How to Build Great User Experience Through iOS App

14 Nov How to Build Great User Experience Through iOS App

The quality of user experience (UX) is greatly responsible for making an app good or bad. Today, mobile phone users are expecting a lot from their apps: fast load time, easy navigation and a great interaction. So, it would not be false to say that if you wish your app to be a successful one then user experience or UX is a major thing to consider.

For a great user experience through your iOS app, there are several things to follow. In this article, we are going to discuss some recommendations that can be applied while designing the app.

User Experience Guidelines for iOS App:

1. Focus on What’s Needed in Each Screen

For iOS apps, if a focus is laid on the primary task of the app for each separate screen then it might turn out to be enjoyable and satisfying. And for this, one needs to analyze and understand what is really needed or important to display in each screen.

iOS calendar app displays the days and the user can mark important events associated with the dates. It has separate buttons to highlight the current day, select a viewing option and mark the events.

2. Place Controls When They Are Needed

Controls of your iOS app play a vital role in defining the user experience. And so they must be placed wisely. A lot of controls on a single screen may clutter it. Less number of controls might not allow users to perform required actions. Here’s how you can choose to display controls on your iOS app screens:

• You can minimize the weight of controls on UI by placing some of the obtrusive ones on translucent bars.
• Customize controls to integrate them with the app’s graphic style.
• You can also consider fading controls when users have stopped interacting with them and then redisplay when users tap on the screen.

For example, the Photos app fades the controls after a few moments of non-interaction. So this allows them to view the content and when they are again ready to interact, a single tap on-screen displays the controls again.

3. Place Important Information on Top

Basically, the idea is to think from top to down. The top of the screen is usually most visible to users at any point in time during the interaction. So, it is advisable to place important or higher level information on the top of your app. This information is more visible and easy to reach.

As the screen progresses from top to down, the information level goes from high to low.

For example, in a game, the most useful action can be placed at the top of the screen and the bottom can be used for additional information or controls without obscuring the entire view.

4. Use Simple Navigation

Navigation for an iOS app is all about giving a logical path to follow. Users generally get a good experience if your app has simple navigation and it confirms them that they are on the right track. Here are some ways of achieving it:

• Place markers on the path so that users know where they are at present in your app and also provide back buttons to retrace the steps.
• Provide only a single path of flow and if it is required to make a screen accessible at several points then use a modal view.

5. Make Your App Easy to Use

Try to make your app easily understandable because users generally don’t spare time to figure out how your app works.

The main function of your app should be highlighted to make it obvious for users to access them. Here’s how you can do it:

• Minimize the number of controls.
• Use gestures and controls appropriately wherever required.
• Label controls so that users can identify them.

6. Use User-Centric Terminology

Consider your target audience and use words or phrases that are appropriate for them. Avoid jargons for they are only useful to specific users. If users encounter certain words and phrases in your apps that they can’t comprehend, then it will undoubtedly lead to a bad user experience for them and you surely don’t want this to happen, right?

Consider, for example, WIFI Network Settings on an iOS phone. It uses simple language to explain how it works according to user preferences.

7. Minimize User Input

Manually inputting each and every piece of information is time-consuming and sometimes boring too. If your iOS app requires a lot of input from the user side, then consider giving enough value in return too.

• You can cut down on the manual input of data by providing a drop-down list. It’s easy for users to pick one from the list instead of typing the text.
• Get the information from the user’s iOS device whenever possible. Apps can easily access certain information about users when they store it on their device. It is better for you to make use of it in your app to avoid manual input of data from them. For example, contacts and calendar information can be made accessible in your app without manual typing. It saves their time giving them a great experience with your app.

8. Enable Collaborations

Though the iOS device is for personal usage, your app can encourage collaborations with others.

Allow people to interact with others. Say, for example, allow them, to share their location, scores, and opinions. iOS app can work as a compliment to a desktop app. For example, the iPad app allows users to communicate with other users having an iPhone version of the app.

Entice users by allowing them to access their social media accounts via your app. You can use social media frameworks API.

Conclusion

One can provide a great user experience with an app design that is a perfect combination of functionality and beauty. This is exactly what you should be aiming for while building your iOS app.