The idea of creating a mobile app from scratch sounds like an uphill task full of complex coding activities, but it does not have to be like that. Before developing a new mobile app, you need to design it first. It is essential to plan every step, and at some point, you might want to retreat and examine what you are building.
If you are in a customer-first business, then you need a mobile app. It is no longer an option, but a necessity, so you want to make sure you do it right. Businesses that made the mistake of not creating a mobile app will continue to suffer in the coming years. Having a mobile strategy is essential because users spend 90% of their time in apps as compared to surfing the internet. That is why apps are key, and thus application design.
It is excellent to have a mobile responsive website backed by a solid mobile marketing strategy with major resources being allocated to cross-device reach. In today’s competitive era, not having a mobile app has severe implications. A mobile app helps companies reach more customers, improve marketing strategies, provide value to the clients, increase brand awareness, increase customer engagement and loyalty, and create one or more competitive advantages. Plus, mobile apps can improve your bottom line, and for that, you need application design.
Application Design Strategy
Every application design starts with a strategy. It defines the future and the path to reach your destination. Yet, the issue takes place when creating a mobile app design strategy. You simply cannot create an app just because your competitor has one. Your competitor might have a different business objective and mobile strategy which are quite different from yours.
Developing a mobile strategy links back to the company strategy and has the next steps.
1. Understand Your Business Strategy
Understanding the overall business strategy should form the basis of your mobile app design. Misalignment between the company strategy and the mobile strategy is simply suicidal.
There are many benefits of creating and executing a mobile strategy that is derived from the overall company strategy. For instance, it maximizes ROI, reduces training needs, leads to customer satisfaction, and decreases integration requirements and bugs.
Plus, you get Improvement in quality, value, productivity, employee efficiency, and buyer engagement.
2. Business mobile app strategy
Your mobile app strategy is your secure path to achieving success with your mobile app design and marketing in general. The success or failure of the app depends on the strategy since everything will be linked to it. It will be simpler to create if you have answers to the following questions: what is the purpose of the app, and what is the benefit that the end-user will drive from using the app.
The strategy has to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Anything that is too vague or looks seemingly unachievable, strike it out. For instance, having more downloads than WhatsApp is not a practically achievable goal.
3. Defining The App Strategy
Now is the time to define clear use cases on the basis of the client journey. This calls for a clear definition of the single-app strategy.
A use case is at the center of defining app strategy. It is defined as the list of actions that define the interaction between a role and the system.
Basic Application Design Principles
In this section, we will present some concepts you must count on when doing application design.
1. Familiarity
Humans are hard-wired to seek out patterns of familiarity in the world in order to quickly make sense of new data. By incorporating familiar design elements found across multiple devices, users are able to quickly identify key features and functionalities. For instance, an icon of an envelope always refers to an email, and also, a magnifying glass icon refers to a search function. Not breaking the mold in this regard is advisable, as you can leverage the user’s associated meaning of various icons to your advantage.
2. Hierarchy and weight of elements
Mobile app designers need to be familiar with the principles of basic design hierarchy. Key elements on the mobile screen must always have the most visual weight. This is done by adjusting the font weight, size and color, and so on. Positioning of titles in relation to body copy and indicating which design elements are related are visually indicated through smart design hierarchy. Boxing elements and selecting the same vs contrasting color choices indicate to the user how certain elements and information are related. This is a design tool used across all digital mediums and so users already fundamentally understand these elements and thus associate the planned meaning with them.
3. Breathing Space
Incorporating white spacing around elements is still important as it is a sure way to attract users’ attention to your content. It also serves to create better readability and is just a simple yet effective way to create a good, clean UI. When designing mobile apps, breathing space helps reduce clutter and helps users complete tasks easier.
4. Clarity
Good mobile apps are designed specifically to allow users to complete tasks in the shortest time possible, and the key to that is intuitive design. Designers must always consider the perspective of first-time users and how quickly they are able to understand the functionality and fluidity of the app. Clarity informs designers about which elements are required and which are dispensable. The aim is simplicity, and keeping an eye on design clarity will help you achieve this.
Bottom Line
You should take into consideration the strategy and the principles of application very seriously if you want to succeed in the industry. If you do things in the wrong way from the beginning, it will be much harder to get to the top than if you acknowledge the basics of application design and act upon them.
