9 Tips for Designing Exceptional Mobile UX

A good UX design can make a significant difference that brings more downloads of the app. However, with the ever-changing world of technology and the niche of Mobile User Experience respectively, making effective mobile design gets harder each year.

Surely, keeping up with developments in the field is important to create an app that stands out and wins customers. However, still there are some unchanged basic concepts that can bring you unbeaten results even on such a competitive mobile market as we are having now.

These guidelines will also be useful for those who have little or no experience in designing mobile UX or even for those whose mobile UX has gone wrong. Below there are nine tips for designing exceptional mobile UX that refers both to the apps and mobile websites.

1. Mobile UX designed from scratch

It may seem obvious, but not everybody understands that mobile UX is quite different from the web though some similarities existing between them can’t be denied. Still, the way customers see and use mobile apps is a brand new experience, and this factor should be considered when designing a mobile app.

Among a rich variety of different features, screen design is the first that must undergo changes. Aimed to create a successful mobile app, you should first design UI taking into account such elements as minimal screen space and virtual keyboard. Undoubtedly, web UX may be very helpful but you should be ready to shift from it and create a unique mobile design.

2. Design mobile UX keeping the targeted audience in mind

Who is your mobile design targeted at? If you don’t know the end-users of your product, it’s likely to fail your expectations of success. But once you learn what customers need and what they expect to get from a mobile app, lots of design decisions will come easily. Still, how to figure out your users’ needs?

That’s quite easy. Even with such diverse factors as age, gender, education level, and language all mobile users are either result-oriented and want to get a quick solution to their problem or simply enjoy the process. However, focusing on some particular users’ demands might be even more beneficial for your future app than pleasing all customer categories.

3. Simplify functionality

Lots of functions that work great on desktops may not work on mobile devices at all. That’s why mobile functionality should be optimized and simplified. Where should you start? Redefine the menu bar first, making it more intuitive and accessible.

Then simplify the navigation process. Don’t make users go through the multi-level procedure to find a feature they need. Focus on minimalistic design and keep core messages laconic and simple.

4. Minimize content

People want small mobile screens to render the same amount and quality of content that they used to get through television and computer monitors. This where you should put your design skills into action. The main principle you should be ruled by is minimalism. However, mind that the core message of the content must be preserved.

Even if you can’t reduce the information that much makes it easier for users to navigate. For this, create additional features like arrows, a convenient scroll-bar, or whatever makes users’ experience simple and productive.

5. Avoid extra images

Undoubtedly, adding images to the text helps users grasp the main idea of the content. Not only images reinforce the productivity of your mobile app or website they also keep customers interested and make them use your app longer. However, images shouldn’t incorporate the whole space in your design.

Remember the rule of minimalism mentioned in the previous guideline, it works here as well. Don’t try to put images where they look inappropriate or replace text. If you want to achieve some special effects, you’d better choose fonts.

6. Reduce interruptions

Most of the interruptions that distract people from their activities come from mobile phones. Calls, emails, instant messages break Internet sessions, don’t let us focus on important work, or keep us awake at 2 am. If you design a simple mobile app with a minimalistic set of features, you will help your users avoid additional interruptions that can be very irritating at times.

It will also help you retain more customers since they won’t leave your app every time some interruption appears.

7. Get acquainted with users

Once your mobile app is ready with your designing skills, knowledge, and the best practices invested, think of the first encounter with a would-be user. Can you be sure that a mobile product you have designed will bring your customers an unforgettable UX? Can you guarantee that a user will easily understand how your app should be used and won’t quit it once some unknown feature appears?

If no, then you should think of a way to get acquainted with the customer and simplify their first acquaintance with your product as much as possible. This is where small tutorials or instructions that show how to navigate your app will be very useful.

Since these guidelines are also a part of mobile UX design, make them laconic and appropriate.

8. Be ready to preview your app and make changes

It seems to you that you have approached the mobile design process with utmost creativity and fresh ideas, but somehow they have failed to deliver an expected result. That’s ok. As the mobile market develops, mobile design requirements grow as well. Maybe your revolutionized ideas don’t match present demands.

Even so, don’t hurry to throw them away. You may simply adjust them to current requirements and users’ expectations, and this will help you improve both your app and UX.

9. Implement the best tips and experience

  There are definitely those who have successfully designed mobile UX and now ready to share their best practices. Never stop learning. Use someone’s positive experience and your own skills and knowledge to choose the right track that will lead you to an exceptional mobile product.

Denys Vetriak

administrator