Mobile apps are developed for small devices like phones and tablets with a specific service in mind. For users, mobile app development may seem straightforward. A mobile application development company designs and develops a software to give users access to a specific service or function.
However, mobile app developers are tasked with so much more and their work requires skills, knowledge, and creativity. This is because an app must offer a service in a simple and accessible way and mobile app developers who fail to consider user interaction when developing apps will struggle to attract users.
This is where UX/UI plays an important role and a mobile application development company like CodeLantic will focus on this aspect of mobile app development due to how much it affects the interaction a user has with an app.
What is UX/UI?
When a user navigates their way through an app, their opinion of the app will be based on how appealing they find the app design to be. Thus, even though an app is useful, people may not use the app simply because they are not impressed by how the app looks.
This is where UI or user interface comes in. In mobile app development and design, UI plays an integral role and puts together elements like aesthetic elements, themes, colour schemes, and typography so that they complement the functions of the app.
This boosts user engagement and retention and improves the recognition of the product, service, or brand. UI is thus not merely a component of mobile app development but also represents the product and brand. When having a mobile app developed by a mobile application development company like CodeLantic, a client can be assured that the UI of the app will reflect the brand and product and attract users to the app through its design.
The user’s experience with the app depends on how well it is designed and developed. Mobile app developers will focus on how user-friendly an app is, making sure its features are accessible and the app is easy to navigate. User experience is known as UX and is essentially what the user feels about the app.
UX takes into consideration every aspect of a user’s interaction with the app and mobile app developers aim at developing apps that are simple but also usable. These factors contribute to how satisfied a user is with the mobile app.
UX requires knowledge on the target audience, user demands and requirements, and industry trends and a mobile application development company like CodeLantic will carry out the necessary research to ensure the user is satisfied with the mobile application.
Role in mobile app development
UX is often given priority over UI but is also seen as an extension or upgraded version of UI that shifts focus to usability and interaction over design alone. They both play a role in mobile app development, however, and mobile app developers will pay attention to both UI and UX and strike a balance between the two when designing and developing a mobile app.
One of the key roles played by UX/UI in mobile app development is attracting users. While the function of an app may attract a user up to the point of installation, the design is what will encourage a user to explore the mobile application.
Good UX/UI design will create a good impression on users and this is of importance especially to startups and small businesses that customers are not familiar with. The efforts taken by a mobile application development company like CodeLantic can create a good enough first impression for users to return to the app again and again.
UX/UI design can also result in the app getting positive reviews and ratings as users will be satisfied with the mobile app development and design. This can result in the app being featured on app store lists, making it easier to discover.
In addition to this, UX/UI design that takes into consideration user demands, requirements, and preferences can easily attract loyal customers who will not only keep using the app but will also recommend it to others.