Top Mobile App Design Mistakes to Avoid! 21 Sep 2017 | By Jish Topics: Top Mobile App Design Mistakes

When it comes to mobile app design and development, it is not an easy task to get the full flow and features of a finished mobile app. There are many moving parts and some important project management aspects to keep in mind during development. It requires discipline and practicality to develop a functioning and enjoyable mobile app. If you don't tend to the nuts and bolts of production, you're putting yourself at risk for disaster.

The best way to design or develop a mobile app is often by observing what works in a successful apps. There are many don’ts in a mobile app design that will help any mobile designer to avoid some messy obstacles. Here let’s discuss these mistakes to avoid so that you keep these things in mind.

Not having a User Flow map

Before you begin designing a mobile app, have a well thought-out plan or a well prepared user flow. This will help ensure a logical and reasonable navigational structure, even if you’re planning for simple applications.

If you’re skipping the flow map and simply designing or wiring screens without a plan can leave your users confused and turned off.

Starting With Low Resolutions

Always design for retina, high-res, pixel-dense screens first, then scale down to lower resolutions. As the number of common screen resolutions on mobile devices continues to expand (iOS alone has 4 different resolutions), always start with the highest resolution device and scale down from there.

Space Conjunctions in the Functional Area

It’s all too easy to pack lots of buttons and functionality into a screen, but be sure to always make buttons or the hit area big and spaced enough for users to tap easily.

Remember that most users' index fingers are 1.6 to 2 cm wide. Take into account the width of a finger, plus the fact that users are moving quickly and aren’t able to reliably tap a tiny area of the screen.

Leaving the Users Blank While Site Loading

Leaving the user out of the loop when the app is loading or processing could leave your users blank and into thinking that the app is malfunctioning. This could leave your app behind for a poor experience.

Also, don't keep your users waiting on a blank screen while the app is loading content from the web. Use loading indicators and animations to give users a heads up that the app is working. Designing a progress indicator is even better, but it’s worth having a backup plan before designing them into the interface.

Copying Styles from other Operating Systems

Every mobile OS has its own style. Bad conversions from one mobile OS to another can confuse and annoy your users. The creator of an OS may have probably published detailed Human Interface Guidelines that have codified their unique aesthetic. iPhone, Android and Windows Phone all have very different aesthetics. So, the block-layout and navigation style in one OS would be unfamiliar and confusing to users in another OS.

Although, it’s not necessary to make every app look like it was built by the operating system’s creator, but be careful not to make the app look like it doesn’t belong on the platform.

Forgetting about Usability Testing

Usability testing is a must, no matter how good or bad your app looks. Consider organising a closed beta to small group of trusted people (including a few experienced persons) and update the interface before releasing the app to the public.

Another easy way to get some decent feedback on the cheap is to put up an ad in Gum tree or some other place for a testing focus group. For example, target some college students who would be willing to come in and play around with a pre-release app in exchange for something that excites them.

Looking at what features in a successful app and applying these lessons in your projects will make your app both beautiful and functional. So, get started today!