The advent of smartphones has led to the steep drop in the usage of desktop. According to a report, it has been found that at present desktops’ usage has dropped to around 40%. On the other hand, the mobile usage has jumped to around 60%. Today, many users are switching from their desktops to the smartphones rapidly. Hence, the mobile space is expanding at a faster pace that has given birth to the trend of mobile-friendly websites and applications.
In order to deliver the services on mobile, most of the organizations have transformed their websites (desktop version) to the responsive versions without caring about mobile-oriented interface. This transformation cannot ensure that business will serve effectively through all the mobile devices because this practice leads to weird user interface (UI) that further harms the user experience (UX).
The user interface plays a key role in every mobile-centered application. If the user interface is not properly considered, then it is not necessary that app or mobile website will provide a great experience that may affect the business adversely. So, how can a developer integrate the best UI? This blog accentuates the best ways of practice that everyone should remember while designing a mobile app.
Let’s Have A Glimpse Below To Find Out The Imperative Tips:
1. Implement Uniform & Clear Content
The people mostly access the mobile application or website on-the-go. Hence, it is quite difficult for the mobile users to just search or even go through different pages. Moreover, in the small touchscreens, it is not easy to navigate. Thus, every developer should strive to keep content clear (easy to understand) and there should be no or minimum clutter.
Along with this, every page should be expressive and has uniform interactive functionality. If there are some special interactive features like horizontal scrolling and swiping to go for next page, then the developers should also mention that because all the users do not have any idea about these features.
2. Create Simple Interactive Menu
Just like a desktop website, most of the developers integrate the menu bar at the top that takes a huge space when the site is accessed through mobile. Therefore, it is better to place the drop down menu at the top left or right corner. Secondly, try to minimize the use of multi-level menu because this annoys the users.
It is better to add submenu up to 2nd level only when it seems necessary for your mobile application. Moreover, showcase the key messages effectively.
3. Optimize For Touch
Today, almost all the smartphones have touchscreen. Those days are gone when the users used to utilize keypad and joystick to engage with the web pages. Thus, the developers should focus on the development of touch-based interface. This means that every element in the interface such as button, form, content, etc. is enabled to be easily controlled with touch and other gestures so that when the users press any button, it will not overlap the other control buttons.
While designing the apps for touchscreen, the developer should also focus on coding the interface in such a way so that it can also be accessed with styluses and directional keypads.
4. Minimize Fancy Effects & Image Usage
Loading speed is the key performance indicator. In this fast paced world, everyone loves speed. The mobile users always like instant response from the application. The application that loads slowly or takes a lot of time to provide response annoys people and it is uninstalled sooner.
The two major elements that mostly affect the loading speed of web page or application are the image and graphics. The developers need to drop the idea of deploying the fancy effects or placing the big-size images that consume bandwidth and memory space. It is better to use CSS3 instead of images for button or other elements. Moreover, use of fancy text as a design should also be avoided.
5. Make Forms Simple
It is good to provide the simple form that requires less typing. It means it should feature minimum field and support auto-fill functionality. If form is large, then it is imperative to show progress that presents how much the users are far to reach the end.
The developers should implement the visual calendar in the place of the text box (where the users have to fill the date). Secondly, all the labels should be positioned above the input field, so that the users can comfortably input the desirable data.
6. Develop Layout For Different Devices
There are multifarious smartphones with different screen sizes. Hence, every developers should focus on designing the interface for not only 320-pixel width but also 360, 320, 480 and 600-pixel width. It is imperative to make the layout flexible for different screens.
Closing Thoughts
Developing the best mobile UI for the best UX requires mobile first approach as it eases the way for the developers to focus on prime factors that should be considered in order to make the mobile website & application highly interactive. Are you aware of these facts? Share your experience in mobile application designing and development view comment sections given below.
Author Bio: Ashni Sharma (@anshiapps) is working as mobile application developer at AppsChopper. She has contributed a lot of valuable ideas to bring innovation alive in mobile application development field. Also, she has written numerous of blogs and articles covering key practices for design applications. At present, all her write-ups are appreciated by the experts and beginners all around the world.