile Website Design Inspiration to Kickstart Your Creativity https://designerly.com/mobile-website-design-inspiration-to-kickstart-your-creativity/ https://designerly.com/mobile-website-design-inspiration-to-kickstart-your-creativity/#respond Mon, 25 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=11685

A decade or two ago, no one could imagine a world where the majority of site visitors arrived via smartphones. The advances in connectivity and screen resolutions makes today’s phones more like mini computers. If you want to compete with other brands, you must up your website design to be as responsive as possible. The…

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A decade or two ago, no one could imagine a world where the majority of site visitors arrived via smartphones. The advances in connectivity and screen resolutions makes today’s phones more like mini computers. If you want to compete with other brands, you must up your website design to be as responsive as possible. The best way to learn how to reach customers is by studying some mobile website design inspiration. 

A recent report by Statista indicates around 90% of those with internet use a mobile device to go online at least some of the time. If your site isn’t mobile friendly, you risk losing out on a lot of potential customers. How much traffic depends on your particular target audience, but any lead lost is a pain point for your business.

We checked out dozens of sites to find the ones giving us the best mobile website design 

inspiration. We looked for varying elements to show how to create good design. The examples we found may not have all the features of a great mobile design, but they have at least some of them to showcase.

Good Examples of Mobile Website Design Inspiration

While many websites have functioning mobile designs, they don’t stand out as anything special. We narrowed down the choices and came up with ones that have a few features we feel any good responsive site should include. We also tried to find examples that aren’t pointed to as often as a way to show that any brand can stand out with a little attention to detail. 

  • Big buttons for easy navigation
  • Images that resize
  • Fast load times
  • Readable text
  • Scannable layout
  • Visually appealing on a smaller screen
  • Search features
  • Forms that work for mobile

While these are just a few of the things that make for great mobile website design inspiration, many of the examples below have additional features that make them stand out. The average person spends around four hours a day on their phone, so consider ease of use and viewing. 

1. Nike PLAYlab

mobile website design inspiration from Nike PLAYlab
Source: https://www.nikeplaylab.com

Nike PLAYlab offers an opportunity for kids to share what they’re creating, from music to business ideas and other creative pursuits. The website is built on a fairly simple concept. What we like about the mobile version is that it looks exactly like the desktop version, but adapts perfectly to a smaller screen. Navigation is simple and intuitive. 

2. Vista Homes

mobile website design inspiration from Vista Homes
Source: https://vistahomesclt.com

Vista Homes offers some parallax scrolling on mobile devices. As you move down the page, the menu and hero image remain in place. Other elements shift and change, giving the entire site a highly professional and trendy feel. 

Probably the best feature for mobile website design inspiration is how adaptable the form is. Click on it and a limited form field popup appears. A few simple clicks and you can request an appointment. 

3. Farmers Insurance

mobile website design inspiration from Farmers Insurance
Source: https://www.farmers.com

Farmers Insurance goes with a mobile-first, simpler design. By sticking to the basics and including plenty of white space, it is much easier to navigate and find the elements the user needs. If you’re looking for mobile website design inspiration, the simple layout of this website is a good starting point. 

4. The Home Depot

mobile website design inspiration from The Home Depot
Source: https://www.homedepot.com

The Home Depot is one of our favorite examples of mobile website design inspiration. For brick-and-mortar businesses, most searches start locally. Utilizing geotargeting ensures your website and advertising gets in front of the right people at the right time.

Notice how the mobile site offers a suggestion of a nearby store. This will vary, depending up where your cell phone pings from when searching for any of the keywords pulling up for The Home Depot or for the store itself. 

At the same time, the user can choose to change the store location and pick from any of their many places to shop. The mobile version of the site is quite well thought out and functions on a user friendly level. 

5. Zappos

mobile website design inspiration from zappos
Source: https://www.zappos.com

We chose Zappos as an excellent mobile website design inspiration example due to its easy search features on smaller screens. The first thing users see when they land on the mobile site is the search box with a prompt to look for shoes, clothes and so on. 

Additionally, once you begin your search, Zappos offers a number of filters to narrow your options down to only the products that apply to you. For example, search by women’s, men’s sizes or kids’ sizes. 

6. Puffin Packaging

mobile website design inspiration from puffin packaging
Source: https://www.puffinpackaging.co.uk

We love the way Puffin Packaging chooses bright colors to grab user attention. While a minimalist white and black web design is classy, using a brand palette can make your site stand out from the crowd.

The layout is minimalist so the brighter colors don’t detract. We also appreciate the layout of steps to show the benefits of their packaging. 

mobile website design inspiration from Puffin Packaging example 2
Source: https://www.puffinpackaging.co.uk

Note how the image is set off in a circle but the background remains bright and identifiable as Puffin Packaging. The user scrolls down and sees different benefits of the products at a quick glance, making the site highly readable for busy mobile users.

Find More Mobile Website Design Inspiration

The six sites listed above offer plenty of inspiration for designing a mobile site. Keep in mind that the speed of the site and how intuitive it is impacts user experience. At the end of the day, it’s more important to have a highly functioning site than simply an aesthetically pleasing one.

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How to Design an App Landing Page https://designerly.com/how-to-design-app-landing-page/ https://designerly.com/how-to-design-app-landing-page/#respond Fri, 15 Apr 2022 18:37:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=11671

Many people who create an app assume users will discover it through Google Play or Apple’s app store. However, the chances are less likely, especially since there are around 2 million apps in each app store today. That’s why you need a robust marketing campaign to help launch the discovery of your app — because…

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Many people who create an app assume users will discover it through Google Play or Apple’s app store. However, the chances are less likely, especially since there are around 2 million apps in each app store today.

That’s why you need a robust marketing campaign to help launch the discovery of your app — because no matter how intriguing or entertaining it might be — most people will have trouble seeing it without a well-designed app landing page.

So, if you’re going to promote your mobile app, here are some best practices to designing a stellar app landing page.

Designing a Mobile App Landing Page

1. Start with a Conversion Goal

What main action do you want your users to take with the app landing page? Some can be as simple as including a direct link to the Android or iOS app stores for users to download. Others might want their customer to subscribe to a service first. Or they might have to purchase a physical product to use the app. 

Whichever your conversion goal might be, make sure it has a significant impact through the design, copy and calls-to-action (CTA).

2. Create the Mobile Version First

You might be keen first to design your new app landing page for the desktop. However, apps are designed for smartphones and tablets. So, it makes sense to start with the mobile version design. This strategy works because many users looking for a new app to download are on their smartphones. So, you’re setting yourself up for more downloads of your app.

3. Maintain Attention

Mobile app pages benefit better when you encourage a direct download at the top of the landing page. So, instead of overwhelming them with loads of information, give them essential information first to convert.

4. Form the Headline

The first thing the viewer will see on the app landing page is the headline. This part is highly significant as it communicates the value of your app. You don’t need to be crafty or witty, but you do need to state the purpose of what your app does for the reader. Or it can at least be intriguing enough for them to stay on the landing page.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re working in keyword phrases into the headline. That way, you can increase the likelihood of your audience clicking on the link when searching for a solution to their problem.

5. Add the Call-to-Action

This part of the app landing page supports your conversion goal. It should be a button that sends them to the app store so they can click to download. Or it could be a contact or subscription form to get the app directly.

A call-to-action can also come in many other forms, such as a text link. The CTA is the most imperative element of the page as it can turn a casual reader into a lead. 

6. Write the Body Copy

The body copy is the part that will expand your value proposition and benefits. The copy should answer all of the reader’s questions and connect with them emotionally — satisfying why they came to your app landing page in the first place.

How long your copy will be can depend on your industry — but as stated previously, you’ll want to give them the essential information upfront to attract attention.

7. Provide Social Proof

Social proof establishes the fact that your app is trustworthy. In most cases, an app landing page will showcase top user reviews and customer testimonials. Some will also display the app’s rewards and big-name sites that feature it. Another way to add social proof is to boast about the number of active users and downloads.

8. Integrate Media

Visual elements play a leading role in the app landing page. You want to be sure you’re choosing images and video elements that add delight and attract the user’s attention. However, the goal is not to build a beautiful app landing page. With visuals, the intent is to enhance the story your copy is communicating to make it compelling and engaging for the reader.

Best Practices to Consider When Designing Your App Landing Page

Keep Text Short and Concise

Because people have short attention spans these days, it’s best to keep your body copy sharp and straight to the point. You’ll also want to consider the readability factor in your app landing page. For example, you can consider adding bullet points to drive the essential information. 

Furthermore, you want to keep the language as simple as possible. It’s best to avoid all that jargon if you’re advertising a non-technical product or service.

Incorporate Legible Text

Nothing might be more frustrating to readers when they can’t read text on their mobile devices. To ensure your text is readable, utilize a larger text size. The proper font size in mind is to make it large enough for readers to see it at arm’s length.

For instance, a header text can be a larger size to make a point of the app extra clear. That way, your audience will grasp the benefit of the app at first glance.

Design for Finger-Tapping

With mobile app landing page designs, your tapping points must provide sufficient space not to overlap each other. 

For example, if you have various download links, they should be large enough so that it’s easy to click on for mobile users.

Make It Lightening Fast

It can be tempting to encourage users to click around to show off lots of features. However, a slow post-click experience will elicit lots of frustration. According to Google, mobile site visitors are 123% more likely to bounce when the load time increases to 10 seconds. As frustration incurs for users, this will impact your conversion rate. 

Boost your load speeds with Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), so people can see your content and convert. 

Make It as Simple as Possible to Click the CTA Button

The CTA button should be one of the highlights of your app landing page. If users can’t find where to download your mobile app, you’ll decrease the chances of converting. So, if you have copy on your landing page, avoid making them sift through endless scrolling.

The simplest landing page will show you what the product looks like, then ask the reader to download it.

Drive Intent to Download the App

Explaining the benefits and the problem your app solves will showcase the value of your app. You’ll convert the customer sooner if you can sell early on the app landing page. Remember though, simple is best. 

Some apps will explain the value a user gets from the app. Then they’ll present a simple process for how they can start using the app immediately.

Offer a Free Alternative

App landing pages are successful when they provide readers with two options — a paid subscription and a free version. When onboarding users with a free trial, this does a couple of things. First, the user gets to experience the app before they buy. Second, it nurtures the potential customer before converting into a paid subscriber.

Optimize Your App Landing Page With Design

The design of your app landing page can play a large role in engagement and conversion. However, you want to create your design around the intention of the landing page — which is to get visitors to download your app. If your pages aren’t converting well, keep testing your page’s elements to determine what’s working for your audience.

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Why Your UI Mobile App Design Matters to Your Users https://designerly.com/why-ui-mobile-app-design-matters/ https://designerly.com/why-ui-mobile-app-design-matters/#respond Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:39:00 +0000 https://designerly.com/?p=11667

In the digital age, your user interface (UI) mobile app design must be able to offer a delightful experience to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. According to Statista, mobile apps will accrue $613 billion in revenues by 2025. So, for your mobile app to be significant, it must have features such as an…

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In the digital age, your user interface (UI) mobile app design must be able to offer a delightful experience to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. According to Statista, mobile apps will accrue $613 billion in revenues by 2025. So, for your mobile app to be significant, it must have features such as an appealing design to influence the mind of customers. 

User interface (UI) design plays a key role in your mobile app’s user experience and overall success. So, let’s understand what the terms mean and why your UI mobile app design matters.

What Is UI in Mobile App Design?

UI stands for user interface, and it has to do with how users interact with your mobile app. The user interface design can contain items like controls, buttons, blocks and more.

The primary goal with user interface design is to offer an enjoyable experience — making it both effective and easy to interact with the user. The UI design process, color selection, company branding and the latest design principles are important factors to consider when creating a mobile app.

Another part of mobile app design you’ll see alongside UI is user experience (UX). Both UI and UX tend to go hand in hand, increasing the ease of usage. Additionally, it can impact the users’ perception of your business’s value.

UX must be concise and easy to use when turning users into raving fans.

Importance of UI Mobile App Design

UI mobile app design matters to users because a poor design is frustrating to them — and it can be the downfall of your app. Moreover, it can have a significant influence on emotional connections.

Allowing for an intuitive design means users can navigate your app easily. In addition, users want to access information as easily as possible. So, it would help if you were aiming to give them all details without inconveniencing them. That way, they don’t have to reach out to a representative or waste time figuring out how to navigate.

An excellent user interface provides users with action, so it helps them achieve a goal. 

With UI mobile app design, you should make it as simple as possible regarding the user goals.

Here are a few other key reasons UI design matters in mobile apps and usability:

  • Captures the users’ attention: The first few seconds of opening the app will impact the users’ impression. These first seconds are crucial as it influences the users’ decision on whether they’re going to keep it or leave. The other deciding factor is its engagement. If users find it interactive, they’ll keep using it repeatedly. 
  • Saves time and money: UI mobile app design can significantly improve discoverability. Plus, customers will be keen to use your application. If your product is flawless, it won’t require frequent updates, saving time and money in the long run.
  • Enhances customer satisfaction: When the UI design in your app impresses the customer with compelling content and easy navigation, users will enjoy the overall experience. As a result, customers will leave great ratings and share recommendations with others. In turn, this leads to an increase in customer satisfaction and an increase in your return on investment.
  • Boosts branding and reputation: On top of satisfying users’ needs, your UI design will foster customer loyalty. Therefore, your brand and reputation will rise because they establish a customer relationship. 

What Are the Excellent User Interface Qualities?

While UX design is not as visible to the user, the interface is since it’s the first thing they see. Here are some of the best qualities a UI designer will include in the mobile app:

  • Responsiveness: Speed is an important factor here. The user interface shouldn’t lag or appear slow to the user. 
  • Clarity: UI design should be able to avoid confusion for the user. In this instance, the interface should be clear through visuals and copy. Mobile apps with good interfaces also don’t need to be extensive with the onboarding process either. Users should already be familiar with how the app works.
  • Familiarity: The app’s interface should include standard features, so it’s easy for users to find and navigate through the app. Familiar features include common symbols and icons with colors to convey a message. 
  • Consistency: Maintaining a consistent interface across the application allows users to recognize usage patterns. Once users learn how certain features work, they can apply them when adding new features.

UI Mobile App Design Principles to Follow

With numerous apps available today, it’s key to be unique while capturing the users’ attention. Although this can be quite challenging at times, there are UI design principles to follow that’ll help you stand out from the competition.

  • Focus on user emotions: Instead of creating an app to share brand information — utilize a combination of texts, graphics and visual layouts to offer a unique experience. The visuals play an important role in touching emotions. Therefore, they should provide compelling stories, so they resonate with your users.
  • Creative vs. common patterns: Visual appeal, color and patterns can effectively grab user attention. However, it can also interfere with usability. The simple rule is to incorporate common designs whenever possible to avoid confusion.
  • Simplify navigation: Users will uninstall the app and quit using it if navigation requires too much effort. Consider aiming for the fastest and easiest route to help users get to where they want to go.

UI Design Trends to Look For in 2022

As time goes on, UI tends to capture more attention. So, it’s more important now to stay on top of the latest industry trends. As you do so, you’ll find that this gives users what they look for in a mobile app. 

Continue innovating and building successful apps with the following trends below.

Powerful Imagery

Imagery that you see in apps, such as pictured products, is created to be viewed on a small scale. So, accommodate smaller screens and tablets by allowing users to interact with imagery through animations, zooming and pinching. This feature will offer users a cohesive experience and unify the app’s design.

Asymmetrical Layout

Asymmetry in the layout centers the focus on certain elements in the app. Often, users’ eyes move in a certain direction to process visual information. One thing you might notice in 2022 is designers are avoiding a polished look. Instead, they’re creating asymmetrical designs on galleries and menus to align with the audience’s visual flow.

Using this design can strengthen your brand’s unique identity and capture your audience’s attention through disruption of patterns.

Abstract Patterns and Circles

Circles and spheres are omnipresent patterns that appear soft and inviting. In 2022, you’ll see many are incorporating circles into backgrounds and imagery. While giving way to a quirky, abstract design, your brand will add some personality and create more depth.

Vertical and Diagonal Text

One app design trend you’ll certainly notice in 2022 is copy layout. UI designers create text designs that flow vertically and diagonally to engage users and challenge them with traditional text.

In-App Animation and Video

In 2022, 86% of businesses will continue to use video as a marketing tool, according to Wyzowl. For many mobile apps, this is still a trend that continues to take over. Motion in apps is booming because they’re engaging and can be effective in user communication. 

Incorporating UI Mobile App Design

Once you have the proper usability in your mobile app, the personality of your interface will draw out the next level of experience for users. Although the design of an app can lure a certain appeal, it’s the ability to help users reach the goal that encourages them to stay. Remember, a mobile app thrives more when it solves users’ pain points, is concise and provides a pleasant experience.

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