How to improve the user interface of a mobile application

The interface of a mobile application should simultaneously achieve two opposite goals: 1) with the help of a unique and creative interface, it should give the user access to the product; 2) and it should do so in a familiar (read this as in a non-unique) coordinate system for him. And all of this should be prioritized in favor of the user, above all else. Then, once that’s settled, the developer’s reality should be taken into consideration. 

In case of success, the client gets a good user experience, and your product a prospect, and vice versa – an unsuccessful user experience is equal to the failure of the product. An expert from Dworkz companies below talks about which web design & development solutions can improve the design of your digital product.

Simplicity

The first screen of the application should have a simple and understandable design that doesn’t require the user to make an unnecessary effort to understand. Simplicity should be the main principle for interface developers. It’s the kind of simplicity that doesn’t force users to make difficult choices. It should give ready and simple solutions. Furthermore, it is important that the application have the same number of features as needed to solve the problem the user is using it for.

Native Components

Most applications are built using the cross-platform application and out-of-the-box solutions such as libraries and frameworks. This makes it faster and cheaper to release a product, but makes it more cumbersome to download. Developers are usually using hybrid technologies to make digital products. These technologies combine boxed solutions and the author’s code. Boxed solutions are used for cross-platform components, and the author’s code is used for single-platform ones. The more native components in the application, the higher the performance, and the more stable and secure it works. 

Native design is typically unified. For a new user, this means that when using your application for the first time, the interface will appear familiar to him, as if he had already used your application before. In this way, developers use the early user experience to make the interface of the new application intuitive to the user, appealing to his previous experience. Another advantage of native development is the ability to add animation to the main screen and in transitions between secondary ones. These animated screen transitions can be used to add a gaming element to an application.

Follow Apple and Google Guidelines 

These two giants provide developers with a set of guidelines to help them build simple applications. The main recommendation is to follow the logic of the design. The last needs to be emphasized because, like native components, it should also appeal to the previous user experience. This helps developers think about the business logic of the application in a way that keeps the familiar algorithm users use to interact with the app. 

The 6 most common app design mistakes:

1. There is no feedback mechanism. For example, about the current state of the system, how the system interprets user actions, and what is happening right now.
2. No progress indication. For example, you can use an animated progress bar to let the user know how long a command is taking to execute.
3. Unnamed icons.
4. No preset values. Default values help the user complete frequently recurring actions faster, such as filling out forms in an online store when shopping.
5. Too small pressure areas.
6. Excessive use of modal windows. These take away from the user’s understanding of the process as a whole.

According to Apple and Google, design logic is the key to user experience. By appealing to previous user experience, it helps to immerse them in any new product as if they were in a familiar environment in which they were well-oriented. The criterion of a well-thought-out business logic is that the user spends as little time as possible on onboarding. 

Product navigation and search system

With the help of your mobile application, users are able to accomplish specific tasks, such as monitoring finances, making purchases, or reading current news. To achieve the expected results from, the user must be able to quickly find the necessary sections on the application’s interface. The menu sections of this should be informative, and clicking on these should open the promised information or access to the feature. 

When the user opens the application, the work should be done within 2-3 clicks, or 5 steps at most if the product is complex, like accounting for goods in a warehouse. It helps users quickly find the desired section or search engine tool. A well-thought-out architecture, which is a consequence of a well-thought-out business logic, increases the conversion of users through the marketing funnel at the decisive stages of performing targeted actions – purchase, subscription, or registration.

Testing

Before releasing an application, it must be tested for its functionality, usability, and compatibility. There are various services for testing mobile application software, for example, TestFlight for iOS and Beta for Android. The results help developers improve functionality, applications, and more. Product testing provides feedback from users who spend their time answering your main question – is it convenient for them to use your product? Collect feedback and draw conclusions so that before release, immediately improve the product.

Imagine yourself as a potential user of your product. Before that, test 2-3 applications of competitors, and then proceed to test your own. Our friends at Dworkz ask their developers these benchmark questions to help them draw the right conclusions:

 

1. What other application is this like? 
2. It is convenient for me to receive services using this tool?
3. Am I willing to pay money for this service?
4. What can be improved?
5. What will this application be like in 2-3 years?

 

To answer the last question, consider what features you will need to implement and what old features you will get rid of.

Conclusion

Your mobile application should not like to everyone, it is aimed at a narrow group of users with specific aesthetic tastes and problems to be solved. But it must meet the expectations of the target audience of your product. The interface of the application should make an impressive first impression without compromising functionality, speed, or ease of access to problem-solving tools. To achieve this, integrate as many native components as possible into the application and follow the recommendations of Apple and Google. And test it, and after receiving the test results, implement improvements. 

An application is like a person who can be a friend, assistant, or adviser. Empathic emotions are what makes a successful mobile app different from a failed one. Since startups cannot compete with giants, for whom the emotions of individuals are not so relevant, it is your advantage to appeal to the emotions of people. Let users feel that they matter to you.