Designing for Mobile? Avoid These 7 Pitfalls

Learn these quick tips to create exceptional user experiences on mobile

Like many professional UX and product designers, I started my career in web design by building websites for family and friends — just as the demand for responsive design was growing with the rise of smartphones. While my generation did grow up with mobile devices, today we’re living in a world in which the way we interact with technology is constantly changing. Smartwatches, digital cars, and working on the go, these are all realities that have crystalized faster than we could ever imagine.

As designers, we need to observe our users’ behaviors and embrace new design paradigms to create the optimal user experience. But as humans, we often fall back to old habits and tend to mirror what we already know. When it comes to enterprise design, I often see designers applying web design paradigms to mobile designs, which leads to poor mobile experiences.

How do we prevent these traps as designers? How can we ensure we are growing as professionals and designing for the needs of technology as it evolves at this fast pace? Below, I’ll share my experiences and 7 pitfalls to avoid if you want to improve your skills as mobile designer.

Pitfall #1: Breaking with familiar mobile interaction patterns

Whether it’s the intuitive swipe gestures on iPhones or the prominent floating action buttons on Android devices, users have become accustomed to platform-specific interaction patterns. Ignoring these design guidelines or mixing them can confuse users and negatively impact their experience, even if the app is otherwise highly usable. I, for one, will never live down the flashy, pink floating action button on the first app I ever designed and which was intended to be published in the App Store. As designers, it’s crucial to understand how Android and iOS interfaces feel and follow the guidelines set by each platform.

Pitfall #2: Simply replacing a mouse click with a touch tab

Mobile interactions are so much more than simple touch tabs. Designing experiences for desktop computers and mobile devices require different approaches. While desktop design relies on keyboard and mouse input, mobile design emphasizes touch gestures and voice commands. From swiping away notifications, to zooming in on photos, or taking a call hands-free, mobile interactions are centered around intuitive finger movements and voice commands. As designers, it’s crucial to understand the unique characteristics of mobile experiences and consider the advantages and limitations of touch and voice inputs. Merely replicating desktop interactions on mobile devices by replacing a mouse click with a touch tab falls short of harnessing the full potential of mobile interactions.

The next great enterprise software experience starts with you. Learn more about the SAP design system and the mobile iOS and Android SDKs. Visit sap.com/design.

Pitfall #3: Using the same amount of content on all devices

Designers often face the challenge of adapting the same data from desktop experiences to fit within the constraints of a mobile device. This requires careful adjustment to accommodate the specific use case and the limited screen space available on mobile screens. One effective strategy is to employ card concepts, which present information in bite-sized, easily digestible chunks, allowing users to focus on relevant content without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, employing progressive disclosure techniques can help manage information overload by revealing content gradually, based on user interaction or context, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive mobile user experience. By embracing these design approaches, designers can optimize the presentation of data on mobile devices and enhance user engagement.

Pitfall #4: Sacrificing accessibility for design

Have you ever had a situation where your target design looked different than what was actually developed? I think every designer can attest to this phenomenon. As designers, we love to create impressive target designs for our products. We use the greatest visuals, the most elegant and thoughtful interactions, and the flashiest animations. We are aware that there will be limitations and debates as our technology peers review our initial design drafts, but nevertheless often opt to let important factors such as accessibility fall to the wayside in order to ensure the most beautiful design.

But accessibility shouldn’t be a nice-to-have. We have a responsibility to ensure a positive user experience for individuals with visual impairments, those who rely on screen readers, and those using alternative input methods.

Compared to Web browsers, mobile operating systems actually offer exceptional accessibility settings that adapt the entire system to cater to user preferences. By leveraging features like text resizing, higher contrast, sharper text, and advanced screen readers like TalkBack and VoiceOver provided by Apple and Google, we can embrace these functionalities and design visually appealing and inclusive experiences for all users.

Pitfall #5: Treating mobile experiences as an afterthought

The common approach of “first web, then mobile” often leads to neglecting the importance of mobile applications. Popular apps understand that mobile should be a primary consideration, not an afterthought. Putting the user first leads to better solutions.

This involves considering various dimensions:

1) User and business processes:

A successful app prioritizes the needs of its users and aligns with their work environment and conditions. Factors like specific equipment requirements or the need for mobility should shape the choice of form factor and medium.

2) Device strategy and skill set

Assessing existing devices within the organization and defining a mobile strategy are crucial. Determine whether you have the necessary in-house expertise, partnerships with external developers, or the option to leverage low-code/no-code solutions.

Pitfall #6: Testing mobile experiences on a desktop

Designing on a desktop is convenient, but when it comes to mobile apps, testing solely on a desktop can lead to significant oversights. Emulators can only simulate device interactions to a certain extent, and the true mobile experience can’t be accurately replicated. To ensure optimal performance, it’s crucial to test mobile app designs on real devices, despite the cost and variety of devices in the market. So, don’t skip the testing phase and make sure to test on the actual devices for an authentic mobile experience.

Pitfall #7: Forgetting why we love mobile apps

Mobile devices have become inseparable parts of our lives thanks to the captivating designs created by talented designers. From discreet notifications on smartwatches, to seamless widget integration and biometric authentication, mobile apps offer a range of unique features that make them beloved by users and designers alike. By harnessing these features, designers can craft exceptional mobile experiences that users adore, tapping into the true potential of mobile app design.

Don’t be afraid to break old habits

Design principles are platform-agnostic and can be applied to both web and mobile interfaces, regardless of form factors and devices. But, when it comes to interaction paradigms, we must constantly challenge and unlearn ingrained habits to create exceptional user experiences on all devices.

Luckily, as designers our curiosity and creative problem-solving skills drive us to push the boundaries of what is possible. We have the power to shape the adoption of apps, influence the development of new devices, and harness technology’s potential to address human challenges. Let’s continue to create mobile experiences that leave a lasting impact.

To learn more about our mobile experience, visit sap.com/design.