Mobile App Design for Beginners

Should you Design for iOS or Design for Android?

A key decision a mobile app developer must make is whether to develop for the iOS or Android platform. To make the best decision, t's important to know who your app is targeted to.

iOS is better for the affluent, young users in western Europe, Australia, and North America. iOS users tend to be younger, more often female and earn 40% more than Android users. It’s faster, easier, and cheaper to develop for iOS — some estimates put development time at 30–40% longer for Android.

Android can be better for global efforts, as it dominates the Asian, African and Latin America markets. Android are likely to be male and work in technical jobs. Android users are less willing to pay for apps than iOS users. If your apps rely on in-app ads, it's likely not the best platform.

Read more about mobile design work for iOS vs. Android.

Requirements Gathering and Wireframes

Building an app without input from the end-users who it's being built for can cause real problems.  One of the first steps to take when building an app is interviewing stakeholders - from the department manager to the app users. It's critical to invest time understanding how they work and what they need the app to do.

Consider building a couple of simple task-based apps versus a more complex app that users must spend more time navigating.

If you can, get out in the field and see how users actually work. Do they stand or work at desks? Are they capturing data or accessing data? Are they only able to enter data with one hand because their other hand is holding a tool? 

Once you have a good idea about exactly what the app must do and what conditions users will be working under, you can create wireframes, or diagrams. Wireframes show the layout for the content of app. They can also offer a "storyboard" for app flow or app UI -- ultimately a mock-up of the user experience design. These visuals can help you plan features you'll include in the app, and discuss capabilities with app stakeholders.

Consider Mobile App Features

The Importance of App Look and Feel

Business apps don't have to be ugly or boring for end-users.  Low code development tools may allow you to add colors, branding marks, or design attributes or fonts that appeal to end-users. You can look to incorporate easy to use features, such as  buttons or swipes, to speed tasks for end-users.

If you're taking business application mobile, do it right! Incorporate the key features of a smartphone to make life easier for the end users.

Don't make the end-user key in their address, the date or the time. Have the app capture this information automatically using GPS and time/date stamping.

Allow one-click audio recording or photo capture to enhance data collection. Let the user scan bar codes rather than keying-in serial numbers. These features make work easier for users and your app more likely to become a routine business tool.

Read more suggestions.