Most of the internet browsing these days happens on smartphones as it’s a convenient and always accessible marketing channel. That’s the reason why every business, brand or an individual needs a mobile app. It keeps them close to their customers, clients, and fans and provides a way for instant communication. The design of the apps is also changing rapidly to meet these needs and make the app more accommodating for both the users and creators.
The idea
It may seem too abstract but it this is the necessary first step. You need to know what will the app do and how it will distinguish itself from the rest of them. It’s best to talk to the users and professionals from your field and find out what kind of issues they have with the apps that they often use. It often happens that developers and designers create the app to solve a particular problem they themselves experience and later find out that there are others who have the same need. Once you know what the goal of your app is, the design will fall into place.
The wireframe
A wireframe is to apps what storyboards are to movies or comic books. It’s where you lay out the sketch of what the app is going to look like and what it should do. It’s important to create the wireframe in cooperation with the rest of the team. It should go by tech operatives and the design team simultaneously. That way you will know what could be programmed on the backend and how it will look to those who have the users in mind when they work.
The design
A good design could make or break the app. It often happens that the users give up on an app with great functions because they can’t use it in an easy and accessible manner. Make sure that the interface works with all the devices because most users have more than one for different purposes. Keep the design simple and to the point. The fonts should be large and easy to read and don’t go overboard with the colors – sticking to two or three is fine. Also, don’t forget about the icon itself. It should represent the app before it’s even opened.
Performance monitoring
APM is the indispensable part of app optimization that will help you understand the way your app is used and change it in order to accommodate those who use it. So, what is APM? It stands for Application Performance Monitoring and it tracks the performance of the code as well as the transaction time and user experience. Gathering the information about web requests and transactions will help you improve the app and be aware when it is slow and unresponsive. Even more importantly, by analyzing the code itself, it will tell why there were problems in the first place.
Test and adjust
Once the app is designed and the proper monitoring features installed – it’s time to test the app with actual users. This is a crucial step because the users will be able to find flaws a designer or a programmer never could. The feedback you get from beta testers should be taken into account and used to improve as much and as fast as you can. The testing shouldn’t stop there. Always be on a lookout for user reviews and provide frequent updates, because an app is a growing thing and it adapts to the users.
Remember the best apps are made bearing in mind those who will use.
Article Submitted By Community Writer