Trends In App Design

Trends In App Prototyping Tools

It’s 2019, and there is more competition for app downloads than ever. How do you set yourself apart from the rest of the pack? It starts with a killer user interface and easy-to-use workflows, and your app design can make your app or break it.

Bottom nav instead of top nav
The increase in screen sizes (and corollary increase in screen real estate) has led designers to favor a bottom-up approach to navigation. Most people hold their phones at the bottom, which puts the thumb in the perfect location to quickly access anything in the bottom 20% of the screen. Putting your navigation and any other frequently used actions right in that area will increase the usability of your app, making it more likely that your users can do what they need and want quickly, which creates stickiness.

Bottom sheet sub flows and additional option menus
The days of the hamburger menu are slowly going the way of the dodo, and primarily for the same reason as the favoring of bottom nav over top nav: thumb-first gestures. The term “bottom sheets” refers to when a “more”-style menu of additional options floats or swipes in from the bottom of the screen and presents secondary functionality that might be just a little less important than the primary actions that are always present on the screen. Using this type of mechanism puts the additional actions right at the thumb-tip of your users, helping increase ease-of-use and stickiness. (Yes, a sticky app is good! Unlike sticky hands after pancakes…)

Always-present chatbot
One of the best ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors is offering world-class support. An inexpensive way to accomplish this is via chatbots, which allows a user to exchange text messages with a support or sales rep right in the app. Having your chatbot icon be always present on the screen (perhaps in that bottom nav or as a floating icon right above your bottom nav in that bottom 20% space) will encourage your users to ask for help exactly when they need it. Most designers will locate this icon on the right using the right app prototyping tools, since the majority of the population is right-handed.

Content-first layouts
We’ve spent many years putting graphics, animations and video in the limelight, but the last year has seen a swing in the other direction to promote content as king once more. By creating neutral, content-first layouts, your users will get exactly what they need when they need it without extra searching. This form of layout is designed to limit distraction and encourage the user to accomplish the app’s primary functions quickly and easily. If your app is designed for showcasing user-generated content, this is a fantastic way to let your users’ work shine. 

The top mobile app development companies should be able to provide design and user experience services, or recommend great partners in both areas, to help you get the most for your users out of your app for the screen real estate available. Remember not to rush the app planning and design process, and to look at a variety of options before choosing a direction. (Extra special bonus points for getting your customers involved early in the app design process through customer and product validation interviews!)  

GotAnAppIdea is an app design and app development company, primarily working with new ideas in the earliest stages of incubation. As one of the top app development companies in the Denver, CO, area, we help new start-ups get from idea to execution planning quickly, efficiently and with as little time and money invested up front as possible. Our philosophy is that failing quick and often leads our clients to better outcomes, bigger businesses, and healthier work-life balance. Need Android app development, iOS app development or app design help? Call us today!