The digital world is taking over. Apps are more popular, more functional, and better than ever before. If you're wanting to design your own app to share with the world, here is a list of five things to take into consideration when you start your design process.
Consider What's Already Available
Whether you know exactly what you want your app to do or if you're just warming up to the idea of designing your own, research mobile apps that are already available. Every invention is the result of someone identifying a problem and creating a solution to fix it. Technology is about making life easier, more enjoyable, and more productive.
If your app idea is for music, learn what's already available for music apps and focus on what makes yours different. Does yours let your user create their own music as well as listening to their favorites? Does it let them create a specific playlist instead of suggesting things the listener might enjoy? Making your app unique won't only help it grow and expand, but it'll keep you out of jail for patent infringement.
Understand your Audience
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| Image via Flickr by LeWeb13 |
Understanding who your audience is will help you determine the goals of your app in the making. It'll also be more successful when it's time to present it to marketers and investors. Is it a learning app for children? Design it with playful colors and icons that are easy for children to see and touch. Is it to help business employees? Think like a business man and determine what they need to make their job easier. Creating an app for teens and young adults? Focus on things young people are interested in like books, movies, and celebrities.
Decide Between a Mobile App or Mobile Website
Decide which format is better for your design. If you're creating a game, a mobile app might be best so you don't have to worry about Internet searches interpreting your material the wrong way. Do you already have a mobile website? If so, how many things are you wanting to merge from your site into your app? If you want to keep your current design, it might be best to keep it in the form of a mobile website. Can your customers use it with or without an Internet connection? If they don't need one, an app is better.
You'll also need to think about your own Internet connection. It'll need to be lightning fast so you can update and edit your website or app as soon as possible. Check to see if FiOS is available locally at verizonfiosdeals.com.
Create a Testing Group
Build your own focus group created from your target audience. Spend time with them daily and gather valuable information about their opinions and suggestions. Make sure you take care of the problems that need fixed, or that it works to provide the things you want to offer. There's no shame in finding out what users don't like. It'll allow you to tweak and perfect your app before you take it to investors and the public.
Take Screen Size into Account
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| Image via Flickr by Irita Kirsbluma |
Even if you're creating your mobile app for a particular device such as a smart phone, remember that all phones have vastly different screen sizes. Some screens are almost the size of a small tablet while others are the size of a deck of playing cards. Your interface elements and graphics need to be flexible in size to fit all screens sizes so you can market to everyone in your target audience. You don't want someone to get pixellated images while someone else's graphics are too small to read.
Creating and designing apps is fun and serves a greater purpose for others. Whatever you decide your app should do, keep it marketable to the biggest amount of users. You're company, along with your design, will grow to be as successful as you've ever dreamed of.