What do you think might encourage a user to choose your app among millions of others? Definitely, it is the app’s User Interface (UI).
You can consider it as the first point to connect the digital product and the user. It is also the first thing users evaluate when they launch an app on their mobile. They will instantly leave an app if its interface is not designed well or it is too cumbersome.
So no matter what industry your app belongs to, focus on smooth mobile app navigation from the start. A user-centric design approach will aid you to appeal to more users.
In this post, you will discover UI design principles. It will help you to gain your customer’s loyalty and trust. You can also maintain user interest in the app for a long time by following these design principles. So let’s get going.
UI Design Principles to Follow
#1. Mobile Mindset
There is a difference between mobile and desktop. So it is essential to think mobile first before getting started.
More is not better when it comes to mobile. Modify your features relentlessly. Determine what makes your app unique among others and expand it.
Apps that are easy to use, trustworthy, and amusing are fun to use. Users will become attached to the app’s experience. So keep yourself in users’ shoes if you want to provide an engaging user experience.
#2. Keep Thing Simple
Keep the design neat and in order. Follow the rule of simplicity. The users never want to see multiple options and lengthy content on a screen. It distracts them. Avoid stuffing complicated design components.
However, simplicity works wonders but that does not mean you overdo simplicity. You need to make a design simple yet intuitive that grabs the user’s attention within the first use.
#3. Make Intuitive Navigation
Users should flawlessly navigate through your app via simple and clear pathways. They can conclude all primary tasks without any need for explanation.
If it takes too long and many efforts to acknowledge how to navigate through the app, chances are high that you will lose your users.
Don’t make users switch between many pages to get something done. While navigating the app, the user should know where they are or what to do next without any confusion.
#4. Touchscreen Target Sizes
Users interact with touch screens using toes or fingers. So keep the size of interface components large enough to perform these actions. Small touch targets can be irritating as they need high precision and are more prone to flaws.
Not only is the target size essential, but the spacing between targets is also a thing to consider. If action buttons are very close to each other, it increases the chances of undesired actions. It leads to frustration.
So it is especially significant to provide proper spacing among contradicting action buttons to avoid errors.
#5. Offer User Control
Make your user feel that they are in control of all their actions. Enable them to make choices to personalise their journey. Offer them a sense of control over the system with,
- Changing settings
- Canceling actions
- Controlling notifications
When the user wants to know what is happening, let them know. Encompass status and types of feedback into the interface without interrupting the user’s workflow. All these give the user a sense of freedom and transparency.
#6. Clear Visibility
People use their phones everywhere. They might be in sunlight, indoors, while travelling, etc.
So it is important to have sufficient contrast between content and background in your design. Make it easily deciphered in any setting.
But to decide on the proper amount of contrast is a tough nut to crack. You can check out WC3’s content accessibility guidelines that help you to provide a contrast ratio for your images and text.
The most significant part of deciding your text and background is to test it out with target users and make changes based on their feedback.
#7. Reduce Data Input
Decrease the need to provide all the tiny details in your designs. Users keep looking for efficient ways and shortcuts to get things done easily. Help them mitigate typing by
- Shortening forms
- Eliminating irrelevant fields
- “Remember Me” option for future use
Reduce the need for data entry and expedite the user experience by providing
- Autocomplete
- Recent search history
- Location detection
#8. Test Your Design
Testing at early stages and often is a key to a successful product. Usability testing is crucial to flourishing your app. Perform testing on different features, layouts, and design variations to identify what works the best for your app.
Develop your mobile app UI with a user-centred approach. Test with real users and get their feedback for continuous optimization. With each testing level, you will discover new ways to enhance your design quality to address users’ requirements.
The more early problems are discovered, the simpler and budget-friendly it is to resolve them.
#9. Be Methodical and Consistent
You need to be consistent. Not only internally on your own platform. But also with industry standards applied anywhere. Good UI designs do not reinvent the whole cycle, they improve it.
When new features get commenced, it is quite significant to distinguish them from what went prior. The best way of accomplishing this is to break any of the own UI design principles. Applying inconsistency as a way of making crucial and unique features stand out.
Note that purposeful inconsistency is different from messy or unpredictable behaviour.
#10. Be Tolerant of Mistakes
Keep in mind that mistakes happen and users also change their minds. If they are new users, they might not have completely ensured their actions in the beginning.
Backtrack wherever you feel it is needed by applying a fast and forgiving undo/redo function. It will help to avoid the irritation of wasted time and data loss. It gives users the assurance to assess the app and modify it without worrying about the negative impact.
In the end,
These are the few guidelines to initiate or expedite your mobile-first design methodology. You are the driver and designer with the imagination and intellect to define the exceptional user experience for your products and services.
Acknowledge your gut. Keep following your intuitions. Admire the platforms. Give priority to the customer benefit. Focus on the device first. And, do not forget the scalability.
