3 Mobile Design Essentials: Elevate Your Small Business with a Stellar App

Never judge a book by its cover — unless it comes to mobile apps. App users will constantly judge an app by its visuals. 

Whether you’re looking to create an app for internal purposes or externally for customers, technology users want visually appealing and intuitive software. 

A well-designed mobile app can be the first enticing hook to attract customers to your business. To help you build the best-looking app possible, here are three quick steps you can follow to create a great-looking app.

Before Getting Started, Do This…

Designing your mobile app is the best part. Personally, I feel this is where you can let your creativity shine! However, before starting your mobile app development journey, ensure you do the necessary prep work to set yourself up for success. 

To ensure a successful roadmap, confirm you have the following:

Clearly Define Business Goals 

How will this app enhance your business? 

Aligning your business goals with the specific objectives of your app will guarantee that your business’s mobile app will enhance your product, business, company goals, etc. 

Understand Your Target Audience

Who are the users of your app?

Defining the users of your app will better help you anticipate what your app users will want and need while interacting with your app. The more personalized and intuitive your app is to your users, the better their overall experience will be.

🚀 Thunkable Tip: Study your competitors' apps for valuable insights into your industry's best practices. Conduct competitor analysis to make your no code mobile app stand out from the competition.

List the Essential Features and Functions

Prioritize the core features your app must include to serve its purpose and distinguish between essentials and enhancements. The first release of your app will not be the last. You will need to enhance and update your app often, so for the initial release, just focus on the core essential features.

3 Key Steps for Designing Your Mobile App

Embarking on the journey of designing a mobile app for your small business can be both exhilarating and rewarding. Let’s dive into the key aspects you need to focus on to be well-equipped to create an app that not only resonates with your audience but also propels your business to new heights.

1. User-Centered Design

Putting the user at the forefront of your design process is paramount. Understand their needs, preferences, and pain points through research and developing user personas. Visualize user journeys and prioritize an intuitive user experience with a clean and engaging interface that enhances usability. Regularly gather user feedback to iterate and refine your design, continuously improving the app's usability and appeal.

Some tools we recommend Creators use to design their app (and tools we use ourselves) are:

Figma

Figma allows you to design anything you want and it is great for putting together the design elements of your app. Even better, Figma designs can be seamlessly transferred into an app creation platform like Thunkable, so your app looks exactly how you have it in Figma.

Canva

Canva has great templates to help you with your wireframing and design needs. You can choose from various mobile templates with the right dimensions and a stock pile of icons, images, and more!

Envato Elements

From stock photos to fonts, this is a treasure trove of templates and inspiration for any user interface needs.  Access the ideas of a community of designers from around the world. 

2. Consistent Branding and Visual Cohesion

Maintain a strong connection between your app's design and your business's brand identity. Consistency in branding elements like colors, typography, logos, and imagery establishes familiarity and reinforces your brand's message. Create a visually harmonious interface that resonates with your target audience and aligns with your business's overall image. Cohesive design enhances brand recognition and provides a professional and trustworthy vibe to your app.

3. Mobile First Development Strategy and Responsive Design

Due to the vast usage of mobile devices and apps, having a mobile first design approach is crucial. Ensure your app is optimized for various devices, screen sizes, and orientations. Implement touch-friendly controls and interactions and design for performance to guarantee quick loading times and smooth functionality. 

Achieve this by creating wireframes and interactive prototypes. Don’t worry: the prototype of your app doesn’t have to be perfect or even visually glamorous. However, building a clickable prototype can help seamlessly merge your app's design elements and functionality. Not only will this help you determine the user journey through your app, but you can invite feedback from stakeholders to fine-tune design and flow.

🚀 Thunkable Tip: To learn more about design principles from a Product Designer, check out our blog, 4 Keys to Designing a Great Mobile App.

Final Steps

Designing your mobile app is only part of the app development journey. After you’ve locked down the design of your app, look for user feedback and test the app as much as you can. You can do this by launching a beta version of your app to gather insights.

Once you’ve gotten your app to it’s final stage, you can prepare for a successful launch. Ensure your app adheres to app store guidelines for a smooth launch and optimize your app's listing for discoverability with app store optimization (ASO).

Congratulations! Your app is now published and ready for your users. Follow these tips on how to market your app and stand out among your competitors.

What are You Waiting For? Design Your App

By embracing user-centered design, maintaining consistent branding, prioritizing mobile-first approaches, and adhering to fundamental design principles, you are ready to create an app that resonates with your audience and drives tangible results. 

Remember: the journey from concept to launch is a dynamic process, and post-launch refinement is equally crucial for continued success. As you embark on this exciting endeavor, stay committed to delivering an exceptional user experience that not only meets but exceeds expectations, ensuring your mobile app becomes an invaluable asset in your business's growth story.