{"id":33913,"date":"2022-03-14T06:39:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T13:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxpin.com\/studio\/?p=33913"},"modified":"2022-03-11T04:59:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T12:59:46","slug":"what-is-mobile-ui","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxpin.com\/studio\/blog\/what-is-mobile-ui\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile UI \u2013 What it is & How to Ace Mobile App Design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With an estimated 14.1 billion smartphones<\/a> globally, and 350 billion mobile apps downloaded<\/a> in 2021, getting your mobile UI design right is paramount. The trend is clear: with almost half of all devices connected to the net being mobile, the desktop is no longer king. People like using apps \u2013 they like the speed and functionality, and they appreciate the “do anything anywhere” ethos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, we\u2019d like to shed more light on what mobile UI is, how it\u2019s different from desktop design, and how you can make sure your designs stand out from the crowd. Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Mobile UI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A mobile user interface, or mobile UI, is the display or screen on a mobile device. It\u2019s the space where users can interact with what\u2019s on the screen \u2013 from menu buttons to text fields (and everything in between, depending on whether users can tap, scroll, swipe, type, or just see it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of these user interactions are touch-based and happen on colorful touch screen displays that are bursting with high-level interactions. Naturally, basic mobile UI design principles differ from those of a traditional desktop UI. After all, users are, by definition, on the move; control is limited, giving new meaning to the phrase \u2018all thumbs\u2019. Actions and information need to be big, bold, clear, and simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Is Mobile App UI Design Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mobile adoption continues to rise year-by-year, it\u2019s time to develop a mobile-first strategy<\/a>, embraced by the likes of Facebook or other social networks, who make sure their iOS and Android apps offer a polished user experience on hand-held devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, when users have more choice and freedom to find mobile applications that work for them, a poor user experience can easily devalue your brand, hurt your revenue, and disengage your users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from investing in mobile applications, many ecommerce stores see the increase of purchases coming from mobile. If an online store doesn’t optimize checkout experience, usability or their mobile app design, they may lose market share or even render themselves obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Mobile UI Design Tips Every Designer Should Follow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To help you navigate the mobile UI realm, we\u2019ve created a list of some of our top mobile app design tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ensure that there\u2019s a clear vision of the mobile app<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with some UI basics that you probably figure out during the early stages of the product design process: the vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vision is what\u2019s shared right at the start of your mobile app design. It should be clearly (and, if possible, visually) communicated to all key stakeholders<\/a>, so that everyone, regardless of department, knows the purpose and goal of the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This stops people from working on what they think the vision is or should be, pulling in different directions, adding more and more features (and missing all those deadlines). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, with a clear vision, the entire design and development process is made more efficient. Everyone understands what success will look like, their roles on the project, and what\u2019s required of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are loads of different factors that will inform your overall vision, including business objectives, user needs, competitive landscape, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Improve your product design in iterations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Progressive enhancement\u2019 is a way to continually refine your design until it\u2019s at the level you need it. So, instead of spending time, money, and other precious resources trying to create the perfect version in one go, you start with a basic concept\u2013 it may be in a form of a wireframe, mockup or lo-fi prototype<\/a> that your team can refine until it matches the overall vision of the mobile application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not any different to the way software developers approach developing modules. Bit by bit. Little by little. That\u2019s not as difficult as it might seem at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Using design tools, such as UXPin Merge<\/a>, you can quickly begin prototyping mobile apps with fully interactive code components that look and act as the real Android or iOS app. Not only does it ensure the speed and efficiency of work, but it also come in handy when you run usability tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can quickly put together prototypes that look and feel like a real mobile app, test the user experience design, and iterate based on tests. The UI elements you use for prototyping are live code. That means, these components look and act the same as the ones used by your development team for production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Uniformity is key<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your designs should be consistent across the board, from buttons and icons to brand colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Amazon on your mobile. It\u2019s a masterclass in consistency for mobile app UI design. Every design aspect is uniform, from the color palette to page layout, whether you\u2019re buying a new microwave oven or a second-hand book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t just because it\u2019s pleasing to the eye. It\u2019s about helping users familiarize themselves with the app, so that eventually, they won\u2019t even need to think about what they\u2019re doing. Every action will be intuitive and engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To ensure uniformity, you might find it useful to add a mobile UI kit to your design system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be specific where necessary. For example, are all your call-to-action buttons in a particular color? Must certain fonts be used or avoided? Ask yourself those questions before you need to answer them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Make sure your splash screen is flawless<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A splash screen should grab the user\u2019s attention \u2013 and fast. While your app boots up in the background, you can use your splash screen to engage your users. Because, let\u2019s face it, in the age of instant-everything, no one wants to sit, wait, and do nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye-catching illustrations. Unmissable headlines. Brand promotion. User tips. These can all keep users engaged and stop them from quitting and uninstalling at the first hurdle. Consider adding a progress bar, especially if your app takes a while to load. Users like to know something is happening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just don\u2019t overdo it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your splash screen should be simple. The app name, your logo, a background image \u2013 it doesn\u2019t need to be fancy to make a great first impression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Present stats in the clearest way possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Layout is an important mobile UI design factor \u2013 especially when presenting stats and data. If these are a core part of your app, then take time to identify ways to make them easy to read, interpret, and extrapolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask: Is the text readable? Can users easily parse charts and graphs? Are icon meanings clear? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It might also be useful to consider how users can get that information off the app and onto other devices, for example, when using an accounting app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Design for fast page loading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Users today are more impatient than ever. How often do you get tired of waiting two whole seconds for a video to play? Or a website to load? Because almost everything online happens instantly and in real-time, we have a low tolerance for slower-loading pages and apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, you should design for minimal page loading, which is about three seconds. Any longer than that, and your users start walking away<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does that look like? <\/p>\n\n\n\n