Key Principles for Mobile Design
More than anything, a beautiful design is like music to the ears.
Here I will share the key top features for Mobile Design, based on a design article by Nick Babich.
- Remove the clutter
Seriously, get rid of what no longer serves you. Like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, mentioned: “Perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away”. If there is anything that doesn’t have a purpose or a function, get rid of it.
Rule of thumb: one action per screen. Reduce the effort the users have to do to get to what they absolutely want and need.
2. Navigation is key
A great navigation has:
Clarity: Use familiar patterns and icons to lead to the destination
Consistency: The same icons located in the same area of the app for trustworthiness
Visibility: The user should always be able to answer the question ‘Where am I?’
3. Seamless experience
Make sure there is a beautiful, effortless experience across devices like the phone, tablet, and desktop. An example of this is Spotify music, and how it seamlessly integrates into any device.
4. Have tap targets
You might be asking yourself, what in the world are tap targets? It’s those buttons you press on your phone to perform an action. Make sure these buttons are large enough for the user to press on them, ane enough spacing between them!
5. Be legible
Text should be at least 11 points so that the user doesn’t have to zoom in. Also increase letter spacing and whitespace.
6. Clearly visible interface
Create color contrast so that even if users have sun glare, they will be able to read the text. W3C says:
Small text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background.
Large text (at 14 pt bold/18 pt regular and up) should have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against its background.
7. Hand heat map
Design around where users are most likely to tap on the screen by using a heat map and analyzing where the user can reach with their thumb to interact with the screen. Place positive actions in the center of the screen and negative actions in the top left or bottom right corner of the screen.
8. Minimize typing
Avoid typing at all costs, because it is prone to errors and slips. Use auto-complete, as well as personalized data.
9. Optimize for quickness
Most users will use the app for brief seconds, so be direct with your message and help them achieve their goals.
10. Test the design
Test, test, and try again. Ask users for feedback, keep iterating, and drive your design to success! And don’t forget to do all of this process with joy, don’t get too caught up on the destination, but enjoy the journey of designing for the user!
