By the end of 2021, the total number of smartphone users surpassed the 7.1 billion mark. That is the primary reason why the number of mobile applications is soaring, and more businesses are feeling its necessity. On the other hand, there are approximately 8.93 million apps available, indicating a competitive market. Therefore, mobile apps are vital pieces of equipment to reach your target audience and grow awareness.
Based on the previous paragraph, mobile app design can be a daunting task if you seek success, so if you’re walking the first steps in the app industry, knowing the app design process ins and outs can aid you a lot in this journey.
In this article, we will cover an apps’ design process in 6 steps. Time is gold, so stay with Twelfthdream in this fruitful piece of content.
What is an application?
In this digital world, an application is a tool installed on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The sole purpose of doing so is carrying out multiple activities in life. Shopping, traveling, and cooking apps are just a few examples of mobile apps. There are a plethora of app solutions available to make people’s lives easier. As a result, users are picky. If a mobile app fails to adequately meet their needs, it will inevitably be replaced by a competitor’s app, so it is very important to use the right techniques to develop a good app. Therefore, putting a concerted effort into the design is critical.
An outstanding mobile app design must function properly and have a pleasing appearance. Developers write the code that allows an application to function in a proper way. UI and UX designers arrange the high-quality and attractive face of the app to engage users.
Mobile apps are in three basic types. Native apps are developed to operate on a specific operating system, like iOS and Android, and are usually coded in Python, React or React Native, Java, and Swift, depending on the OS. In essence, web apps are native apps that can be accessed through a browser. They are not installed on the device storage, unlike native applications. CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, HTML5, and other programming languages are used to create web applications. Hybrid (cross-platform) apps are web applications in a native shell. As the term Hybrid may suggest, hybrid apps benefit from native and web app features. That is why they are fast and cost-effective to build.
The steps of an apps design process
1. Strategy
Considering business strategy is certainly the primary pillar in app design process. To beat the competition, the blueprint must include objectives and actions. Ask yourself these questions:
- What is the goal of the app?
- What problems will it solve for users?
- How can I achieve my goals?
Be logical in your approach. A mobile app strategy should be accurate and attainable. Beating the number of YouTube users, for example, is not a feasible idea. Time is a valuable thing. To create a sense of urgency and take control of time, set a time limit.
The final tips to follow are:
- Identifying your target audience
- Analyzing the marketplace
- Setting short-term and long-term goals
- Opting for a mobile platform
2. Research, analyzation, and planning
This stage starts with precisely defining functional essentials and using cases. Prioritize mobile app requirements while concerning budget and time in the plan. A Minimum Viable Product can be a good option to figure out customers’ interests and behaviors with less expense and attempt, so it can be a good starting point.
On the other hand, different skills and professionals are required depending on the type of app you want to launch. Different techniques and programming languages are employed to create Android, iOS, and progressive web apps. If you desire an Android app, for example, you should hire Android developers. However, Team As A Service (TAAS) is always an excellent choice in all product formats. Everything is planned and conducted in an ideal way to improve quality, productivity, and value when you have a dedicated team of experts on your side.
3. UI and UX design
The look of your product is certainly shaped by the user interface and user experience. Users will enthusiastically continue to use the app if the UX and UI design are coordinated. Color schemes, typography, navigation, and other elements of UI and UX are used to engage users in a friendly environment. Illustrations on paper are the starting point for design. Wireframes (also known as mockups) are a digital format for laying out app layouts. For creating static mockups, Adobe Photoshop is a popular choice.
4. App development
The fourth step of designing an app is the development. There are three stages at this phase, the first being front-end development, then API definition, and lastly, back-end development. There are two ways you can go in this stage:
- Finding suitable a mobile app development firm to create a custom app for your company
- Building the app on your own if you know how to design an app
It’s not easy to find a top-notch app development company. When choosing an agency, keep the following factors in mind:
- Your financial situation
- Case studies
- The type of app (PWA, native, or cross-platform mobile development)
- Clients satisfaction
On the other hand, learning app development is time consuming and a bit challenging. It consists of various technologies and programming languages like React or React native, ReactJS and such.
5. Testing the app
A full quality assurance (QA) test during a mobile application design process is performed to guarantee whether the app is stable, usable, and secure. You must first prepare test cases that cover all aspects of program testing to ensure a comprehensive quality test. Examine all the facets of the app like user experience, functions, performance, security, etc.
6. Maintenance
Once the app is stable, monitoring activities to check if everything runs smoothly is very important. Read users’ reviews after you upload your app to the Google play store or any other alternative app store. It aids to keep your app viable and beneficial. Furthermore, you can reap benefits from users’ suggestions about bugs to open up new opportunities for your application.
Conclusion
App design is an awkward task to manage. But it is not a dream. Innovation is key to business survival. When you have a dedicated team by your side who knows the ropes, your app idea will miraculously shine and rise. In other words, implement the best mobile app design practice, or ask a mobile app development company to back you. TwelfthDream is an iOS and Android app development agency in Vancouver. Our retrospective shares 95 percent of client satisfaction rate. We are hard-wired to play everything safe for you. Contact us, and our team will handle all the phases of an apps design process for you.
FAQ
Which is better for Native Android app development, React or React Native? Although it is a native environment, the type of platform effect choice. When it comes to a native Android app React Native is a better choice to deliver users the native feeling. While for building responsive and user-friendly native web apps, developers pick Reactjs.
What is the difference between MVP and a finished product? Minimum Viable Product ( MVP, for short) refers to a product handed to the market to get feedback and attention from users. So, the possible bugs, issues, and errors could be resolved. A finished product is the outcome of MVP without any problems. However, software development is a never-ending process. And at the maintenance phase, software teams keep the app updated.
Are MVP and prototype equal terms? An MVP is almost a complete product. It is complete. However, a prototype is a brisk pace to test the assumptions and thoughts behind an idea. Therefore, it cannot be employed.