The mobile industry is continuing its rise to power, after already dominating the last couple of years. The fortuitous nature of mobile apps make it so they are one of the most desired forms of software, demanded in extremely large quantities all over the globe. Not only quantities, but also a plethora of purposes, as it has become pretty much a requirement to have your own app nowadays if you want your business to succeed.
This makes mobile application development and app UX/UI design very sought after skills that will ensure a lucrative a long lasting career, if the current flow of the market is any indication. But as we progress, so too do apps require more effort put into them, and more dedication towards creating quality software for users to appreciate. So what are the UX design guidelines that will shape 2017? We are still at the very beginning, but we can already distinguish a few UX design traits that will carry on and be considered borderline mandatory, if you want to ensure a successful mobile app endeavor.
Let’s take a look at these app design traits and see what developers will be aiming to achieve in 2017 with the mobile apps they work on:
Material design prevails
Material design was introduced some time ago by Google through its array of apps and tools that help other developer create apps of their own, emulating this design style. The concept behind Material design is simplicity and how users can make the most out of an app in the fastest manner possible. This minimalistic trend seems to be the main guideline for app design still.
More gesture-based control
Mobile apps are operated on smartphones, which use touchscreen technology to accommodate and perform tasks. UX designers will look to fully take advantage of this situation by adding more importance to Touch gestures within their apps. This means that we are going to see applications put more emphasis on Touch and allow users to seamlessly navigate or use their functions. This will be done by permitting users to use gestures such as swiping to get their point across, rather than having to navigate manually through a bunch of menus before they get where they want to be.
Personalized text fonts
Many apps come with a standard font that carries throughout the application. It is believed that now, app designers will look to incorporate fonts and writing styles that will differentiate their app from the rest, and also act as a type of brand signature. An app could have multiple text styles for different sections or purposes, all left to the creative brains behind the app development process.
Related blog: Top Mobile App Development Trends To Watch Out For In 2017
Simplicity is key
Apps of the past might have showcased a complex nature in what might be considered an overzealous effort coming from designers, trying to show off their skills. That won’t be the case this year, as apps will look to be as minimalistic as possible. We will see applications with big, noticeable images and simple scrollable menus taking over app design. The idea here is that the simpler an app is, the easier it is for a user to make use of its features and not get bogged down in all the extra stuff.
Smartwatch intuitive
App developers are starting to look for ways to incorporate wearable gadgets into the mix, and take this into consideration when premeditating the final design. As smartwatches become more important in daily mobile trends, apps will obviously look to make smartwatches feel right at home and not offer a clunky and obviously un-catered to experience.
Related blog: The Road To Success in Wearable App Development With Best Challenges
Built to scale
Mobile devices are getting bigger and bigger, and this year is expected to bear some really big screens in the smartphone department. That means that designers will have to carefully work around bigger setups and design to fit the feel and necessities of these larger displays that they might not have experience working with.
Colorful scheme
Apps in 2017 will be looking to offer vibrant and rich color combinations and variations that will ultimately enhance the user experience visually. Paired with the minimalistic approach of the interface design, bright vibrant colors could help maintain user attention for longer.
Conclusion
As we progress, there are other trends that might surface or suffer birth out of the ashes of a previous one, but these are some of the ones that you can expect to see a lot during 2017, according to what most UX/UI designers seem to be interesting in expressing with their apps.
