Most of the people prefer their mobile devices over browsing on desktop nowadays. The difference is not limited to accessibility, though. Another factor that holds great significance is the layout design of the mobile apps being used. Professional graphic designers have started putting a lot of thought into what works better in terms of accessing the application with ease for the consumers, but doing so has its own difficulties to look forward to.
This article is hopeful to work as a guide for you to understand how to optimize your user experience with a mobile app and website design and why it is better than other mediums. Here are a few differences shared as well for you to have a better idea of making up your mind.
People now expect a lighting-fast user experience each time they use a mobile application. However, Wroblewski concedes the situation is actually “more dire than that, as people expect a faster experience on mobile than on the desktop, but the networks are slower.” So, you’re fighting performance on both sides, he says. While you can help speed things up by minimizing assets and improving response times, for example, you can only go so far. “Eventually you’ll bump into the realities of mobile networks.” Mashable
Elements to Consider for Mobile App Design:
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Screen Size:
The size of your screen is an important part to consider. There is obviously more space to add stuff if we have a bigger screen, that is, of a desktop. Whereas, the mobile screens become limited to relevant content only which becomes quite useful for users who prefer minimalism in their lifestyle. This approach has also been very successful, lately. For it also had interactive means to trigger the discoverer within you by navigating through the options and finding new content to go through.
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Organization of Content:
The content on the desktop is mostly displayed in an old-fashioned way. There are columns, which we can also spot in the printed mediums like magazines or newspapers. However, when it comes to your mobile devices, there is a lot more scrolling to do. In digital, space is unlimited and you can make the most of it. Since mobile users are more habitual with scrolling, it works at an advantage for you because it also becomes interactive this way. The feature has been doing so well that it has been incorporated in the desktop versions, as well.
The mobile versions also allow an additional feature for those who may not prefer the portrait version of the screen. You can simply rotate your device and the content will be available in the landscape for you.
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Interaction:
People have become bored with simply clicking over text or images. Mobile allows more functions and gestures to do similar tasks but in a more fun way. You can use your fingertips to poke, swipe, or even shake to do some tasks on mobile apps. People like having to be met with more opportunities that are unique and fun than to be required to do some tasks in the same way it had been doing in the same old ways. Such techniques can be made accessible with the help of impactful design. There are various mobile app design companies that can be helpful in doing so.
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Experimental in terms of Functions:
We have already discussed a lot of things that are not yet possible to do with desktop, but here are a lot more that is only possible on mobile devices which is a lot more fun. There are tons of new and innovative opportunities that the users can perform.
Taking an example of the popular social media application, “Snapchat”. This application made use of the accelerometer which was initially used by some mobile app design companies for other features like regulating the moment when users change their orientations. The app, being fun, made a more creative use and introduced features like, multiple cameras, virtual reality, gyro sensors, contact lists, augmented reality, and magnetic sensors.
The applications do not really require new technology to introduce unique opportunities. There are more functions that Snapchat has put forward while using the existing ways of how things work. The application also allows the user’s Bitmoji to switch its appearance and change into a car when it senses that the user is driving in real life. Now, isn’t that creative?
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Functionality:
It is natural for people to choose desktop over mobile for performing longer tasks. This is why mobiles usually have apps that have a lite version of the software we use on desktops. Mobile is obviously used to perform quick tasks and there is a lot of stuff for which you do not have to turn on your laptop or PC. You can simply opt for your mobile device which is more convenient for you. A great example is Adobe Photoshop since they could not include the whole suite with all the functions in their applications, they went for a lite version that had basic yet important tools for you to get done with your tasks.
The apps are then designed in such a manner as well, to give them a look and feel of that of a much lighter layout to keep it different from the actual software which is way too heavier for your compact device to hold. Look for mobile app design templates and it will give off a better idea of how they can be incorporated in your design idea.
These are some of the factors which while keeping in mind, the user experience can be improved. The designers can take such input from the consumers and the data can be incorporated in making mobile app design more comprehensible with respect to navigation that also has a direct impact on design.
