Mon, Aug 14, 2017

Mobile App Design: Tips for Getting Started

Mobile App Design: Tips for Getting Started

Today, building an app is accessible to everyone, and more and more people are diving into mobile app design for the first time. Here are a few tips from experts to help you move forward.

Layout

Use grids

A grid is the best way to keep your objects aligned. A tiny alignment problem can completely upset the entirety of your design.

grid.jpg

Define margins

From the moment that you place an object, take note of the margins you used and apply the same to other similar elements (for example, each button).

spacing-text.jpg

Play with space

You aren’t creating apps for ants! Even though it’s oftentimes forgotten, putting some air between your elements aids in the visibility and ease of use for your content.

A larger font makes your content more visible and gives your users a better experience. You can also add a bit of space between lines.

padding-button.png

Play with contrasts

Increase visibility by accentuating contrasts. The easiest one? Black text on a white background. If you can’t read it easily, that’s a problem.

contrast-color.png

Colors

Start with black and white

Working in black and white lets you concentrate on the overall experience of using your app and helps you to fix any issues. Color can bring in personal feelings that may prevent you from seeing key elements.

Use color palettes

Mastering color is a true art. Search for “Color palettes” on Dribbble to find existing palettes or you can also use free color generators like Coolors or Color Claim.

color-palette.png

Download the Chrome ColorZilla extension to find the color code of any pixel on any website.

Color that organizes information

Colors can have a real significance. Put more active colors for the most important actions. And pay attention: red, for example, is oftentimes associated with “delete”.

Play with contrasts

Accentuate contrasts to facilitate visibility. The simplest? A black text on a white background. If you have trouble reading, there is a problem.

Fonts

Keep it simple

Did you know that most users can’t tell the difference between Arial, Avenir, Roboto and Helvetica? Save yourself hours of work—once you find a clean font that’s easy to read, use that and move on.

Almost black is more legible than black

Choose #333333 RGB (51,51,51) instead of black for your text. Pure black makes the eye vibrate a bit, making reading more difficult.

almost-black.png

Ergonomics

One screen, one task

When you’re starting an app, it’s best to concentrate on one single task per screen (essentially, to have a single “call to action,” such as a button to click).

Your users need to understand where they are: don’t hesitate to add a title to your screens to let them know exactly where they are.

Think with one hand

Screens are bigger and bigger, and most users still only use one hand on them! Keep in mind how your content is laid out in relation to the “thumb zone,” the comfort zone for one’s thumb on various mobile devices.

thumb-zone.png

The evolution of the iPhone’s comfort zone by Scott Hurff

Design

Lots of apps are lists

Identify and categorize your screens: are they lists? galleries? a sign-up screen? Once you’ve understood your key categories, find a style and replicate it. Again, your users need to understand where they are.

Check out flat design

It’s today’s mobile design! Flat design is marked by simplicity and legibility. The term “flat” indicates that there’s no sense of relief or depth, as elements are in 2D with a unicolor background, often with vivid colors. You can easily find images and pictures for flat design on the web – a great starting point for beginners.

flat-design.jpg

Reportly by Arkadiusz Platek

Get inspired by what’s out there!

Good news – the questions that you have already have answers! There are lots of sources online that discuss various types of screens.

Here are a few interesting libraries:

Look at Apple and Google

Apple and Google both furnish numerous resources for designers and developers, letting them best create apps for their operating systems.

iOS Human Interface Guidelines

Android Material Design

Conclusion

When you’re making an app, keep it simple and intuitive! Your users don’t have time to waste on understanding anything complicated, they’ll just move on to the next app! And before you get started on a complex app, form that solid center: you’ll always be able to enrich it further as time goes on.

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