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Get Familiar with the Best Practices for Designing an App Icon

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It’s not a child’s play to create a mobile application, which will spontaneously appeal to the targeted audiences. You have to undertake a thorough research so that you can develop an app that proves to be handy for the users. As you are aware that every website has a logo, similarly the identity of the app is its icon. And to be precise, the most important factor that that attracts users to an app is its aesthetic beauty. A research revels that about 92.6% people give priority to visual appeal while making the purchase decision. You know how difficult it is to entice people to download your app. In fact, it won’t be wrong to comment that the app icon also plays a crucial role in building your business brand. Thus, it becomes indispensable to focus on the app design so that the First impression doesn’t convert to last impression. Choosing the Best Shape and Color In the beginning, it is vital to understand that simplicity and sophistication are key factors to designing success. It must be scalable. Therefore, you need to use your expertise while selecting the color combination in addition with bold and unique shape. If you fail to do that, all your efforts will go futile. Just remember the fact that you are going to project your app everywhere. So, working on the correct pixels also becomes essential at the same time. You need to create an app which is easily recognizable. One of the things that you can do is check the app design against a variety of backgrounds and choose the one that looks perfect. Don’t include the Images In case you are implementing a bold and unique shape for the designing process, then including the images will be of no use. However, if you are really willing to include the photos, then it is highly recommended to use vector images instead. Another way of incorporating the image into your app is using it is image illustration and addition of letter to it. Don’t Use Color or Details in Excess A blog published in MakeAppIcon revealed that the icon looks perfect when it is smaller in size. So, it is best avoiding excessive colors and details which can spoil your design and make your app lose out in the competition. It will be ideal to just make use of two to three colors and try not to overload it. One can cite the example of Snapchat or Watsapp in this context, which has used simple color combinations to create amazing app design. It is also true that a number of new apps found in app store usually copy the design of the popular apps. It was Appbot who came up with this result after conducting a survey. It has also been found that all primary colors including red, blue, green etc are quite popular. At the same time, it is also important to align colors with your brand. This will highly appeal the users and draw them towards your app. The survey of Secretariat of the Seoul International Color Expo survey tells that 87.4% people give top preference to color for designing the app. The Exclusion of Words Since the app icon looks smaller on the screen, the addition of words will not solve your purpose at all. It is because nobody will be interested in reading the text at all. Therefore, the best thing is to exclude it out of your design procedure. If you browse your Smartphone thoroughly, you will know that no app contains text in its design. Every app name is mentioned below it. There may be a rare exceptions such as the Facebook which as the letter “f” on its icon. But it is their symbol or identity of the brand. See, there is no hard and fast rule that you cannot use text or alphabet in the app design, but then you have to come up with some unique idea and establish it as your own symbol. Implementing the Border Incorporating the border around the icon image isn’t a bad idea considering the fact that provides a sober look to the app. Again one can put forward the instance of Snapchat, which has used this design feature to a good extent. The Adobe Photoshop Express is another example which can be cited in this context. The main functionality of the border is that it highlights the icon which is inside it. And no doubt, the customers also get attracted towards the app. Well, you can design a simple border or give it a 3D impact to exemplify its beauty. A vital point to remember here is using a bright and contrasting color. Be Well Acquainted with Your Competitors Design Well, the app business is really stringent out there and you have to be well aware of who your competitors are in order to succeed. Therefore, this goes without saying that you need to have a good knowledge of what designs your competitors are offering. This is specifically related to the shape and color scheme of the app icon. For instance, if you are creating an app for e-commerce, then you will have to look out at EBay or Amazon and know what designs they have in their kitty. It will be appreciable if you come up with some exclusive idea or design that helps in your venture ahead. Try and Test Various Combinations Well, this is a wonderful idea to incorporate if want to make a unique app design and launch it successfully in the market. You can prepare various designs and sketches and try out several icon variations including the color combinations etc. This can be a hectic task but it is a significant step which has to be taken. It makes the designing of the icon easier as you can decide what fits best to suit your app. Now one very essential point to note is that you need to check the icon on the screen

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Focusing on the Quality of Mobile App is important: How to go about it

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As new mobile development and designing trends keep on changing it makes the task of the developers even more challenging. You must know that customers today are very selective and their mood swings within no time. And they are in hunt for new trends and designs. The users nowadays aren’t prepared to compromise on the quality of the product or services whether it is a physical item or a mobile application. Thus, when the developers are creating an app, they should make it a point that it suffices to all the user requisites and current market demand. According to a research there are about 2.8 million Android apps and 2.2 million iOS apps. But all mobile apps do not have a dream debut like Whatsapp or Uber. Many fail to even get a recognition leave aside using them. The quality has been identified as a vital benchmark for the success of mobile app. According to a study only 16% of people try the mobile apps twice, if they are not satisfied once. Now what does it mean to ensure optimal quality? Ensuring the quality means increased number of downloads, growth in the figures of target customers, augmentation in revenue, usage statics and maintaining the quantitative metrics. Mobile Application Testing is a Must Do Job Some developers who are new into mobile app industry that their job is over as soon as they develop the app and launch it. In short, they don’t feel the necessity of testing the application after its full and final development. But this is wrong practice. Make sure that you test the app before the unveiling so that there is no compromise with the app quality. Well, to be precise you can opt for either of the two methodologies for testing of the app. It includes manual and automation. According to the experts if you are adding any new function or feature in the app, then it is better to test it manually. The automatic tests of the scripts can be done for regression test cases and for difficult and complex tasks that cannot be done manually. The testing would include external as well as the internal in which you remove all sorts of bugs and also opt for the device fragmentation. While testing you need to choose the appropriate testing tools and also test the mobile apps on cloud apart from lab-based approach. Keep a Strict Vigil on the App Performance If you want to keep the mobile quality on the top then the one thing that will help you stand out in the crowd is venerable performance of your app. Most of the users uninstall the app because they are not happy with its overall performance that includes quick navigation, speed of the app, better UI and UX etc. Please do not confine your app functionality to only collecting the data and records. Though it is important but performance is paramount. Your app should also not include Software Development Kits (SDKs) in excess as it will slow down the speed of app or even they can get crashed. Moreover, it also effects the battery of the device. So, analytics is important but not at the cost of performance. The Security of the App is Supreme In the current scenario, the security is supreme and considering the fact that cyber threat is looming large. Therefore, app security should top your priority list. Please do not ignore it if you want to maintain the standard and quality of the app. And if you are developing an Android app, then you have to be extra vigilant because a study revealed that they are more prone to malware threats in comparison to iOS. In addition, if your app is such where the user needs to login his details to enter, then you must employ the verification process. The same procedure needs to be followed if your app has in-built payment facility such as e-commerce or cab booking etc. You have to take into account what the risks factors are and then plan a strategy accordingly. Proficient Team with Proficiency on all Platforms We are quite aware that mobile app development is a team effort that basically comprises of a project manager, android or iOS developers, frontend and backend developers, UI and UX designers, mobile app tester and so on. So if you want to raise the par of quality of your app, then it must be ensured that the team working on each of the projects is comprehensively professional with sound knowledge on the concerned subject. Whether you believe it or not, the fact remains that a well-equipped and experienced team can complete even the most complex project with ease. It is a good idea to evaluate the efficiency of each of the team members before you can assign them with a task. It will help in smooth operation of the project and you can strictly follow the deadlines. Most important fact is that there should be clear coordination and communication amongst the team members working on the same project. Have a Clear Vision in Mind Well, you may have adequate experience of creating different types of apps for a wide range of industries, but having a clear vision and comprehensive understanding of what you want to develop is quite crucial. In other words, app documentation is very essential for keeping the quality of the application up to the mark. It will give you an insight that you are developing the best quality app for the target audiences that will be downloaded and installed in large numbers. The documentation of the app also assists in saving a lot of time as well as money. Stick to your decision and do not have fluctuating minds. Always try to add new features that keeps the users interested in the app. Do try to be simple in design. Taking the Reviews and Ratings Seriously If you don’t want your app quality to suffer and wish to remain always connected with

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The Importance of Color in Mobile App Design

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We are well familiar that both user experience as well as user interface plays a significant role when it comes to engaging more users. However, you cannot deny the influence of various colors in app design. The fact is the app designers shouldn’t just concentrate on making the app user friendly but also equally emphasize on selecting the right proportion of hues for the app design. Yes, people would love a colorful and attractive app, which helps in interpretation of your app’s content. However, the question before the app designing is choosing colors for different segments of the mobile app. You have to choose the color for your app icon, the logo, and the primary colors and most importantly, select the color scheme. The Significance of Various Important Colors The app designers in most cases would follow the latest trends in app design while selecting the colors, which isn’t a bad idea. You must note that each of the hues have an impact and communicative power with the user. So, let’s analyze a few vital colors that see what meaning they convey. If you are using red, it would simply imply the call to action and is more impulsive. The yellow is related to delight and optimism. Green is more associated with the nature and environment and is connected with money and wealth. Orange represents excitement and enthusiasm. Blue is again a dynamic color known for prosperity and serenity. Choosing the Color for the Icon If you visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, you can view numerous app icons having plethora of colors. The color of the icons is mostly chosen depending on what type of app is it? So, here your understanding and knowledge of the hues will come into play. You have to make the selection very cautiously. The possible way out is following the current design trends and then may be choose the prevalent colors such as red, blue or green. If you have done a thorough research, you must have seen that blue is the most widely used color found in popular apps such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, Safari etc. But if you want your app icon to look different, then you can use the various shades of green.\ Picking up the Right Color Scheme You should know that selecting the right color scheme is indeed one of the critical jobs that you have got in hands. Thus, when you go out for making the choice, there are different aspects that need to be taken into consideration such as color associates of your region and brand colors. What you need to do is choose the simple colors to enhance the UX. The simple colors look pleasing to the eyes and at the same time, it becomes easier for the user to read the content. In fact, according to one of the researches, it has been found that most users prefer like simple colors while using Adobe ColorCC. When you are using simple colors, it is better to go with two or most probably three colors. While developing the color scheme you can take the help of color wheel that contains several predefined schemes making the task easier for the designers. Types of Color Schemes Used Monochromatic This is one of the simplest color scheme used for designing apps as you have to take each of the color right from the base. It will have a good impact and will give a sober look. It contains only one color along with shades, tones and tints. You can create elegant innovative designs with it. The blue and green will be soothing for the eyes. Analogous This color scheme is prepared from associated colors where one is used for prominence, while the other is used to enhance the scheme. In the Analogous color scheme you have to mainly use three hues, which are closely related to each other. In this case, the main challenge is to decide which color to use as to give the app a more sophisticated look. An instance of an app using analogous color is Calm meditation app making use of green and blue so that users feel more relaxed and at peace. Complementary These are mostly contrasting colors and contrary to each other. Their main purpose is to gain the focus of the user. So, here basically two colors are selected; one remains dominant while the other is contrasting or balancing it. However, must be ensured that colors are chosen carefully for the content does not look very bright. Custom Color Scheme When you are deciding to implement the custom color scheme, use the color wheel intelligently. But it is not that only experienced designers can lay their hands on it. If you have just started, then the advice would be to use more of traditional color scheme and if you want to succeed then try using only one or two base color. Compound Color Scheme Also known as the split-complementary scheme, it combines base color as well as a couple of analogous colors. It is similar contrasting as complementary color but does not have a good visual outlook. Choosing the Color Shades Selecting the color shade of the app is also important and here the designer needs to blend black with the base color. Its main objective is to make the mobile design more attractive. It also highlights certain specific areas of the app such as its functionality. The Use of Adobe Color CC The main function of Adobe Color CC is to make the job of the designers easier by simplifying the task of selecting required color. As such you can choose any color as base color and also add and save the palettes directly. The Effects of Color Contrast The designers need to make use of the color contrast (using two opposite colors) to prevent the eyes from strain. It divides the colors of the app so that user can easily get the attention. The colors

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The Mobile App Design Process to Follow

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The visual appeal in mobile apps goes a long way in determining its impact on your business. While designing mobile apps, the developers focus on UX and UI significantly. A weak app design prompts the users to uninstall them from their handsets. On an average, users uninstall 28% of the mobile apps within 30 days of installing them. Evidently, your mobile app design should be engaging and user-friendly. Mobile App Design Process to Follow In this article, we bring you the right mobile app designing strategy. You will come across a comprehensive app design process, which will help you develop robust mobile apps. Planning your Mobile App Design At the outset, you need to come up with a plan, collaborating with the analysts. The experts provide the clients with an estimate of the time required to develop the features in the app. The reputed designers closely collaborate with the business firms, while integrating the specified design elements in the apps. At this stage, the designers study customer requirements, and decide the right way to implement the design elements. Carry out your Research Designer, through detailed web research, come up with the appropriate strategy to develop each innovative app. You should acknowledge the individuality of all these apps, as each of them is different in terms of functionalism. It is advisable to stay updated with the latest trends in app design, which will help you to design an amazing app with the latest features. You should also have detailed knowledge of the industry for which the app is being developed. This process ensures that all the latest features are present in the app. Identifying Target Audience This is one of the most crucial tasks, which designers need to undertake. The functionalism of the app and the expectations of your target audience determine the design to a significant extent. For instance, if you develop the app for kids, it should come with a soft colour and smooth edges. Business apps, on the other hand, carry professional fonts. The UI design depends on the target group substantially. Consider the following questions while developing the interface: What is the demographic area of the users? What the app aims to serve? Why the user should use the app? What are the weak points of other apps in the same industry? Whats is the process through which your app can sort out these issues? When you know all these aspects, it becomes easier to plan out the structure and features in the app. Specifications as Required Designers need to develop the apps as per the specifications conveyed by the customers. These encompass all the tools and technologies that the UX designers will require in the process. They hand over these specifications to the mobile app developers when the app design process is over. Developing Wireframes Next, the developers need to build wireframes, which represents the skeletal structure of the future app, along with its important features. The reputed companies use the Sketch, Adobe XD or Photoshop for building wireframes for Android and iOS. It is advisable to spend some time, collaborating with the team and carrying out discussions, so that all the features that the client wants are integrated seamlessly in the app. Make sure to adhere to the major principles of designing a mobile app when you build the wireframe. Building the Prototype The prototype represents the live design of the app you are building, along with the process of interaction with the user. You may use the InVision or Adobe XD, which can quickly convert mobile designs into prototypes. This prototype is reviewed by the customers and they provide their opinions and feedback. On analyzing these, you can incorporate the necessary changes in the app and move to the subsequent stage. Finishing Touch This is the last stage of the mobile app design process. You might want to come up with certain specifications in the apps. These include interactions and animations that add to the visual pleasure for the users. Next, the A/B testing is carried out to determine the exact version of the app, which the users will love. The one with a greater preference indicates that it will generate a greater conversion rate. Tips for Enhancing the Visual Impact of Your Mobile App Apart from the ones mentioned above, you should focus on some other details too, that can enhance the visual impact of the app. These include: Navigation Users love mobile apps that they can navigate through seamlessly. You need to eliminate bugs and barriers, if any, during the app development process. An intuitive and simple navigation enables users to get a seamless experience. In the process, your business can attract a greater number of users, who, in turn, recommend others to use the app. This is how startups are flourishing in the digitized age. However, take care not to overload the app. The navigation should be breezy and users should find it easy to use the app. Most of the successful apps have a habitual model. If the users have to be too creative while using the app, it might not be popular. Typography Typography is one of the most important visual elements in the app. Use typography that carries the essence of your brand. At the same time, it should make your app look attractive. Clear and readable text is highly recommended. Developers should also incorporate the right font size in the app. In case you have loads of visual elements in a large app, make sure that the text is visible and clear. Nail the spaces between words and lines. Color Schemes The colour-contrast of the background and foreground is another area to consider. Do not make the visual look too dull. Maintain a pleasant contrast between colors that you use in the text as well as the background. The reputed developers test different schemes of colour to check out the extent to which each variation appeals to the audience. In most of the cases, the QA

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How to Create an App Design That Works?

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Flurry Analytics states that in the US, 90% of a consumer’s mobile time is spent on apps. With over 4.5 million apps to choose from, every app developer has his eyes set on the most significant slice of cake. But creating an app requires a lot of dedication, time, and money. However, it isn’t impossible. Often the most difficult tasks are the ones that are the most rewarding. So if you have your hopes set on launching an app, or you already have one in the pipeline but need to tweak it a bit, then you’ve come to the right place. But before we get started, let’s get a few questions out in the open. When we talk about mobile app design, we are discussing both the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). While app designers are responsible for making an app look good, app developers’ focus on making it work correctly. App design encompasses the overall style of the app. This includes aspects such as the color scheme, page layouts, typography, the type of buttons, etc. More importantly, it focuses on creating a functional app. What is an App Design That Works? If you think about it, the answer is quite simple. You are designing an app for people. So if your app: appeals to the users solves a problem simplifies life for people Then, well done. You are the proud owner of an app that works. As for app design, it should not only look good but should operate smoothly. With a focus on UI and UX, you need to provide an intuitive experience to satisfy your users. Considering that 60% of apps have never even been downloaded, and 25% of apps that are downloaded are used only once, you need to create a delicious app that users don’t merely want to sample. Apps must meet user expectations for them to keep coming back. Surprisingly, according to report, 28% of apps are deleted after 30 days. So to remain profitable, you not only need to retain customers, but you must also continue to attract others in order to expand the user base. How to Design an Impressive Mobile App? You want to know the secret recipe to increase mobile app engagement and reduce app abandonment? It all starts by creating an exceptional app. Without any more delay, let’s start creating an impressive app design: Step #1: Write down your goals Just like starting a business, if you do not have clear goals in sight, it’s going to be quite challenging to succeed. Write everything down, beginning with your idea of how you plan to market your app. Remember, set realistic goals. It’s not advisable to bite off more than you can chew. Once you have an idea, understand its stance in the current market by looking at the competition. More importantly, research the target audience and define the customer persona. Step #2: Select a platform Before you start designing an app, you need to select the platform you intend to develop the app for, whether it’s Android or iOS, or maybe both. But that depends on your idea as well as the reason for creating an app. Since each OS has its design language, you need to follow the design guidelines for that platform. App designers need to consider the different navigation patterns and button positions that Androids and iOS have. It often dictates font selection, placement of UI objects, and much more. Evaluating various aspects beforehand will ensure that the app looks, feels, and functions appropriately. This is essential for success because, 62% of users will uninstall an app that doesn’t work well. So keep in mind that Android uses the Material Design System while Apple’s iOS heeds to the Human Interface Guidelines. Utilizing these instructions can help: Create an app that is consistent with the way the mobile device operates. utilize GUI components that the app will need designers can create a better UX with enhanced usability and accessibility users will feel more comfortable while using the app on their devices Step 3: Illustrate your ideas It’s time to present your thoughts visually. Begin by creating sketches about the information architecture and navigation of the app. This helps to envision the structure and logic. Moreover, these simplified designs focus on flow and usability. Next, create wireframes. Wireframes are often described as the blueprint of an app that schematically portrays essential features, functions, and content. They typically show: space distribution content prioritization available functions intended actions relationships between screens Wireframes communicate visual ideas that facilitate the development of various detailed aspects later on. At the moment, visual design is not the main criteria. At this stage, utilizing wireframe tools, such as Sketch or Adobe XD, can be particularly useful. Wireframing is an important step: They are visual and straightforward, thereby giving a clear idea of what the app will look like and how it will function. Promote communication with the team. Allow designers to see if various aspects are progressing smoothly between pages. Highlight any inconsistencies or issues. Changes are easier and cheaper to implement at this stage. If any technical difficulties arise, reflect, and revise your wireframe to make adjustments. Step #4: Add the visual aspects The design of an app needs to have an instant impact on the mind of the user. According studies, 94% of first impressions are related to design. Visual appeal and website navigation are at the top of the list when it comes to features that influence a user’s first impressions. And since a good first impression can take your app to greater heights, invest in a design that will pull your users in. Remember that while looks are paramount, you need a great UI to boost the overall perceived quality of your app. So while UX enhances customer satisfaction by optimizing the app’s usability and providing a smooth experience, UI defines how the app will look and behave visually. This includes elements such as fonts, colors, icons, etc.

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The Best Practices to Design Dark Mode for Mobile Apps in 2022

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Over the last few years, dark themes have been the most requested features in app design. Last year, macOS launched Dark Mode and Google declared a universal widespread of Dark Theme at Google I/O 2019 Conference. Although it was once rare, now dark themes are the latest trends and have become widespread. If done correctly, dark themes have a lot of perks. They can be read more easily in low light. They lower eyestrain. They can highly eradicate battery consumption, based on the screen. To get the Dark Theme ready is important for a designer for his app. Nevertheless, it’s not easy to build a nice dark theme. You can’t just reuse colors or invert the shades. If you do, you will get the opposite of what you need. Designing dark mode incorrectly increases eye strain and makes it more difficult to read in low light. Both Google and Apple made the dark theme an important part of UI. This theme’s low brightness gives safety in dark ambiance. Hence, while designing dark themes, make sure to make it delightful, balanced, and readable. Why Should You Go For Dark Mode? In this blog, we discuss a few tips to guide you to designing a dark theme for your app. Before that, let’s know the importance of dark mode: A Popular Trend The dark mode is one of the most demanding design elements that have been trendy since the last year. It is developing day by day as per the current market demands. Prolongs Battery Life Dark mode of an application saves a device’s battery life. The dark mode works amazingly on OLED screens to prolong the device’s battery life, Google confirmed. Solves Health & Wellness Issues The apps which feature too much brightness are harmful to your eyes if used in the long run. Here come the benefits of the dark mode. It relaxes your eyes to open and work on applications in the dark, solving these health and wellness problems. Impacts of Unhealthy Dark Mode on Your Health When you are reading a white text on the black background, it creates pressure on iris as it opens up more and receives more light and deformation of the lens creates a frizzier focus in your eyes. This is known as Fuzzing Effect or Halation, which is one of the biggest challenges of dark mode app design. As the name denotes, unhealthy dark mode is harsh for your eyes due to its high contrast and they can stress them very fast. For instance, if you use your laptop or phone on the highest darkness, you already know how painful it is to read the entire text. As mentioned earlier, dark mode helps prolong battery life. So, it just affects the devices featuring the OLED screen. When users are exposed to this impact, they feel exhausted by their digital experience. This is why proper designing of the dark mode is required. Now that you know how unhealthy or improper design of dark mode impacts your health and wellness, let’s head on to the next phase of this blog! What Changes Apple Brought to Design Dark Mode on iOS 13? Using dark mode, Apple has returned the context of colors and UI styling in iOS. Let’s dig into the changes that Apple made for helping you design dark mode on iOS 13: System Colors Apple has brought nine predefined system colors that are supportive of dark system-wide appearance and dynamic. Hence, these colors modify to chosen interface styles. Semantic Colors To balance the feel and appearance of the iOS apps in both light and dark mode, Apple has brought semantic colors for usually implemented UI components. These colors don’t feature the optimal RGB value; they alter to iOS interface style directly. Moreover, these semantic colors help deal with the overlay color and text in the dark mode. SF Symbols In the Human Interface Guidelines, Apple provides over 1500 SF symbols for designers and developers for use in their apps. Automatically they look great in the Dark Mode, which is why they have been optimized for both dark and light UI. Blur and Vibrancy Effects Apple has launched 8 vibrancy effects and 4 blur effects with iOS 13, which changes to the iOS interface style automatically. Moreover, Apple has launched 4 vibrancy effects in iOS dark mode typography suit – 1 for separator and 3 in the overlay. How to Design Dark Mode for Mobile App Effectively To give you a healthy UI experience, both Google and Apple have focused on their dark mode design standards. However, as we mentioned above, not paying heed to the dark mode design theme can result in a poor experience. Thereby, you must follow the tips given below to design dark mode for mobile app effectively: Refrain from Using Saturated Colors Although saturated colors look amazing on light surfaces, they can vibrate against dark surfaces visually and make them more difficult to read. Hence, to make the contrast sufficient against the dark surface, de-saturate the main colors.saturated colors Go for using colors in the 200 to 50 range (those which are lighter tones) as they feature better readability on the dark theme surfaces. Lighter tones will not make your app UI less expressive, but they will maintain relevant contrast without paining your eyes. Make Distant Surfaces Darker One guiding rule is followed by the background colors in dark themes for UI elements: if the layer is closer to the user, the surface area becomes lighter. A light source is cast from above in this model that is analogous to an ambiance. If the layer is distant, it gets less light and recedes more into the background. The designer can be tempted to invert the present light theme while making a dark theme. Nevertheless, closer surfaces would become dark and distant ones would become light. By breaking physicality, this would feel unnatural. Rather, use just your light theme’s primary surface color. Then, invert the color to create your dark

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Mobile App Design Fundamentals – The Difference Between UI and UX

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Facebook. Uber. Amazon. What is the one thing all of these apps have in common? They are designed to near perfection! Many think the popularity of mainstream apps illustrates that all apps with a revolutionary proposition are bound to be successful. However, did you know that in 2019 alone, 25 percent of apps were only used once after being installed! One of the biggest reasons for this is the inability of apps to offer seamless UI and an integrated UX. Before Facebook ruled the world, MySpace failed miserably due to its poor UI. And while offering a similar solution as Yelp, Four Square didn’t make it big. Getting the app design fundamentals right is no longer a differentiating factor. Instead, the inability to deliver it can result in customer churns. As per UX Cam, 91 percent of people who are unsatisfied with a given experience end up abandoning the solution. But, to get the elements right, you must first clearly understand them. For instance, UI and UX are often confused with one another by businesses and developers alike. Understanding the Difference – UI Vs. UX A lot of newbie designers misunderstand the terms UI and UX to mean the same thing. The first step to creating a winning app is to understand the difference between the two and then ensuring that both are up to mark. User Experience (UX) At the crux of every product in the world is its ability to satisfy its users. Regardless of how great you think your solution is, if your end consumers are dissatisfied with it, it will all go down the drain. This is the main philosophy behind user experience. UX, or user experience, refers to the process of improving user satisfaction with a product, and in this case, your app. This is achieved by boosting the accessibility, usability, and performance of the app. Overall, users must feel pleased when interacting with your solution. Coined by Don Norman, UX describes the significance of having a user-centered design. Each app design decision must be made after considering the wants, expectations, and needs of the users. Note that here the medium is not limited to the digital solution. While many tend to think that UX is only limited to the users’ interaction with the app, this is not the case. Instead, UX encompasses perceptions of consumers prior to, during, and after their use of the app. This includes crafting the most compelling overview of the app, the download process, the actual usage of the app, and the post-usage interaction with the business. For example, in the case of an Ecommerce app, the user experience will involve the branding efforts of the business, the ease of downloading it from the app store, the reviews users read, the push notifications or emails the brands send on behalf of the app, etc. User Interface (UI) User Interface revolves around the usability of an app. A solution with a great UI will be one that is highly user-friendly and features an efficient interface. Another common misconception about the user interface is that it only about the development of navigation menus and buttons. However, in reality, it is much more complex than this. UI includes all interactions that occur between the app and the user. It doesn’t just encompass the look of the app but its functionality as well. Continuing the above example, when making decisions about where to place the cart option in an Ecommerce app, developers must consider what position would be optimum for their users. They must decide which color scheme to use to help consumers in detecting the presence of the cart. Additionally, the app developer must ensure that the overall flow of the app makes sense. The consumer journey must be mapped out, and an interface has to be made that simplifies this journey. The Main Difference Between UI and UX While UI consists of technical elements that allow users to interact with the app, UX revolves around the overall perception the user takes away about the experience with the app. Let’s take Google as an example. The user interface of the platform is highly simplistic. It is designed to ensure that users are able to get information quickly. However, if the search engine features a high load time, thereby hampering customers’ ability to seek information, the experience (UX) offered would be compromised. Apart from the basic difference, here are ways that UI and UX differ from one another. UI focuses on the app performance while UX focuses on the entire user journey. User Interface (UI) determines how the app will look like, while UX determines what problem it will solve in the users’ life. UI revolves around visually directing the user about the app interface, while UX includes researching, testing, developing, and prototyping the app. UI, unlike UX, is limited to the screen. UX transcends beyond it and includes all interactions and touchpoints with a user. The Overlap The reason UX and UI are often thought to be synonymous with one another is that quality apps must include both. And without proper UI, UX is automatically compromised. Why? This is because when interacting with the app, users require the platform to be user-friendly and efficient to call the experience smooth and convenient. Therefore, usability plays a crucial role in attaining optimum UX. What Makes a Great UX? Creating an app with an impeccable UX requires having the right mindset. To provide a quality user experience, you must aim to benefit your users from the get-go. The best way to have a great UX is via the design thinking methodology. Here, app developers must first research their target audience to identify their behavior, unmet needs, and wants. This helps in creating a solution that is truly needed by consumers. A value-based product idea is at the heart of creating a flawless user experience. You must then understand the business model of the app and see how it fits into the broader context of users’

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