This article was originally posted on MobileUX.net, my blog focused on helping others boost their mobile experience design skills.
As designers, we are focused on creating human centered experiences that help people connect, solve problems, have fun, or get things done. However, it is rare for us to dive deeply into a technology as part of our process. How much do designers need to know about the technologies powering their designs? Does focusing on mobile help us build better experiences?
What does “mobile design” mean?
Before we go any further, we should clear up what we are talking about when we say “mobile”. It is easy to think about mobile as a piece of hardware or anything you may experience on a smartphone or tablet. Although responsive websites and cross-platform apps are an important part of this ecosystem, this article focuses primarily on native iOS and Android app design.
Why make the distinction? There are several very important reasons to think about native mobile apps independent from how you may approach a responsive web design. Have you ever been forced to use a PC or Laptop that was running an OS you weren’t familiar with? Say, if you were primarily a Windows user then needed to use a Mac at a new job? Simple tasks like opening software or changing settings can be cumbersome if you aren’t familiar with the paradigms of that platform.
Be familiar and predictable
Switching mobile devices or using apps not designed for the operating system can be a very similar experience. User can quickly become frustrated if we design native apps that don’t make sense within the ecosystem of their device. You have a very small window of opportunity to show the value of your app when someone chooses to download it. If you design intentionally for their ecosystem, your app has a much higher chance of feeling familiar, being performant, and growing elegantly as the operating system evolves.
In addition to understanding how to make an experience feel like it fits within a phone’s ecosystem, becoming more familiar with mobile technology will allow you to design for and utilize system integrations. Using system features is where native apps shine over web experiences. Features like : system password management, bluetooth, apple or android pay, GPS integration, gyroscope integration, and more. Having an understanding of what types of features you get on each operating system and device can help you have better conversations about how you can push the boundaries and what tools you have at your disposal.
You don’t necessarily need to be a specialist to design native mobile experiences, but it will take time to become familiar with the ins and outs of each platform. So how do you get started?
Familiarize yourself with iOS and Android UI standards
Both iOS and Android have their own design systems and interaction patterns. Something that feels at home on iOS may be confusing or simply not work on Android. One of the best places to start is to dive into Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (“The HIG”) and Google’s Material Design Guidelines.
Learning the guidelines doesn’t mean you must follow them verbatim. Think about how you learned to draw. Typically you start out by learning the foundations – how to draw basic shapes, apply light and shadow, and color theory – before you jump into still lives and life studies. Understanding the rules and the foundation of each platform is key to knowing how to bend the rules and customize. Rules are meant to be broken, but they should be broken intentionally.
Compare hardware and software
Spend time downloading apps on the device you typically use. Ask yourself these questions and consider writing down your thoughts:
Spend time downloading apps on the device you typically use. Ask yourself these questions and consider writing down your thoughts:
- How easy or difficult was it to start using the app?
- What aspects of the experience were clear or easy to use? Which were less clear? Why?
- What standard components are they using? Where did they do something custom? Why do you think they made that choice? Does it work for the experience?
- How would you improve on the app? What do you think it does really well?
Once you have explored a few apps, grab a device you aren’t familiar with (if you use iOS, get an Android device). Download some of the same apps, if you can, and maybe some new ones. Repeat the exercise and consider what you saw:
- Do you have any thoughts on how apps differ between iOS and Android?
- Were you able to use apps on the opposite platform easily? What surprised you?
- If you designed these apps, what may you do differently? What was effective?
This is a really simple exercise, but can add context to what you are learning from the HIG and Material Design Guidelines. There are a lot of good apps out there, but there are also duds. Takes notes on what you learn and think so you can look back on them later as your skills grow!
Make friends
Even if there aren’t many designers who are experts in native mobile, there is large group of people who are : developers! Make friends with developers on your team or head to mobile focused user groups/events. Share your notes and thoughts from your studies and app comparison and get their take. You can learn a lot from a conversation and dissecting apps together.
If you are new to native mobile and don’t have a mobile practice, developers can be a fantastic resource to better understand mobile design. You both have strong bases of knowledge that, when combined, can make incredible apps!
Stay up to date
Apple and Google release a major update to their iOS and Android platforms once a year. Typically updates are announced in the late spring (May-June) and released in the fall (August-Sept) along with new devices.
- Google IO is Google’s major event, typically held in May
- WWDC is Apple’s major event, typically held in June
Staying up to date is critical to growing and maintaining your mobile skillset. Mobile technology changes quickly and even 6-12 months without practicing can put you way behind. Some blogs and additional resources of note:
Get Started!
Mobile design is a skill that can make a huge impact in your own practice of experience design. It takes time to feel comfortable and grow expertise, but even a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. The first step to making impactful native mobile apps is understanding the rules so you can bend them into new experiences. I am always available to answer questions or help you find resources. If you don’t know where to start, feel free to reach out to me on twitter.