What makes a mobile app great and a bad one not so good? It’s the UI/UX design.
UX/UI design is a key factor in the success or failure of mobile applications. UX/UI design has been viewed as a means to reach customers and users through engaging content, and other features.
Are all mobile app developers and designers aware of the best UI/UX design elements? Are you aware of the best mobile app development strategies in this customer-centric world for your customers?
Unfortunately, no!
This mobile app UX/UI design manual for 2022 has been created to help you understand how mobile apps work today and how they will change in the future. It is always a good idea to consult with experienced mobile app development agencies that are familiar with UI/UX tricks.
Before we move on, let’s look at the many benefits of a great UX/UI design.
The UI/UX Design Specialization has many benefits
The expectations of mobile users have increased with the development of mobile apps. Mobile users didn’t pay much attention to the design aspects of their apps earlier. They simply wanted to do their job quickly and efficiently.
Today’s mobile app users expect their apps to be simple to use, intuitive, quick, small, and elegant. Their apps shouldn’t take longer than two seconds to load, or take up too much memory. This is where optimized UI/UX design comes in handy. Here are some of the key benefits to be aware of:
1. Highlights Brand Value
As the saying goes, “First impressions last longer.” It’s true, users can judge a mobile app based on its appearance. Your app will not attract users if it doesn’t look professional. Your app should look elegant and stylish, rather than the other way around. This will make your brand more valuable.
2. Facilitates the building of connections with users
Users want applications that are easy to use, quick and easy to navigate with engaging visual content. Your app will help you build a relationship with your users if it offers a great user experience.
3. Simplifies Mobile App Development Process
UX/UI design can be a boon to mobile app developers. This allows for a more efficient approach to mobile app development and simplifies the whole process. It’s less time-consuming, and it is easier to manage.
4. Boost ROI
Your app’s performance will determine how engaged users are with your app. This will increase sales and allow you to earn higher returns.
Let’s now take a look at the main benefits and importance of a good UX/UI design in the mobile application development process.
Things to consider when designing mobile UI in 2022
Mobile app UX/UI design can differ from desktop in many areas. These are some of the things you should consider:
1. Screen Size
Accessing and using information that was previously only available through websites is now possible via mobile applications. This makes them the most accessible way to access it. If you reduce the size of your website to fit a 6-6.5-inch smartphone, it will look cluttered and make navigation difficult.
Mobile devices have a smaller screen than desktop apps and websites, so information should be clear and concise. You should prioritize the most important and relevant information for users. Keep the information brief and easy so that the screen is clean and organized.
2. Screen orientation
Smartphones and tablets allow users to adjust the orientation of their screens according to their convenience. A survey found that 94% of smartphone users prefer to use their smartphones vertically, while the other 94% prefer to use them horizontally. The type of mobile app also affects the screen orientation. If it’s a video streaming application or gaming app, users will likely use it horizontally rather than vertically.
When designing a mobile application, it is important to ensure that both orientations are satisfied. This will allow users to use their mobile screens to the maximum extent and be comfortable while doing so.
This is possible by creating a mobile application that can be used in both orientations and placing features and clickable icons where users are most comfortable.
3. Navigation and input
The screen is all that’s needed to interact with an application on a mobile device. Mobile users don’t have either a mouse or a keyboard. You should therefore provide them with multiple input options, including a numeric or qwerty keyboard, that can be switched.
You should also pay attention to the distance between action icons and their sizes. Users may make mistakes if the icons are too close together. You need to ensure that icons and buttons are not too small and that they are kept away from each other so that the UI does not look cluttered.
Users interact with mobile apps using touch, but they also use other gestures. Mobile users use a variety of gestures, including tapping, scrolling, and sliding. Double-tap to zoom in, three-finger slide to take a picture, and so on.
Therefore, ensure your app supports all these gestures.
4. Environment
Smartphones are no longer used casually. They are also used extensively in professional settings. They can be used in any location and for professional tasks.
Your app should be able to be used regardless of where the user is located. High-contrast icons and colors can help make the information visible in all lighting conditions. It should be quick and responsive enough to meet the user’s needs.
5. Make it responsive
Another great way to enhance and improve the usability of your mobile app is to pay attention to responsiveness. This is because users will find it simple to use any of your design elements on their screens, regardless of the device they are using. It encourages users to use your app to its full potential and to spend more time with your brand.
6. Make Popular Icons
Users become more familiar with icons when they interact with mobile apps and other software regularly. Users don’t need to read labels to access the functions of the app after they have used it daily. They just need to look at the icon and they can get on with their work.
You can reduce the amount of education required to explain to the user the purpose of an element by using simple, high-quality icons. This will make your application easier to use and increase user engagement, which in turn will lead to a higher ROI.
Make sure you use clear and popular icons in your UX/UI design strategy.
7. Follow platform-based rules
This is an important point to remember when designing a mobile application. Both Apple and Google have established their mobile app design guidelines for iOS and Android devices.
These rules will help you improve the performance and appearance of your app, regardless of which platform it is being used on. Never ignore platform-based guidelines for mobile app design.
8. Consider App Testing
Sometimes the elements that you have added to your app UI design don’t work as you expected. These mistakes can cause a complete user experience disruption if they are not tested. They can be corrected with updates but they can negatively impact your impression.
It is better to test the application before you launch it. You should test every element, icon, and orientation of the application. This will allow you to fix any errors that may be missed by your users.
UX/UI designers need to remember the importance of depth when testing mobile apps. The depth of testing means that testing should be performed according to the intended market, users, and purpose of the app. It should also be tested on at most three operating systems.
UX/UI design is the best mobile app development strategy. It is user-centric and highly efficient. The main areas to focus on when designing a mobile app in 2022 have been discussed. These simple tips will help you create an app that brings in more revenue and returns on investment.