Perhaps you have mastered the world of
cross-platform app design and is ready to get your hands on your first mobile
app design.
Though you maybe ready to get down to
the nitty-gritty and is already having visions of grandeur how the whole
universe is going to thank you for such a wonderful accomplishment, think twice
before you leap. Many an enterprising mobile app developer forget that
ultimately it is the user who is the final arbiter of the application.
Before you catch negative reviews here
are 10 mobile app design mistakes you should avoid to prevent putting your
career in a precarious position.
1.
Flow map first before wireframes.
Technicalities can follow so make sure
from the onset you have the user in mind. Even the simplest of applications
should have a well-thought-out flow map to get a navigational structure in
place.
Skipping the flow map can have
disastrous results; it is like going to an unknown country without employing a
map.
2.
Never overlook the budget.
It is easy for a designer to bring
changes to the table. However, everything has to pass through the developer. Budget
should bring the right perspective to changes. Things that look as simple as a
type-ahead search that gives live results may take more than just an hour, or
even days to build.
3.
Don’t let low resolution or bitmaps
fool you.
High-res, pixel-dense screens is the
way to go. If you are being skimpy on the pixels, forget about getting users
for your app.
4.
Never undersize the hit area.
One measurement to remember is the
average size of user’s index finger: 1.6 to 2cm wide. Make buttons smaller and
your functionality is in danger.
5.
Intro animations can be a drag.
Sure, fun little animations upon
opening an app can be really sweet. But if you have to wait for ages to see it,
then that would amount to many users doing a change of mind.
6.
Never leave users hanging.
Even when something is being loaded
make sure your users know something is going on. Utilizing a countdown can do
the trick or even better a progress indicator.
7.
Avoid being a blind copycat.
Lest you forget, every mobile OS has
its own quirks. Android, Windows Phone and Android have
very distinct aesthetic. Though it is
not your obligation to make your app act like it was built by the OS creator,
making it looking like it belong to the platform is definitely a good
consideration.
8.
There is good pixel-density and there
is such a thing as an overstuffed one.
True, there is a strong temptation to
get things crammed up into the interface because you have more pixels within
your disposal especially when designing high PPI (pixel per inch) displays.
It’s astounding if you’re looking at it
on a 27-inch high-res display. Remember though that the actual device could be
measure a full ruler lower or even much less.
9.
Never assume people will use your app
the way you do.
Usability testing frees your app. No
matter how good you think your app is, it still has to boil down to the user. A
closed beta to a limited number of friends could do the trick.
10.
Use gestures but don’t abuse them.
Remember that it is necessary to make
every single element of your interface fully visible or easily-accessible. For instance, we could look into the Mail app
used for iPhone. A user could actually swipe a message revealing a delete
button in the inbox view. This is a good shortcut but in a way it also shows a
balance. Other users who have no
knowledge of the shortcut may just press the “edit” button. Gestures are a plus
but being overly dependent on them can be disastrous.
In the end, keeping your users in mind
always can save you the hassle. Above all, they are the reason why you are
building the app.
Phil Talbot is founder of SAAVI – the mobile ordering system specialists and the resident
expert in mobile ordering systems. You can follow SAAVI on
Facebook.
