More than ever, people are engaging with their phones in crucial moments. The average first world user spends 5 hours per day on mobile. The vast majority of that time is spent in apps and on websites.

The difference between a good app and a bad app is usually the quality of its user experience (UX). A good UX is what separates successful apps from unsuccessful ones. Today, mobile users expect a lot from an app: fast loading time, ease of use and delight during interaction. If you want your app to be successful, you have to consider UX to be not just a minor aspect of design, but an essential component of product strategy.

There are many things to consider when designing for mobile. In this article, I’ve summarized a lot of practical recommendations that you can apply to your design.

Minimize Cognitive Load

Cognitive load refers here to the amount of brain power required to use the app. The human brain has a limited amount of processing power, and when an app provides too much information at once, it might overwhelm the user and make them abandon the task.

DECLUTTERING

Clutter is one of the worst enemies of good design. By cluttering your interface, you overload users with too much information: Every added button, image and icon makes the screen more complicated.

Clutter is terrible on desktop, but it’s far worse on mobile (simply because we don’t have as much real estate on mobile devices as we do on desktops and laptops). It’s essential to get rid of anything in a mobile design that isn’t absolutely necessary because reducing clutter will improve comprehension. The technique of functional minimalism can help you deal with the problem of a cluttered UI:

• Keep content to a minimum (present the user with only what they need to know).
• Keep interface elements to a minimum. A simple design will keep the user at ease with the product.

• Use the technique of progressive disclosure to show more options.

OFFLOAD TASKS

Look for anything in the design that requires user effort (this might be entering data, making a decision, etc.), and look for alternatives. For example, in some cases you can reuse previously entered data instead of asking the user to type more, or use already available information to set a smart default.

BREAK TASKS INTO BITE-SIZED CHUNKS

If a task contains a lot of steps and actions required from the user’s side, it’s better to divide such tasks into a number of subtasks. This principle is extremely important in mobile design because you don’t want to create too much complexity for the user at one time. One good example is a step-by-step checkout flow in an e-commerce app, where the designer breaks down a complex checkout task into bite-sized chunks, each requiring user action.

Chunking can also help to connect two different activities (such as browsing and purchasing). When a flow is presented as a number of steps logically connected to each other, the user can more easily proceed through it.

USE FAMILIAR SCREENS

Familiar screens are screens that users see in many apps. Screens such as “Gettings started,” “What’s new” and “Search results” have become de facto standards for mobile apps. They don’t require additional explanation because users are already familiar with them. This allows users to use prior experience to interact with the app, with no learning curve.

MINIMIZE USER INPUT

Typing on a small mobile screen isn’t the most comfortable experience. In fact, it’s often error-prone. And the most common case of user input is filling out a form. Here are a few practical recommendations to make this process easy:

• Keep forms as short as possible by removing any unnecessary fields. The app should ask for only the bare minimum of information from the user.

 

• Use smart features such as autocomplete. For example, filling out an address field is often the most problematic part of any registration form. Using tools like Place Autocomplete Address Form (which uses both geo-location and address prefilling to provide accurate suggestions based on the user’s exact location) enables users to enter their address with fewer keystrokes than they would have to with a regular input field.
• Dynamically validate field values. It’s frustrating when, after submitting data, you have to go back and correct mistakes. Whenever possible, check field values immediately after entry so that users can correct them right away.

• Customize the keyboard for the type of query. Display a numeric keyboard when asking for phone number, and include the @ button when asking for an email address. Ensure that this feature is implemented consistently throughout the app, rather than only for certain forms.

ANTICIPATE USERS NEEDS

Proactively look for steps in the user journey where users might need help. For example, the screenshot below shows a part where users need to provide specific information.

USE VISUAL WEIGHT TO CONVEY IMPORTANCE

The most important element on the screen should have the most visual weight. Adding more weight to an element is possible with font weight, size and color.

AVOID JARGON

Clear communication should always be a top priority in any mobile app. Use what you know about your target audience to determine whether certain words or phrases are appropriate.

MAKE THE DESIGN CONSISTENT

Consistency is a fundamental principle of design. Consistency eliminates confusion. Maintaining an overall consistent appearance throughout an app is essential. Regarding mobile app, consistency means the following:

• Visual consistency
  Typefaces, buttons and labels need to be consistent across the app.
• Functional consistency
  Interactive elements should work similarly in all parts of your app.
• External consistency
  Design should be consistent across multiple products. This way, the user can apply prior knowledge when using another product.

Here are a few practical recommendations on how to make a design consistent:

• Respect platform guidelines.
  Each mobile OS has standard guidelines for interface design: Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and Google’s Material Design Guidelines. When designing for native platforms, follow the OS’ design guidelines for maximum quality. The reason why following design guidelines is important is simple: Users become familiar with the interaction patterns of each OS, and anything that contradicts the guidelines will create friction.
• Don’t mimic UI elements from other platforms.
  As you build your app for Android or iOS, don’t carry over UI elements from other platforms. Icons, functional elements (input fields, checkboxes, switches) and typefaces should have a native feel. Use native components as much as possible, so that people trust your app.
• Keep the mobile app consistent with the website.
  This is an example of external consistency. If you have a web service and a mobile app, make sure that both of them share similar characteristics. This will allow users to make frictionless transitions between the mobile app and the mobile web. Inconsistency in design (for example, a different navigation scheme or different color scheme) might cause confusion.

Put The User In Control

KEEP INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS FAMILIAR AND PREDICTABLE

Predictability is a fundamental principle of UX design. When things work in the way users predict, they feel a stronger sense of control. Unlike on desktop, where users can use hover effects to understand whether something is interactive or not, on mobile, users can check interactivity only by tapping on an element. That’s why, with buttons and other interactive elements, it’s essential to think about how the design communicates affordance. How do users understand an element as a button? Form should follow function: The way an object looks tells users how to use it. Visual elements that look like buttons but aren’t clickable will easily confuse users.

THE “BACK” BUTTON SHOULD WORK PROPERLY

An improperly created “back” button can cause a lot of problems for users. Prevent situations when tapping the “back” button in a multi-step process would take users all the way back to the home screen.

A good design makes it easier for users to go back and make corrections. When users know that they can take a second look at data they’ve provided or options they’ve selected, this allows them to proceed with ease.

MEANINGFUL ERROR MESSAGES

To err is human. Errors occur when people engage with apps. Sometimes, they happen because the user makes a mistake. Sometimes, they happen because the app fails. Whatever the cause, these errors and how they are handled have a huge impact on the UX. Bad error handling paired with useless error messages can fill users with frustration and could be the reason why users abandon your app.

Take an error-state screen from Spotify as an example. It doesn’t help users understand the context and doesn’t help them find the answer to the question, “What can I do about it?”

Spotify’s error screen just states “An error occurred” and doesn’t provide any constructive advice on how to fix the problem.

Don’t assume users are tech-savvy enough to figure things out. Always tell people what’s wrong in plain language. Each error message should tell users:

• what went wrong and possibly why,
• what’s the next step the user should take to fix the error.

MAKE ANIMATIONS OPTIONAL

Users who suffer from motion sickness often turn off the animated effects in their OS settings. When the option to reduce motion is enabled in accessibility preferences, your app should minimize or eliminate its own animations.

Make The Navigation Simple

Helping users navigate should be a high priority for every app. All the cool features and compelling content that your app has won’t matter if people can’t find them; also, if it takes too much time or effort to discover how to navigate your product, chances are you’re just going to lose users. Users should be able to explore the app intuitively and to complete all primary tasks without any explanation.

USE STANDARD NAVIGATION COMPONENTS

It’s better to use standard navigation patterns, such as the tab bar (for iOS) and the navigation drawer (for Android). The majority of users are familiar with both navigation patterns and will intuitively know how to get around your app.

PRIORITIZE NAVIGATION OPTIONS

Prioritize navigation based on the way users interact with your app. Assign different priority levels (high, medium, low) to common user tasks. Give prominence in the UI to paths and destinations with high priority levels and frequent use. Use those paths to define your navigation. Organize your information structure in a way that requires a minimum number of taps, swipes and screens.

DON’T MIX NAVIGATION PATTERNS

When you choose a primary navigation pattern for your app, use it consistently. There shouldn’t be a situation in which part of your app has a tab bar, while another part has a side drawer.

MAKE NAVIGATION VISIBLE

Recognizing something is easier than remembering it. Minimize the user’s memory load by making actions and options visible. Navigation should be available at all times, not just when we anticipate that the user needs it.

COMMUNICATE CURRENT LOCATION

Failing to indicate the current location is a very common problem of many mobile app menus. “Where am I?” is one of the fundamental questions users need to answer in order to successfully navigate. People should know where they are in your app at any moment.

Use Functional Animation to Clarify Navigational Transitions

Animation is the best tool to describe state transitions. It helps users comprehend a state change in the page’s layout, what has triggered the change and how to initiate the change again when needed.

Functional animation can efficiently guide the user’s attention and make complex transitions easy to understand. 

BE CAREFUL WITH USING GESTURES IN THE UI

Using gestures in interaction design can be tempting. But in most cases, it’s better to avoid this temptation. When gestures are used as a primary navigation option, they can cause a terrible UX. Why? Because gestures are hidden controls.

As Thomas Joos points out in his article “Beyond the Button: Embracing the Gesture-Driven Interface,” the biggest downside of using gestures in a user interface is the learning curve. Every time a visible control is replaced with a gesture, the app’s learning curve goes up. This happens because gestures have lower discoverability — they are always hidden, and people need to be able to identify these options in order to use them. That’s why it’s essential to use only widely accepted gestures (the ones that users expect in your app).

When it comes to using gestures in a UI, follow a few simple rules:

• Use standard gestures.
  By “standard,” I mean gestures that are most natural for the app in your category. People are familiar with the standard gestures, so no extra effort is required to discover or remember them.
• Offer gestures as a supplement to, not a replacement for, visible navigation options.
  Gestures might work as shortcuts for navigation, but not as a complete replacement for visible menus. Thus, always offer a simple, visible way to navigate, even if it means a few extra actions.

Focus On The First-Time Experience

The first-time experience is a make or break part of mobile apps. You only get one shot at a first impression. And if you fail, there’s a huge probability that users won’t launch your app again. (Research by Localytics shows that 24% of users never return to an app after the first use.)

AVOID SIGN-IN WALLS

A sign-in wall is mandatory registration before using an app. It is a common source of friction for users and one of the reasons why users abandon apps. The number of users who abandon the process of registration is especially significant for apps with low brand recognition or those in which the value proposition is unclear.

Pinterest asks users to create a new account or log in upon first loading.

As a rule of thumb, only ask users to register if it’s essential (for example, if core features of your app are available only when users complete registration). And even in this case, it’s better to delay sign-in as long as possible — allow users to experience the app for a little while (for example, take a tour), and only then gently remind them to sign up. This will give your users a taste of the experience, and they will be more likely to comSoftware Co to it.

DESIGN A GOOD ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE

In the context of the mobile UX, delivering an excellent onboarding experience is the foundation for retaining users. The goal of onboarding is to show the value your app provides.

Among the many strategies for onboarding, one is especially effective: contextual onboarding. Contextual onboarding means that instructions are provided only when the user needs them. Duolingo is an excellent example. This app pairs an interactive tour with progressive disclosure to show users how the app works. Users are encouraged to jump in and do a quick test in their selected language. This makes learning fun and discoverable.

Another thing that can be very helpful during onboarding is an empty state. An empty state is a screen whose default state is empty and requires users to go through one or more steps to populate it with data. Besides informing the user of what content to expect on the page, an empty state can also teach people how to use an app. Even if the onboarding process consists of just one step, the guidance will reassure users that they are doing the right thing.

Don’t Ask for Set-Up Information Up Front

A mandatory set-up phase creates friction and can lead to abandonment of the app. When users launch an app, they expect it to just work. Thus, design your app for the majority of users, and let the few who want a different configuration adjust their settings to meet their needs any time they want.

Tip: Try to infer what you need from the system. If you need information about the user, device or environment, query the system for that whenever possible, instead of asking the user.

AVOID ASKING FOR PERMISSIONS RIGHT AT THE START

Avoid a situation in which the first thing a user sees when launching the app is a dialog requesting permission. Similar to a sign-in wall or up-front set-up phase, requesting permission at launch should be done only when it’s necessary for your app’s core function. Users won’t be bothered by this request if it’s evident that your app depends on that permission in order to operate (for example, it’s clear why a photo editor would request access to photos).

But for any other cases, ask for permissions in context. Users are more likely to grant permission if asked during a relevant task.

Tips:

• Ask only for what your app clearly needs.
  Don’t ask for all possible permissions. It would be suspicious if an app requests something that it has no obvious need for. For example, an alarm clock app asking for permission to access your list of contacts would be suspect.
• Explain why your app needs the information, if it’s not obvious.
  Sometimes you need to provide more context for your request. For this reason, you can design a custom alert to request permission.

Make Your App Appear Fast And Responsive

Loading time is extremely important for the UX. As technology progresses, we get more impatient, and today, 47% of users expect a page to load in 2 seconds or less.

If a page takes more time to load, visitors might become frustrated and leave. That’s why speed should be a priority when building a mobile app. But no matter how fast you make an app, some things will take time to process. A slow response could be caused by a bad Internet connection, or an operation could be taking a long time. But even if you can’t shorten the line, at least try to make the wait more pleasant.

CONCENTRATE ON LOADING CONTENT IN THE VISIBLE AREA OF THE SCREEN

Load just enough content to fill the screen when a page opens. Content available on scroll should continue to load in the background. The benefit of this approach is that users will be engaged in reading the initial content and, in some cases, won’t even notice that content is still loading.

MAKE IT CLEAR WHEN LOADING IS OCCURING

A blank or static screen that users see when content is loading can make it seem like your app is frozen, resulting in confusion and frustration, and potentially causing people to leave your app. At a minimum, show a loading spinner that makes it clear that something is happening. For a longer wait time (more than 10 seconds), it’s essential to display a progress bar so that the user can gauge how long they’ll be waiting.

OFFER A VISUAL DISTRACTION

If an app gives users something interesting to look at while waiting, users will pay less attention to the wait itself. Thus, to ensure people don’t get bored while waiting for something to happen, offer them a distraction. A fine animated waiting indicator can retain users’ attention while they wait.

Tip: Keep longevity in mind. Even good animation can be annoying when it’s overused. When designing an animation, ask yourself, “Will the animation get annoying on the hundredth use, or is it universally clear and unobtrusive?”

Skeleton Screens

Skeleton screens (i.e. temporary information containers) are essentially a blank version of a page into which information is gradually loaded.

A skeleton screen would appear the moment your app starts loading data, giving users the impression that your app is fast and responsive. Unlike a loading indicator, which just conveys that something is happening, a skeleton screen focuses on actual progress.

Design For Touch

Designing for touch has a goal of reducing the number of incorrect inputs and making interaction with an app more comfortable.

DESIGN FOR FINGERS, NOT CURSORS

When you’re designing actionable elements in a mobile interface, it’s vital to make targets big enough so that they’re easy for users to tap. Mistaken taps often happen due to small touch controls.

When designing a touch target, you can rely on the Software Co Touch Lab’s study (PDF) to choose a proper size for interactive elements. This study found that the average size of finger pads are between 10 and 14 mm and fingertips are 8 to 10 mm, making 10 by 10 mm a good minimum touch target size.

CONSIDER THUMB ZONE

Designing for thumbs isn’t only about making targets big enough, but also about considering the way we hold our devices. A lot of users hold their phone with one hand. Only a part of the screen would be a genuinely effortless territory for their thumbs. This territory is called the natural thumb zone. Other zones require finger stretching or even changing the grip to reach them. Below, you can see what the safe zone looks like on a modern mobile device.

Humanize The Digital Experience

UX isn’t only about usability; it’s mostly about feelings. And when we think about what makes us feel great, we often think about well-crafted design.

PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

Personalization is one of the most critical aspects of mobile apps today. It’s an opportunity to connect with users and provide the information they need in a way that feels genuine.

There are countless ways to improve the mobile UX by incorporating personalization. It’s possible to offer personalized content depending on the user’s location, their past searches and their past purchases. For example, if your users prefer to purchase particular groups of products each month, an app might track that and offer them special deals on those types of products.

Starbucks’ mobile app is an excellent example that follows this approach. The app uses information provided by users (for example, the type of coffee they usually order) to craft special offers.

DELIGHTFUL ANIMATION

Unlike functional animation, which is used to improve the clarity of a user interface, delightful animation is used to make an interface feel human. This type of animation makes it clear that the people who crafted the app care about their users.

Optimize Push Notifications

Annoying notifications are the number 1 reason people uninstall mobile apps (according to 71% of respondents)

Don’t send push notifications just because you can. Each notification should be valuable and well timed.

PUSH THE VALUE

When a user starts using your app, they won’t mind getting notifications, as long as the value they get is sufficiently greater than the interruption. Almost 50% of users are grateful for notifications that interest them. Personalizing content to inspire and delight is critical. Netflix is an excellent example of a company that “pushes the value.” It carefully uses viewing data to present recommendations that feel tailor-made.

AVOID SENDING MANY NOTIFICATIONS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME

Too many notifications delivered in a short period of time can lead to the situation known as notification overkill — where a user can’t process the information and simply skips it. LiSoftware Co the total number of notifications by combining different messages.

TIME YOUR NOTIFICATIONS

Not only is what you say important, but also when you say it. Don’t send push notifications at weird hours (such as in the middle of the night). The best time for push notifications is peak hours of mobile usage: from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm.

CONSIDER OTHER CHANNELS TO DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE

Push notifications aren’t the only way to deliver a message. Use email, in-app notifications and news feed messaging to notify users about important events, according to the level of urgency and type of content you would like to share.

Optimize For Mobile

DESIGN FOR INTERRUPTION

We live in a world of interruption. Something is constantly trying to distract us and direct our attention elsewhere. Not to mention, a lot of mobile sessions happen when users on the go. For example, users might use your app while waiting for the train. Such sessions can be interrupted at any time. Users can be easily frustrated when an app forgets their current progress as soon as they close it.

When an interruption occurs, your app should save the current state (context) and allow users to continue where they left off. This will make it easier for users to re-engage with the app when they return to it after the interruption.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEVICE’S CAPABILITIES

Mobile devices have a lot of sensors (camera, location tracking, accelerometer) that can be used to improve the UX. Here are just a few features that you can use to do that:

• Camera
  It’s possible to simplify data input operations by using a camera. For example, you could use the digital camera to read credit card numbers automatically.

• Location awareness
  Apps can use a device’s location data to provide content relevant to the user’s location or to simplify certain operations. For example, if you’re designing an app for food delivery, instead of asking the user to provide an address for delivery, you can auto-detect their current location and ask the user to confirm that they want to receive a delivery to that location.

• Biometric authentication
  It’s possible to minimize the number of steps required to log in to an app using features like fingerprint touch login or facial identification.

STRIVE TO CREATE A MULTI-CHANNEL EXPERIENCE

Don’t think of your mobile app as an isolated experience. When it comes to creating a user journey, the ultimate goal is to create a seamless experience, across all devices. Users should be able to switch to a different medium and continue the journey.

According to Appticles, 37% of users do research on mobile but switch to desktop to complete a purchase. Thus, if you’re designing an e-commerce app, mobile users should be able to switch to their desktop or laptop to continue the journey. Synchronization of user progress across devices is a key priority for creating a seamless experience. It makes users feel that their workflow isn’t interrupted.

Adapt Mobile Design To Emerging Markets

According to Google, a billion new users are expected to come online in the next couple of years. And the vast majority of them will be from emerging markets (or so-called mobile-first countries, like India, Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria). They will gain access through a mobile phone. These users will have very different experiences and expectations from those who are in the US and Europe.

If you’re interested in going global, it’s important to consider their experiences.

POOR INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

In the US and Europe, users are accustomed to ubiquitous connectivity. But that certainly isn’t true worldwide. Products in emerging markets have to be able to perform over slow or intermittent connectivity. Depending on a person’s location, the network might switch from Wi-Fi to 3G to 2G to no connectivity at all, and your product has to accommodate that.

If you plan to design for such market, consider the following:

• Make sure your product works when it isn’t connected to the Internet at all. Allow caching of data.
• Optimize your product for fast loading. Minimize page size by keeping images and other weighty content to a minimum; and reduce the size of that content.

YouTube Go is an excellent example of a mobile app designed around connectivity constraints. The app was designed to be offline-first (meaning that it’s usable even when it isn’t connected to the Internet). The app lets users preview videos first and allows them to select a video’s file size before saving it offline to watch later. It also has a great feature that lets users share videos easily with friends and family nearby, without using any data.

Google News & Weather is another great example of an app that was designed around bad connections. The app has a feature called “Lite mode” for people on low-bandwidth connections. When this mode is activated, it trims content down to its essentials, so that the app loads more quickly. According to Google, this mode uses less than one third of the normal data, and it activates automatically when the app detects a slow network.

LImitED DEVICE CAPABILITIES

Smartphones in mobile-first countries have dramatically different capabilities from the Pixels and iPhones popular in the US. Most emerging-market devices cost below $100 and might come with limited storage and processing power. Make sure that the product you design works with older, low-end devices and software.

LOCAL AESTHETICS

Minimalist design, which is popular in the Western world today, might be considered too bare for other cultures. If you want your product to succeed in emerging markets, pay attention to the cultural aesthetics. You can get inspiration from regionally popular products or hire local designers who are familiar with user preferences. Designing according to local aesthetics will make your product feel more relatable.

SPECIFICS OF REGION

When Google adapted Google Maps for India, it considered that India is the largest two-wheeler market in the world, and the millions of motorcycle and scooter riders have different needs than drivers of automobiles. It released two-wheeler mode in Maps. This mode shows trip routes that use shortcuts, not accessible to cars and trucks.

Testing And Feedback

All of the principles you’ve just read can help you design a better experience for mobile, but they won’t replace the need for user research and testing. You’ll still need to test your solution with real users to understand which parts of the UI require improvement.

FEEDBACK LOOP

Encourage user feedback at every opportunity. In order to collect valuable feedback, you need to make it easy for users to provide it. Thus, build a feedback mechanism right into your product. This could be as simple as a form marked “Leave feedback.” Just make sure that it works seamlessly for your users.

DESIGN IS A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS

It’s fair to say that design is a process of continual improvement. As product designers, we use analytics and user feedback to improve the experience continually.