9 important things to consider when developing a mobile app
The world of mobile applications is actually very unfriendly and tough. Various surveys give different data, but you may rest assured – most apps will be used only once, and then never again. That’s why you should consider some basic aspects when developing your mobile application.
1. Ensure performance
Launching of your application should be as quick as your target audience expects it to be. No one wants to wait, and you should keep your users away from it. At the beginning, it depends entirely on the tech stack, so choose the right one. Don’t forget about regular optimization of your product and keep high performance as a must.
2. Don’t get into a multi-platform trap
Developing a platform-independent application ensures that your product is really good on both of them: iOS and Android. Without needed flexibility you won’t be successful. If you feel that it may be hard to achieve, then you should better create different apps for different platforms. It is also a good idea to expand your product from one platform to another – avoid creating «the same app on another OS», but rather develop your ideas in the ecosystem your users are used to.
3. Choose the right language
Another aspect is a language choice. You should choose the language, which is «native» for every platform. For example, Java is a «mother tongue» for Android, whereas for iOS this is Swift. Certainly, there are some «hybrid languages», but see above – don’t use it if you are not sure that your product will be useful, flexible, and productive.
4. One action per screen
Don’t make things complicated – it’s easier to learn and use your product if the screen displays only one required action or only one function may be used. It also means only one call-to-action button.
5. Don't make a mess on the screen
Smartphone touchscreens are not so big, however opposite it may seem. That means, useful space is valuable. So, don’t clutter it with many buttons! Good UI/UX interface is about providing only relevant functions on the screen. Don’t repeat all buttons on every screen if it doesn’t require a given action.
6. Create large buttons
When making target buttons, it is natural to design them large enough. If tapped with a finger, it should match the finger size, isn’t it right? It’s all about convenience – users shouldn’t doubt if they actually touched it or not. Also, don’t forget about space between target buttons – users won’t be happy if they press «cancel» instead of «save».
7. Thumb rule
A lot of people try using their smartphones with their thumbs – because it’s easy and convenient. However, not all of the screen area is a «natural thumb zone» where all gestures are effortless. Otherwise, users have to stretch their finger or even change the grip. What does it mean for design? You should place most frequently used buttons in the green area, while negative functions must be in the red one.
8. Intuitive gestures, buttons and navigation
When creating your innovative product, try not to reinvent the wheel in functionality. It means that your apps should have an intuitive interface. Intuitive gestures should be natural and navigation – self-evident, buttons must behave the way they look. For example, «pull-to-refresh» gesture in feeds or Tab bar in iOS navigation.
9. Use onboarding
No matter how simple or difficult it is to use your application, always apply the best onboarding practices. It’s not only about learning how to use your product, this is also a good tool for customer retention.
