Does Splash Screen in Mobile App Need a Designed Graphic? and How to Create it?
All that’s written in this article are personal experiences and there is no theoretical technique.
Ok, let’s talk about the splash screen and graphic. “What is a splash screen?” you may ask.
A splash screen is a graphical control element consisting of a window containing an image, a logo, and the current version of the software. A splash screen can appear while a program is launching. It can also be an introduction page. Simply, a splash screen is the first thing you saw on the app whenever you open an app.
While the graphic is relating to visual art, especially involving drawing, engraving, or lettering.
But does Moblie Apps need to use designed graphics on their splash screen? Normally when you open an app, they just show the logo of the app. Something that is easy to be recognized.
In Lion Parcel we don't just show our logo on the splash screen, we use a designed graphic. It is the first thing you saw whenever you open up an app after all. Why bother to add a designed graphic on splash screen?
I have two answers for that.
Answer No 1
Well, did you know that…
“According to Thermopylae, the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 % of information transmitted to the brain is visual.”
Based on that fact, adding a illustration graphic on the splash screen app works as a great opportunity to stick in the minds of users. Therefore a splash screen can be a powerful tool. Mind you it’s like a loading phase on an app, a user just stares at their screen for several seconds. If you show what you can offer on the splash screen in the form of an image. BOOM! you can make users see your offering without making them click on anything. It’s like a free advertisement tool!
Many online articles said you should not put advertisements on splash screen. But with the correct way you can use it as a tool to increase user knowledge and boost revenue. But remember the goal of designing graphics on the splash screen is not for sales conversion, it's for creating awareness and grabbing the attention of users.
Answer No 2
Other than that, Lion parcel uses a splash screen for celebration greetings on a certain day. Like, Labor Day, Father’s day, Eid, Christmas, etc. It is good for engagement. It can add a sense of familiarity, also as media to show users that “ Hey, We know what day today is, we want to celebrate this occasion with you!” kind of sense. The key is to be creative in delivering your message.
Okay, we have enough reason to create a designed graphic for the splash screen but how to create it?
Here is how I created designed graphic for splash screen of the Lion Parcel App
The Process
I'm gonna describe the process of creating a splash screen for the celebration of “Labor Day”. So, here are the 6 steps of how I created a designed graphic for splash screen and how to deliver it.
Step 1 Explore ideas
Just like many other creative processes, exploring ideas is a first step that is needed. Looking for inspiration is a must. Like an old saying once said, “the things you want to create are probably already created by someone else.” It is the same with creating a good graphic, maybe someone else already used your idea. That is why you need to find as much inspiration as you can.
I personally used websites such as Pinterest, Behance, and Instagram.
But not limited to just website, inspiration could come from everywhere, your daily grocery package, movie, album cover, street sign, a greeting card that your old friends once gave you, basically EVERYTHING can be the source of your an idea. Therefore, don’t limit yourself.
Step 2 Narrow it down
Now we get the idea that we need can continue to the next step. So many ideas from so many different inspirations might cause overwhelm. Narrow it down, only use the one that is really useful for your designed graphic.
Step 3 Sketch it, Draw it!
I think this is the fun part, simply because you can be as creative as you want. In this step I decided to created an illustration for the splash screen.
Play with the stroke, play with the shape, play with the path play with everything, mix it up and see the result.
Step 4 Make Sure Everything is Fit
In Lion Parcel we have a design system, that does not only apply for UI|UX design but also to illustration. You can’t just randomly download online assets and use them for Lion Parcel Apps.
There is a guideline that I need to follow. That is why in this steps I need to make sure everything fits perfectly with the guideline that exists in the design system.
Step 5 Voting Time
Option, everybody like an option. You never know what is the best illustration without having input given by someone else. I would ask my colleague, and fellow designer to vote. Which one is the better illustration for “LaborDay”. The one that got the most vote would be the chosen illustration for the splash screen.
Step 6 Delivering
Finally what needs to be done is to export the illustration as an image and it will be delivered to the engineer so they can help release it to the live apps.
Summary
Designed graphic is needed in Splash screen because using it has two main benefits, as a tool to create awareness and it is good for engagement. How to create a good designed graphic for splash screen, in my version I have 6 main steps: There is Explore, Narrow, Draw, Make Sure, Voting, and Deliver.
That’s all, Can’t believe you made it to read this far. Hope my article is somehow useful for you.
Thank you! Cheers.
Some of articles that inspire me to write this article:
The Magic of the Splash Screen
Hot Tips To Create A Great Splash Screen For Your Marketing Campaign
Splash Screen: Designing a Successful Launch Experience for Your Mobile App
