App Profile – Crunchbase

Silicon Valley in your Pocket

Ever wonder how that buzzy new startup is doing? What kind of investment their Series B snagged them? Or who the brains behind the operations are? If so, no doubt you’ve turned to Crunchbase to find these answers and more.

Crunchbase is not only the number one directory of top startups across the world, it’s the ultimate one-stop resource for those in the tech industry — period. Angel investors and designers alike flock to Crunchbase to get news, schedule events and make new connections.

So yes, the Crunchbase web experience does a lot. Impressively, they’ve created a companion mobile app that gives you the same depth of information without being intimidating. How did they achieve this?

Here’s what you can learn from the design of Crunchbase’s iOS app:

Simple surface, hidden depth

On the surface, the app can be deceptively simple. Navigation is reduced to mere four dots, with only the key information that you need to know surfaced upfront. But like the tip of an iceberg, lying beneath the simple exterior is a bounty of information, the breadth of which can be explored with only a thumb. By taking this approach, the app projects a simple, clean aesthetic that avoids overwhelming the user with options and signals an underlying expansiveness without getting in the way.

Keep it contextual

Instead of cramming the entire desktop app into a hamburger menu, Crunchbase doubled down on contextual navigation to guide you to the information you need without requiring the rigmarole of nested menus, slide-out drawers and popovers. The approach is refreshingly uncomplicated. Tappable links are clearly visible in the UI and present a freedom of movement not unlike Wikipedia.

Design for your audience, but don’t redesign the wheel

As unique as it is, the unconventional navigation could present a hurdle to some users. As one of our judges explained:

“The overall experience of the application is great, though it does take some getting used to. I understand this application is not for the average consumer and more focused around users who likely will adopt new ways of navigation but I feel a better system for navigation would help this app expand.”

The Crunchbase designers appear to understand their target audience well, and if there’s anyone amenable to UI experimentation, it’s those who live and breathe tech. However, there’s a fine line between novelty and lack of usability; while some users may adapt easily to an unconventional UI, many others may feel the strain of a learning a new solution for a common problem… and eventually look elsewhere.

Overall, faced with the challenge of translating an incredible wealth of information into a compelling mobile experience, Crunchbase has done an admirable job and earned a spot among the MUX Awards 2017 Finalists. While minor usability issues may remain a concern, the design of the Crunchbase mobile app is a testament to the ambition that a mobile experience doesn’t have to be just the tip of the iceberg. If designed well, it can be the whole thing.

www.muxawards.com
The 2018 MUX Awards are open until June 27th