The Popularity of Custom Apps
Custom mobile app design has taken off in a big way, thanks to the popularity of mobile apps. Everyone wants to have a mobile app, and there are a plethora of mobile apps in the market. Businesses dream of using their mobile app to attract thousands of users who can dramatically increase their revenue. In reality, 60% of apps are not even downloaded. Of the apps that are downloaded, less than a quarter of them are used more than once.
What then is the reason for this? One of the main reasons is the lack of a good design that creates a positive user experience. A study has shown that 60% of users would not recommend an app that is not designed well. Almost 40% of users said that if an app does not load quickly, they will not use it. All these facts highlight the need for a good UX (user experience) design.
The Importance of UX Design
The above statistics explain why custom app designer need to ensure that their app has a design that can provide a great experience for users. Some of the key aspects that app designer need to consider include:
- Look and feel of the app
- Usability of the app
- Features provided
- Time for the app to load
- Simple design and easy navigation
In 2019, businesses can expect more apps in the market. Therefore, to stand out and succeed, a perfect UX design is not just recommended but is essential. Let us see how this can be done.
Guidelines to Ensure Great UX Design
If you were a custom app designer and wondering how to create an app with a great UX design, here are some guidelines you can keep in mind:
1. Use a Simple Design Without Clutter
In the quest to attract users, developers tend to use complex design presenting a lot of text, images and other information in one screen. This leads to clustering of the screen. This can put off many users and irritate them. Therefore, decluttering is a technique that developers need to implement.
This involves:
- Having a simple design that tells the user what he wants to know from the app
- Display minimum interface elements
- Use familiar and standard elements that users know how to use
- This would make them comfortable using the app
2. Use a Hero Header to Welcome Users
The Hero header is a banner that appears on top of the screen when your app loads. The hero screen can be used to tell your users what your app is all about. The right kind of image and text needs to be used to convey this message to all those who open your app. You need to tell your users what your unique selling proposition is.
The hero header must also have a call to action on it. This should be a message that should motivate the user to click on it and continue using the features of the app. A lot of focus is needed for the hero header, as it can help you get maximum users if used effectively. You can even add videos and animation to your hero header to make it more attractive. The downside is that it could reduce the loading speed.
3. Follow the Principle of One Action Per Screen
Not everyone has a large smartphone screen, so you should avoid placing too many action elements on one screen. Let it go sequentially. When the user opens a screen, he should be able to see everything clearly and one action element on it. Selecting it should lead to the next action elements and so on. This ensures simplicity and effective user experience.
4. Navigation Should be Easy and Simple
Navigation is an essential aspect of app design. Navigation elements help the user find his way around the app. Trying to create fancy menus can end up confusing the user. Make sure the menus are clear and large in size, remember that some users have large sized fingers and the menu should be convenient for them to use.
Also, the menu should have standard elements that the user is familiar with, like a back button, home button and so on. Familiarity ensures a comfortable user experience.
5. Device-Independent Seamless Experience
Users can access your app on any device. You need to ensure that the app works fine on all types of devices. Similarly, different platforms like Android and iOS may need to be supported. What is important is that the app display should not be different when the user changes his device. Whether used in portrait or landscape modes, the screen should respond to this appropriately.
6. Fonts and Colours
The font of text in the app must be pleasant on the eye. The font size must be readable, and the user should not have to zoom in. Proper usage of spacing will ensure this. Colour plays a major role in attracting users. The right kind of colour and contrast needs to be used. Taking feedback from users will help in perfecting this.
7. Personalize it
Offer a personalized appearance for users. Make use of predictive analytics, GPS and saved data to show what the user is expecting. An app with personalized content will help you win over the user.
In 2019, usage of the above guidelines would help you create a great UX design for your app.
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