9 Basic Principles of Mobile App Designs

As technology evolves, mobile apps have become more mainstream. Most people would prefer using mobile apps as they are more convenient, easier to browse, and offer a better experience. Mobile apps also gained popularity worldwide because they offer a more personal experience.

Users can create an account on the app and enjoy a customized experience. So, when working on your application development lifecycle, you should consider a lot of points.

So, if your business doesn’t have a mobile app yet, it’s time to rethink your strategies. Failure to provide a mobile app to your target audience can mean losing millions of potential customers, creating a negative brand or image, and staying in the shadows of your competitors.

Besides, aving an app may greatly influence your business growth. You may earn income even with app monetization.

When starting your mobile app development, choose if you want to focus on iOS vs Android development, or maybe you prefer cross-platform apps. Do not forget about choosing the best programming language for mobile apps. Create an effective mobile app design by incorporating these basic principles:

 

1. Showcase Your Value Proposition

 

Countless businesses invest in eCommerce agencies to create mobile apps. That is why it’s crucial to ensure that yours is different. How can you gain traction if your app looks very similar to your competitors? Do you think you can create a lasting image or brand if this is the case?

Showcasing your business value proposition is a basic element when creating a mobile app design. In marketing, the value proposition is the service or feature that makes your business attractive to customers, and highlighting this on your app will make you stand out.

Once users open your app for the first time, state your value proposition. This means you should tell users what your app can do and how it can solve some of their most common dilemmas.

For example, if you’re selling a mobile security app, the first screen should display information about your app, and the next screen should show videos on how your app works.

 

2. Improve Loading Speed

 

Online users have a very limited attention span — eight seconds, to be exact. If your mobile app doesn’t provide information to users within this timeframe, they’ll immediately abandon your mobile app and patronize products and services from other businesses.

If you want to learn how to design a mobile app, improving the site’s loading speed is one strategy. Mobile apps that load fast offer a better user experience and create a more positive brand in the industry. The speed of your mobile app also affects your ability to retain users — the faster your app loads, the more frequent users will open your mobile app.

There are many ways to improve the loading speed of your app such as:

• Be Careful when Using Images

Images can improve the functionality of your mobile app, but using ones that have too large sizes can cause your app to slow down. Optimize and resize your images to ensure that they don’t take too long to load on your mobile app.

• Reuse Pre-Loaded Templates

Use the same mobile app design templates to increase the overall performance efficiency of your mobile app. Using fewer templates will improve the loading speed.

• Use Clean and Crisp Coding

Clean and crisp coding with no excessive hierarchical elements can cause your app to load faster. To achieve this, avoid unnecessary caching of data and minimize memory footprints.

 

3. Strive for Minimalism 

 

One of the biggest mistakes people commit when it comes to designing mobile apps is adding too many design elements. Sure, this might showcase your business prowess in web design, but going overboard can shoo away users. Instead of encouraging users to stay on your mobile app and take action, adding too many images or videos on one page will only cause them to leave.

Striving for minimalism is one of the most important design principles in creating a mobile app for business. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to impress your users with your app by incorporating excessive design elements. You can achieve that goal by making sure your mobile app is simple yet significant.

Make the most out of your mobile app design software by following the tips below. These will go a long way in creating a simple but highly effective mobile app.

• Remove Unnecessary Elements

Remove design elements that don’t improve the user experience on the app. The fewer design elements your mobile app has, the easier it will be for users to accomplish their goals on the platform.

• Maximize White Space

In-app design, white space is the area between different design elements present on a web page. These design elements can include images, icons, and typography. To achieve a simple mobile app design, use white space to divide and emphasize design elements.

• Use Simple Navigation

The navigational tools on your mobile app should be visible and easy to use. For example, if you want users to search content on your mobile app, include a magnifying glass icon on your main page.

 

4. Incorporate UI in the Registration Process

 

Asking users to create an account on your mobile app is crucial in providing a tailor-fit experience. When you know more about your users, you can determine what type of content or feature meets their needs.

However, asking for users’ information should be done carefully. Requiring them to sign in right after opening the app for the first time or asking too many questions can cause discomfort. This can trigger users to leave your mobile app. Make sure this doesn’t happen by paying attention to the user interface or UI design of your registration process.

Incorporate mobile app UI design to make your registration process simpler through these tips:

• Give users the option to skip sign-in or sign-up later. Avoid pressuring them in giving their information on the spot to prevent any friction.
• Ask for minimum permissions. When you ask too many, users might question the credibility and trustworthiness of your mobile app.
• Always provide context when asking for personal information or permissions. This will inform the users of your purpose.
• Instead of generic instructions, use encouraging language in your mobile app. In this way, you can set a positive tone that can motivate users to continue using your app.

 

5. Simplify the Process of Going Back

 

Focus on human-centered design.

After users download your app, it’s common for them to navigate through the platform to discover features. Often, they’ll tap on different features, realize that they chose the wrong option, and then tap on the back button to return to a page.

To create an effective mobile app design template, don’t forget to add a back button that allows users to go back and make corrections. This button shouldn’t take users all the way back to your main page; it should only redirect them to their previously visited page.

Most importantly, your back button should respond once users tap it. This can mean showing a progress bar on the screen after the user taps the back button. This will keep the user engaged as your app loads the previous page.

 

6. Pay Attention to the Size of the Buttons

 

The size of the buttons is crucial to the success of your mobile app. Adding a button too big can make the screen look cluttered while using buttons that are too small will make it challenging for users to click on them. Users can eventually get frustrated if they can’t properly use the buttons on your app.

Ideally, the buttons on your mobile app should be around 40 to 80 pixels wide and 30 to 40 pixels in height. Setting the buttons in these sizes warrants a seamless navigation experience as users can easily navigate through your app without frequently zooming in or out of the screen.

 

7. Improve Readability

 

Your content is one of the reasons why users download your app in the first place, so it’s important to make sure your content is readable. Publishing high-quality content about your business or products won’t provide positive results if it’s presented in large chunks of texts without any white spaces.

Readability measures how easy it is for users to read and understand textual content on your mobile app. Several factors affect the readability of your content, namely fonts and color contrasts, just to name a few.

To improve the readability of the content on your mobile app, consider the following:

• Use Shorter And Simpler Words

Always use shorter and simpler words in your content. This will encourage users to read your content and make it easier for them to understand the message you’re trying to convey.

• Add Images

Add high-quality images to break long paragraphs on your mobile app. Images are also a great way of explaining complex topics and giving users a ‘visual break’ from reading texts. Pay attention to image optimization.

• Break It Down

Break down large chunks of texts into smaller sections using bullet points and different font weights (bold, italicized). This also allows users to locate the information they’re looking for without reading too many texts.

 

8. Use a Consistent Color Palette

 

The colors in your mobile app don’t only affect its visual appeal. In fact, color is one of the most vital elements in mobile app design because it helps users interpret your content, interact with different design elements, and understand actions. Colors can also make or break the impression your app creates in the eyes of its users.

Unless you’re working with a mobile app design company, picking the right colors for your mobile app can be challenging. With the number of colors available today, you’ll likely see yourself overwhelmed with too many options.

Pay attention to these tips to choose the best color palette for your mobile app:

• Choose Colors That Channel The Right Emotion

According to color psychology, colors can evoke different emotional responses. For example, blue is often associated with security and trust while red corresponds with speed and energy.

When choosing colors for your mobile app, consider the emotion you want to stimulate. The right colors will enable you to connect to your users at a more personal level and make your brand more memorable.

• Check The Colors Your Competitors Are Using

Check what colors your competitors use in the app store and benchmark on the reviews left by the users. Was it easy for the users to find the app on the app store? Or would they prefer the icon in another color for better visibility? The reviews in the app store about your competitors’ choice of colors will give an idea of what works in your niche.

• Consider Countries And Cultures

Take some time to research the meaning of colors in your target countries. Some cultures consider red to signify danger while others would associate the color with luck and happiness. When you know which colors appeal to your target audience based on their country and culture, you can easily create a positive brand and prevent any miscommunication.

 

9. Choose Fonts Carefully

 

Your efforts to publish high-quality content on your mobile app will be useless if you use the wrong font. Using the wrong style, size, and weight of fonts will make it hard for users to read your content. This can also prevent you from conveying your message or brand to your users.

Adhere to mobile app design guidelines and choose your fonts carefully. Refrain from experimenting with unique fonts as this will only have negative impacts on the usability and appeal of your mobile app.

Take note of these tips to help you choose the right fonts for your mobile app:

• Think about Your Branding

When choosing a font style, think about the brand you want to create. If you want to portray an artistic brand, opt to use handwritten fonts such as Patrick Hand, Permanent Market, or Just Another Hand. To position your brand as bold and quirky, pick Slab Serif Fonts such as Roboto Slab, Courier New, or Arvo.

• Limit the Total Number of Fonts

Don’t use more than three fonts in your mobile app. Aside from making your app look unprofessional, this will also prevent you from creating a positive brand or image.

• Don’t Use Similar Fonts

You need to use two different fonts for your main categories and subcategories to create a visual hierarchy. This will help users to differentiate the two and determine which to choose when looking for information.

 

To Sum Up

 

Aside from paying attention to the basic principles mentioned in this article, don’t forget to find inspiration from high-performing mobile apps in your niche. This will give you more information on what design elements work to create the best mobile app design.