You are in the middle of your mobile app project, excited the amazing functionalities you are about to unleash on your users, but…
The design?
Meh.
Panic Mode:
ON
You start panicking because you totally lost focus on the user experience design.
No worries, we understand and better yet, we have helped hundreds of customers on your shoes!
So, to help you bring turn-off your panic mode, we decided to unveil our 10 Essential Mobile UX Design Tips to guarantee the success of your app!
After all, with over 8.9 million available apps for download, you want to minimize your churn rate!
Moreover, the number one reason apps fail is due to poor user experience.
Who knew!
We knew. We always knew.
And now more than ever, mobile UI and UX design is crucial for any mobile app development project.
Hence why UX/UI Agencies and designers are in such high demand.
Let’s jump right in!
Mobile UX Design Tip #1: Behavior
Okay, in all seriousness, one user may single-handedly use a device while another would use both hands.
When designing a mobile app, it is essential to consider both parties, as there will be users who use different navigation styles.
What is you are targeting a Baby Boomer, or Millennial, or GenZ?
Each target audience will have a different user behavior, and it’s crucial for the success of your app to cater to the behaviors of each target end user.
And like that, there are other ways to group your target users.
Just remember that designing an app to facilitate and accommodate all kinds of behaviors will undoubtedly keep users coming back for more.
Mobile UX Design Tip #2: Requirements
Ask yourself, how many steps do you like to follow before using a new app?
Users leave or uninstall app based on how many difficulties they might encounter when using a mobile app.
This is especially true when they are new to the app and have yet to gain prior experience using it.
This is where thoughtful UX design makes all the difference.
If the app is user-friendly and doesn’t overwhelm the end user, chances are that the end user, despite being new to the mobile app, will get the hang of how the app works.
Moreover, if given a choice of something done in a few easy steps over going through a complex procedure, we all know what anyone would opt for without a doubt.
Mobile UX Design Tip #3: Context of use
UX design also depends on the end user’s context in the mobile app.
Do you offer a tablet version? How about a desktop one?
Users may just use your mobile app to check information, while logging in on your desktop version to manage it.
Another factor to take into consideration is the device your user is using.
One user might use an apple device, while another might use an android device, for example.
Each device has different interactions, and you must take those into account when designing mobile apps.
Mobile UX Design Tip #4: Connection
Another factor is the internet speed.
A user from one part of the world might have different connection speeds from yet another.
Good UX design should cater to the needs of different end users irrespective of circumstances.
Simply consider designing for slow networks and have an offline option as well.
Remember that good UX design is all about making mobile apps accessible and convenient to use.
Mobile UX Design Tip #5: Clarity
While creativity is good, it shouldn’t interfere with the user interface, and the end user should feel free of clutter as they interact with it on the screen.
Maintaining clarity in UX design ensures the critical details are highlighted as necessary.
Having too many features or icons makes it confusing for the end user to complete a task on the mobile app.
This results in information overload, which might discourage the user from using the app to seek an alternative app instead.
Pause and ask yourself: What’s absolutely essential, and what’s just clutter in disguise?
Think of it this way:
For each extra item, you are decreasing screen’s clarity and turning navigation into a needless maze.
One of the key rules to follow is to have one action per screen that offers the bulk of the overall value.
Minimalism is a good practice to ensure clarity so that users can navigate the mobile app with minimum effort.
Mobile UX Design Tip #6: Navigability
No matter the app, the Rule of Thumb is simple: users should effortlessly navigate their way around your app.
Good UX design ensures that users get to move around the app without having to retrace their steps again and again.
It should feel like there is an invisible map to guide the users along so they can find their way around the app.
Some key features that make mobile app navigation easy, which good UX design includes, are:
- Familiarity
- Consistency
- Visibility
Mobile UX Design Tip #7: Legibility
It is vital to keep the size of the screen in mind when designing mobile apps.
Usually, mobile screens are small, and the information that needs to be included has to be done in a manner that doesn’t end up cluttering the screen.
While some information is essential, it is important to not include more text than necessary for the user to understand what they need.
It is best if the text is at least kept at 11 points to ensure legibility.
The legibility of letters can be enhanced by maximizing line height or letter spacing.
Mobile UX Design Tip #8: Visibility
Users don’t always use mobile devices in well-lit up areas.
Therefore, there needs to be a color contrast option so that users using mobile devices in poorly lit conditions are not disadvantaged in dealing with poor visibility.
Visibility should especially be taken into consideration when it comes to text.
There should be a considerable contrast between the font color and the background on which the text is laid out so that it is readable.
Icons should be laid out so that there is a contrast between the icon and the background so that it is visible to the end user.
Now that we have covered the basics, how can you implement the mobile app UX design factors and principles?
Mobile UX Design Tip #9: Use Push Notifications Wisely
Push notifications play an important role in mobile app UX design since they prompt users to engage with the app.
But it is essential to keep in mind to use push notifications wisely and when relevant to avoid spamming or overwhelming the users.
For example, suppose the mobile app is for a store.
In that case, sending push notifications on days or times on which users are most active on the app will be more user-friendly as it considers the user’s best interest.
Mobile UX Design Tip #10: Use Auto Complete
Incorporating autocomplete add a touch of convenience that your users will appreciate. This is especially true if the app involves form filling.
Think about it, you will be streamlining the entire experience for end users.
But the advantages of auto completing extend beyond mere convenience.
This will make your user’s journey more intuitive and engaging, increasing your retention rate.
Moreover, using this functionality contributes to an overall positive perception of your app, showcasing a commitment to user-centric design and a focus on optimizing usability.
Mobile UX Design Bonus Tip: Put the Spotlight on Familiarity
It’s tempting to want to create something entirely different or revolutionary, but it is vital to consider existing design patterns when creating new ones, as users are already familiar with these patterns, which makes the mobile app more accessible for the end users.
Remember, UX design prioritizes the users above everything else.
It is essential to have a clear understanding of the expectations of the end users.
As long as these are met or exceeded, users will keep coming back for more, in which case the UX designer or UX designers can be proud of their efforts!
In this blog we covered these 10 essential tips:
- User’s Behavior
- User’s Requirements
- Context of use
- Internet Connection
- App Clarity
- App Navigability
- Legibility
- Visibility
- Push Notifications
- Auto Complete
Remember, good UX design will give an app the edge over the competition.
So now let me ask, do you need help improving your app’s UX design?
Contact us today at Boral Agency.
We’ll help you identify the changes you need to make and help your business grow!
