Mobile App Design:
Usable Interfaces for
Tiny Places
Nima Vadiee
@NimaVadiee
Jeremy Anticouni
@JeremyAnticouni
youtube.com/apigee
slideshare.net/apigee
Overview
Agenda
• Wires Are Worth it
• Less is More
• You’re All Thumbs
• Perception of Performance
The importance of
prototyping and wireframing
Jumping straight into
design is the fastest way
to slow down the project
in the long run.
Skipping UX design
always results in delays
down the road as
questions arise and must
be discussed and then
UI and UX are not the
same thing.
Don't trade one for the other!
UI distilled from the UX design.
Iterate!!
Complicated interfaces
are easy.
Crafting visually appealing
user interfaces that remain
intuitive and simple is far
more challenging.
Great design is about
taking away and
simplifying; not layering on
more complexity.
White space is good...
when properly
implemented, it will
reinforce the important
interface elements.
To simplify an interface,
review every visual
element and ask how it
benefits the user.
Avoid ornamental or
trendy elements -“everyone else is doing it”
is not enough of a reason
to include in your design;
Examples.
‘Less is More’ Cont..
The fewer elements that
are crammed together will
make the interface easier
Guideline References
iOS Human Interface Guidelines
http://bit.ly/apigee-iOS_HIG
Android Design Guidelines
http://bit.ly/apigee-Android_Design
Actionable elements should be a
minimum of 44 x 44 points.
If visually this minimum takes away
from the design, make the
surrounding area tappable while
keeping the element size smaller.
Readability is highly important and
using minimum font sizes will help
achieve this. For example, Apple uses
the following font sizes for their
interface elements
•Titles & Button labels: 20pt
•List Labels: 17pt
•Standard text: 16pt
Clearly the performance of
an app directly affects the
user experience.
However, its not always
within your control.
Network conditions, device type
& processing power, amongst
other things all contribute to the
perceived performance of an
app.
Provide the user immediate
feedback that their action has
been received.
Use spinners and loading
indicators when you know a task
will not be completed instantly
Takeaways
Don't rush the UI/UX, it’s
one of the most important
aspects of great app
development.
Simplify. Declutter.
Follow HIG best
practices, your users
(and Apple reviewers) will
appreciate it.
Give your users the
perception of
performance, even when
it’s outside your control.
Questions?
Nima Vadiee
@NimaVadiee
Jeremy Anticouni
@JeremyAnticouni
Thanks!
youtube.com/apigee
slideshare.net/apigee
linkedin.com/company/apigee