Statistics show that “people spend an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phones. Americans spend around 5.4 hours a day using phones. Millennials are on their phones 5.7 hours a day, while baby boomers devote 5 hours to their smartphones.”
Gone are the days when mobile devices were only for the Elite. Nowadays, almost everyone owns at least one. In 2022, the number of smartphone users in the world today is 6.648 Billion, which translates to 83.72% of the world’s population owning a smartphone. In total, the number of people that own a smart and feature phone is 7.26 Billion, making up 91.54% of the world’s population.
Mobile devices have become an integral part of everyday life. Suppose you have a business; you would agree that competition is fierce. Therefore, hiring the best mobile app developers is essential to stay above the competition.
The global download from App Store increased to 8.6 billion in the first quarter of 2022. As a result, mobile app for businesses is a priority.
Mobile app design is the process of designing mobile applications. This article will cover a step-by-step guide on designing a mobile app.
The first step in designing a mobile app is making plans. In this stage, you mention the following:
Making a plan is like drawing a map to guide the mobile application design and development. Planning helps you identify possible problems and solutions in app design.
Research is an essential aspect of app design. There are two parts-market and user research. You need to get information about your niche to understand the competition better. As a result, you may discover a lapse in existing apps, and addressing this issue will be the selling point for your brand.
In addition, conduct in-depth user research to identify user needs and complaints to provide a solution. At this stage, you can modify your plan’s objectives, functionality, and other areas.
Furthermore, you may collect data from the public about their preferences. The result will then inform the mobile app UI design, which helps form an emotional connection with end-users.
The UX wireframe is a visual representation of the app’s architecture. This is like a blueprint of the function and appearance of the app. Web and mobile app development companies create the wireframe digitally for proper representation.
The UX wireframe is a detailed outline of the mobile app layout. It specifies the pages and the location of the features. You can use the following wireframing tools to create a wireframe:
The wireframe gives the app designer a clear overview of the features of the mobile application. This helps evaluate the mobile UI design to ensure it is easy to navigate.
The next step is to create a clickable prototype. At this stage, the designers test the interface before implementing the design. Prototyping is an essential stage because it helps to make any corrections before the main design begins.
A prototype is a sample of the app that allows for testing the efficiency of the design blueprint. This is a more cost-effective method than making corrections after launching the application. Therefore, professional app designers use prototypes to ensure they have not missed any important feature or function.
After testing the prototype, web and mobile app development companies, I advise conducting usability testing.
Designing the user experience is as essential as the user interface. Therefore, it is crucial to define the visual specification of the app design. The user interface is the final field where the user interacts with the mobile application.
At this stage, app developers must analyze and optimize visual perception and feelings from client interaction with the application. Features analyzed include color, font, animations, shapes, and other factors influencing positive or negative user experience.
However, an app designer must work on the UX while focusing on the layout to ensure it is easy to navigate. As a result, the risk of creating a messy mobile app UI design is significantly reduced.
Mobile app testing is one of the essential phases before the launch. Testing aims to find bugs and errors that may affect its functions. Irrespective of an app’s solution, users and app stores will reject it if it does not meet the standard.
The aim of testing is not to discredit the app developers. However, it is to ensure that the final product meets the expectations. In addition, designers have to test-run the mobile app on devices with different operating systems like android and ios. The aim is to test the functionality, loading time, and ease of navigation. Any errors detected will be promptly fixed.
After all the errors have been fixed, you can now prepare to introduce the mobile app to the world. Apple usually requires review before approving the app. However, filling out an additional form is required if the app is intended for commercial purposes.
This article has covered the guide to mobile app design. The best mobile app developers need to work with other individuals to produce a quality application. Feedback from users and research are two aspects of app design that must not be taken for granted. Remember, if users cannot navigate the app, it would be useless irrespective of its prospects!
ALSO READ: The Ultimate Guide To Mobile App Design.