Designing For Mobile

Designing For Mobile (2018 Edition)

We always see them come about every once in a while – changes in various design trends all over the world. Even within the past couple of years or so, designs that are more minimalistic in nature have started to materialize.

When it comes to designing mobile apps, oftentimes, we always keep minimalistic or flat design at the top of our to-do list, as it is the most common design style that we speak about the most.

However, regardless of what specific design trend we see, we always see many different elements within each one, some more often than others.

Designing For MobileImage source: SneakerUI

In fact, we see more trends burst onto the scene every single year, which include such things as color palettes that are more sophisticated and user interfaces that are more minimalistic.

This is in addition to all of the different levels, patterns, shadows, and other aspects that may not have made the overall cut.

This begs the question: which of these specific trends will we likely see more this year when it comes to designing for mobile?

Begin with Navigation

Begin with Navigation Image source: Deepak

In order to answer that question accurately, it is essential that we begin with navigation. One of the most common mobile app design tips is that when it comes to designing any kind of an app, the interface should always be kept in mind.

The most important aspect of any app involves navigation, which should always be the very first aspect that you focus on when designing any kind of a mobile app.

Many individuals use thousands of different apps every single day, and it becomes increasingly clear what they want – navigation through an app that is both clearly designed and pleasant.

This means that the one element that should be the most well-designed and refined is the app’s menu.

When designing the navigational aspect of your app, keep in mind that the overall style you choose is completely up to you. For example, apps that are designed in the one-topic style use a navigation method that involves navicons and on-screen navigation.

It is also important to ensure that the menu that you design has typography that is both clear and easy to read. On the other hand, more complex apps are designed using various types of sliders due to the fact that these kinds of apps contain a great deal of content.

Regardless of the navigation design style you choose, the design itself should never hide any of your content.

Simplifying User Experience

Simplifying User Experience Image source: Frank Lagendijk

When the minimalistic or flat design is discussed, it usually entails simplicity and clarity, both of which are designed to emphasize usability while, at the same time, ease functionality.

Simplicity and clarity can oftentimes be found in different visual design languages. However, they have also been known to affect the interaction designer, as they are working one previous step in the overall design chain.

User interfaces are becoming more minimalistic in nature as well, but the big issue involves whether or not users receive information more clearly thanks to this style.

While every inch of a mobile screen absolutely had to be filled with some kind of a design element some time ago, an empty background screen has become a brand new kind of design element.

Keeping it one simple color is a great way to style and design an app, allowing users to focus on other elements placed in the background. In fact, some mobile designers are choosing to keep the background empty on purpose.

Apple was able to help provide more clarity to app users in late 2013 thanks to design changes that came with the iOS 7 update. In addition, Android’s Lollipop update from the previous year also introduced some big changes.

Both of these operating systems helped to provide more clarity not only by using more white backgrounds for the apps but also by adding more spacing between different elements.

Things get trickier when you aren’t designing a simple app and you are making a game app. In there, the interface rules are totally different.

Weight and Height

Weight and HeightImage source: TAMIN LAB

The past couple of years or so has been virtually all about flat and minimalistic design styles. This trend is expected to continue all throughout 2015, despite the fact that more subtle forms of skeuomorphism are coming back in style.

When you look at objects on a screen, they will obviously visually appear to be flat. However, there are different ways to give them more physical presences, as depth can be added using various kinds of layers and transparency.

These kinds of results can be seen in various apps that are available for download from operating systems as iOS 8, Windows Mobile, and Android.

Perhaps the clearest expression of this can be seen in Google’s Material Design, which was originally unveiled in July of 2014.

At first, apps available from Google both look flat and conform to a grid that is rather strict, but overall, all of the different components contain their own depth and presence, which gives them the sense of being actual moving objects.

Subtle Color Palettes

Subtle Color Palettes Image source: Lois Yang

It is no secret that web design will undoubtedly showcase different colors that are bolder and bigger, but in terms of mobile apps, the opposite will happen.

Mobile app designers are stating that they plan to pull back on color since the design of these apps is taking a more minimalistic approach. So rather than color palettes that are bold and flashy, mobile apps will now feature palettes that are simple and subtle.

Psychologically, this is considered to be a great step, as while bright and bold colors can certainly draw attention, they can also be distracting to the user.

Subtle colors, on the other hand, can draw user’s attention, but they can also help keep their overall level of concentration.

Elements of Animation

Elements of Animation
Image source: Pietro Schirano

As mobile apps continue their expansion, designers are expected to help facilitate more the use of animations, since these most certainly grab the attention of the user more than anything else.

It is expected that animated elements will be utilized with a more motivational and functional role, rather than with a solely visual one.

These elements will allow the user to have a more effective and pleasant experience, and enable them to successfully determine what is mostly for show and what is truly interactive.

Increased Scrolling

Increased Scrolling
Image source: Konst

Scrolling is one aspect that is expected to be used intently in mobile design throughout 2015.

While this is a feature that is used literally every single day, designers want to take this feature one step further with parallax scrolling, which is expected to take aspects such as interactive storytelling and animation to brand new heights.

This is something that will eventually add a level of depth to mobile design that has never been experienced before.

Final Thoughts

Final ThoughtsImage source: Andrea Montini

These are just a few of the many different trends that are expected to experience some form of changes in the world of mobile development.

It is clear that the world of mobile design will soon allow for a better interactive experience for many mobile device users for years to come.

Credit for featured image: Alexander Zaytsev

Related posts

About Us

Visual Hierarchy is a bundles site where designers can buy and sell their products. we're dedicated to selling innovative and creative products to designers at affordable prices.

Freebies

Subscribe Us

Receive articles like this one every week.
No spamming. Unsubscribe at any time

Recent Posts