Designing and developing a new application is often an exciting project. Critical elements to get right are knowing your customer’s needs, the technology to use, and the sustainment plan. However, there are two elements that your customers will use every time they engage with your application: User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX).
UI and UX are two different but connected design features of an application’s development. Despite the two terms being used somewhat interchangeably, they are different. It is crucial to get each one correct to provide the best experience possible for your customers. And further, to stay ahead of developing app dev trends, we’ve made it a top priority staff only the most highly qualified UX app design team, ensuring to our Dogtown Media clients they are in safe hands.
So, if you’re looking to get a better understanding of UI/UX, how it can influence your upcoming app, or how it greatly impacts app retention, we’re here to help!
What is UI/UX
UI and UX are two principles that have been around for a while, especially UX. Generally, both take a human-first approach to development and functionality instead of a technical one. Individually, however, UI and UX focus on different aspects of an application’s visual design.
- UI – User interface design is the primary way a person interacts with a digital product. Typically, UI is very visual and uses a combination of colors, images, and buttons that consumers use to navigate through an application.
- UX – User experience design focuses on the overall experience of using an application feels for both first-time users and loyal customers. UX identifies areas for improvement and pain points for consumers to create better design solutions.
As a dedicated iPhone app developer in San Francisco, we often time break down the relationship between UI and UX as such: UI is the steering wheel, seat, pedals, and dashboard, while UX is how it feels to drive the vehicle.
Why is UI/UX Important for your App?
It is essential to get all the elements of an application correct. From your customer’s perspective, their interaction and engagement with your application, and whether they enjoy it or not, are driven almost entirely by the UI and UX. This factor is especially true for mobile applications. An application can be a functional and technical marvel. However, if it is designed poorly and provides a miserable experience for your customers, the application will not succeed.
From a competition standpoint, UI and UX are essential to attracting customers, but more importantly, keeping them using your application. This factor is exceptionally relevant for startups and small businesses.
Top Three UI/UX Tips for Your App
Both UI and UX decisions and considerations start early in the development process. Here are a few tips to get the UI and UX right for your application.
- Knowing your audience might seem like it goes without saying, but it doesn’t. It is challenging to get the UI and UX correct if you don’t know who you are designing the application for, what problems it solves, or what services it provides. The most effective way to know your audience is to conduct user research.
- Wireframing is a tried-and-true method to create sample application variations. Comprehensive wireframing efforts test the look and feel of an application, useability, and some functionality. Due diligence with wireframing can save time and money during the development of the application.
- Deciding on an overall visual style and maintaining that approach throughout the application development provides uniformity. These elements include a color palette, design atheistic, and theme. Consistency is the main takeaway, and every design decision should be made to support the overall visual style.
Additional UI/UX Tips for Your App
And once you’ve knocked out the basics of UI/UX in your app, here are two additional considerations:
- Simplistic designs tend to be better accepted by customers. This approach does not apply to every application. However, cluttered, cumbersome, and clunky UI tends to be poorly received. If your application is difficult to use, your customers will find a similar application that isn’t. An effective way to determine if the design is working or not is to test iterations with potential customers – not necessarily members of your team.
- Don’t overlook or underestimate the onboarding experience. The UI is the first element a new customer will interact with. However, it will not be long – minutes, perhaps – before that person decides if the UI/UX works. If your application is complex for new users, or the customer needs some guidance getting started, a muddled or non-existent onboarding means losing customers. Additionally, provide an option to skip the onboarding as some customers just want to get in and go.
Next Steps
UI and UX are essential parts of an application. It is the most crucial part from a customer’s perspective, as this is the only way they will engage with your application.
Dogtown Media uses intuitive UI/UX design for our client’s applications. Our design team creates innovative and customer-focused user interfaces that enhance and compliments the overall user experience. Contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can incorporate UI/UX into your applications.