Avoid Committing These UX Pitfalls When Designing an App
- UI/UX
- December 5, 2017
Mobile Application Development is a complex task; ask any professional app developer and he would guide you through the process. As all designed websites doesn’t get the boost on the search engines, similarly most of the released mobile apps don’t get any public attention.
One can site various whys and wherefores for people not downloading and installing your app. To be honest, one of the prime reasons, which makes your apps suffer is poor User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design.
Even one of the survey states that 88% of the customers do not return to a website or the mobile application if they have a bad user experience.
Obviously you don’t want to fall in the same trap and so getting some valuable information on what the common user experience flaws are can prove as an eye-opener and worthy.
However, it will be viable to throw some spotlight on what user experience is and why is it considered to be one of the most imperative tools for generating traffic to any app.
A Short Brief Intro to User Experience (UX)
As you can draw some line from its name; it is a designing tool that helps to enhance the experience of the end users while they are using your mobile application, increasing the satisfaction level. It is through the UX that accessing and navigation of the mobile application becomes simpler and hence the app becomes user friendly.
Another vital reason that makes user experience is one of the must have assets is it helps in creating a brand awareness, which is necessary to compete with the competitors. But most importantly the customers tend to identify your product or service through an adorable UX design.
As such UX is not just limited to offering an aesthetic and beautiful visual design, but the testing is also an essential aspect that an UX designer has to perform to check its functionality. And before beginning the designing process, the designer has to conduct a thorough research to get the innovative ideas.
1. UX and UI are Same Sides of Coin
The user experience designers tend to get perplexed considering that both user experience and user interface are the same sides of the coin. However, it is just a misconception and nothing else. While user interface (UI) can be defined as the page or the screen of the mobile app that the users view including the icon helping to establish the interaction between the user and the device.
On the other hand, as already mentioned before user experience (UX) is the tool that is related to personal experience of the user while he is using the app. So, do not intermingle UI with UX.
User interface is often used in the broader sense that comprises of interactive design, visually appealing design, easy to read content and eye-catching app icon. But user experience is often designed after doing a deep research and understanding the specific needs and demand of the end users.
Read also: Importance of UI/UX Design in Mobile App Development
2. Inappropriate and Inconsistent Design Methods
One of the major faults committed by the designers is choosing inappropriate and inconsistent design that adversely affects the performance of the app. This can start with taking a wrong decision on designing the interface of the app.
A poorly designed UX will make it difficult for the users to navigate through the app. Therefore, your ultimate aim is to offer a design that will seamlessly operate on all types of devices without any hindrance.
The mobile application has to be a consistent performer where the customers can easily understand and get through the functionality of the app. The content must be easily comprehendible; especially if the customer is booking for an item.
If the designer is using the symbols to indicate something, it must be clear and must not be confusing at all. According to a research, 94% of the users delete the app within the first month of downloading it and many of them do so because of bad UX.
3. Unnecessarily Including the Login Page
You know there are a number of apps where the customers are compulsorily required to login into the page after entering a few important details such as name, email id and so on. The examples of such apps are online cab booking, eCommerce app etc. But it is not necessary that every app has to have a login page.
Moreover, you must not keep on pocking the customer for the registration every time he opens your app. This will annoy him. Give some time so as to understand how the app operates and how it is useful to him.
If your app requires the user to sign in, make it as simple as possible. Please remember the fact that 15.6% of the users uninstall the app due to poor registration experiences.
4. Overstuffing and Overcrowding the App with Features
It is a wrong conception that adding lots of features will generate more traffic to the mobile app and also enhance the experience of the users. The designer should always keep the point in mind that is developing the app for the customers and not for his personal usage.
So, when you commence to design the interface, please sit with your team and discuss what features are vital to include in the app.
If you are stuffing the app with too many features, you are actually taking the user into the zone of uncertainty and create confusion in his mind. So, better first understand what the app is all about, what products or services it will deal with and then proceed further.
The users will get frustrated and it is your app that has to bear the consequences at last. It will also harm your brand value. It is advisable to keep a proportionate ratio as far as adding of the features is concerned.
Read also: A Catalogue of Key Mobile App Features That Stands Out in Crowd
5. Not Conducting Deep Research to Understand User Demand
It is evidently known that the story of a highly successful user experience begins with a deep rooted research to know what the customers are currently demanding from the UX designers. It must be remembered that it is difficult to impress the customers with an impressive design and at the same time you also have to connect with them.
The research factor also becomes essential to know what your competitors are offering to the users. The products that you offer through the app should fully correspond to the needs of the client. And to gain this strong correspondence, you again need the support of a strong research. It will provide a more user-centric design approach.
6. User Experience Design is a Team Work Not Individual
Any task whether is mobile app development or designing the UI or UX when carried out with full coordination of a proficient team will always provide the best of the results. It is the collective and joint responsibility of the team to create something unique and extraordinary. The team should work in coordination to deliver the end product.
The benefit of availing a team is that each of the members will give his/her significant contribution in the designing procedure and the project will be done smoothly without much problems.
7. Don’t Complicate on the Content Part
We all know that content is an important aspect of the user experience design. Content is King as it offers crucial information about your app but if it is complicated and overloaded, this will be annoying. Include every part of the content very wisely and the most important point is that it should be relevant to your app.
But it does not mean that you have to exclude the vital information; of course you must include it neatly; which means it shouldn’t look clumsy.
8. Don’t be a Copycat and Avoid Plagiarism
The UX designers have to be very careful when they are working on the designing of the app; especially implementing the color and designing the icon. Needless to say that you can take design ideas from the search engines and from the other apps, there is no harm in that, but should not blindly copy a design and violate the copyright rules.
The same thing has to be followed in the case of delivering the content. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. The design should be unique and content original.
9. Don’t Forget to Include White Space
To make your page look more pleasing and attractive, the white space has come a big respite for the UX designers. It does not allow the page to get overloaded and stuffed.
It is an essential tool through which you can play with the text and font design, increase or decrease the alignment size according to needs. White space should be necessarily included.
10. Not Prioritizing on Feedback
Getting feedbacks from the end users at regular intervals is often served as an energy booster for the UX designers. You must ask the users to rate the app and also provide valuable comments specifically on the app functionality. And if you don’t pay attention to the feedback, then your app will surely fall flat.
Read also: 6 Reasons Why a Bad UX Can Kill the App
The Final Thoughts
No one is perfect and so mistakes are bound to take place. But if as an UX designer you are prepared beforehand and well familiar with what kind of hurdles and pitfalls may arrive during the UX design, there are chances that you will not commit them in particular.
Moreover, it is the experience of the designers that will count a lot when they are working on various projects.
