Why great UI/UX is a must for every startup and why great apps with an average look and feel can fail

In today’s information-heavy world, users want to engage with excellent technology that doesn’t increase the cognitive load of their already overworked brains. 

The same is true of websites and mobile applications; the faster and more efficient a website or mobile application is, the more successful it is in the market. That’s why so many startups and big business owners are now investing heavily in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.

UI and UX are the two most critical components of your mobile application’s success. If you’ve developed a poorly performing app, you should consider redesigning its UI and UX. And the first step towards doing that, is understanding the fundamentals of UI/UX.

The value of mobile application UI and UX design can be quantified by the number of programs that are uninstalled on a daily basis. Let’s face it, we’ve all removed numerous mobile applications because they were unappealing, lacked the appearance and feel of a superior user experience, or performed exceptionally poorly.

Many startups and entrepreneurs are unaware of what UI/UX design is or how critical it is to the mobile app development process. Although UI design is the most fundamental step in the development of a mobile app, its success is totally dependent on the UX and UI. 

In this blog, you’ll learn the importance of UI/UX designs and how it determines the success of your mobile app in detail.

UI: It’s all about the looks

What exactly is user interface design? UI is the process of enhancing the presentation and interactivity of a mobile application. Its focus is on appearance and how users interact with the app. Every screen, page, button or other visual element constitutes the application’s UI.

UX: Building intuitive experiences

So what is user experience design? UX is the process of enhancing the experience users have when they engage with a mobile application. Its aim is to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction. It keeps the client in mind and establishes the foundation for any application. It’s primarily concerned with wireframing an application and arranging all of its components in a way that produces the desired user flow.

Why is UI/UX design important: increased user experience and ROI

There’s no doubt that beautiful design and fantastic content motivates users to adopt your software. When your mobile or desktop app’s design is easy to understand, users are better able to navigate its functions. This results in a satisfied user, and a satisfied user will bring more users to your app. This is how an efficient UX can increase your number of users, thereby boosting your ROI.

Know your audience

Before beginning with mobile app development and UI/UX design, it’s critical to understand your clients and their pain points. This will help you work out what they need, which in turn enables you to design an app that adds value to your users’ lives. This is also how you create an app that will attract the customers you’ve prioritised. Once you have a firm grasp of your audience, it’s significantly easier to turn them into devoted consumers.

Build brand awareness

When people activate a service or make an online purchase, they’re often motivated by their trust for a particular brand. Investing in good UI/UX design naturally increases users’ engagement with your mobile application and builds their trust in the service or product you’re selling. For a start-up, entrepreneur or small business, UI and UX design is even more critical as first impressions last, and how good your app’s UI and UX design are can build or break brand awareness.

Save time and money

When you invest in a good UI/UX design, your clients will have no reason to complain about anything in your app. When you develop a strong program, you also eliminate the need for frequent upgrades and maintenance. Maintenance and improvements are costly, but with  well designed UI/UX, you save money.

Why UI/UX is critical to the success of your app

While stating that strong UI/UX design is critical to a mobile app’s success may seem self-evident, it helps to understand why. The field of mobile application development is quite competitive. The following data indicate users’ lack of tolerance for less-than-ideal experiences and their high regard for great ones.

• 95% of mobile applications are abandoned within a month.
• 79% of consumers prioritise an app’s usability.
• Within the first three days of download, the average app loses 77% of its daily active users.
• 75% of programs are downloaded once and then never used again.
• 23% of users who had a great experience with an app recommend it to ten or more people.

Even the big players fail due to poor UI/UX

Achieving high-quality UI/UX design takes time and commitment, and nobody is immune to making mistakes.

Netflix was criticised recently for its auto-play feature. Users expressed frustration with the fact that if they hovered over a movie or show on the homepage for an extended period, it would begin playing. As a result of the backlash, it’s now possible to disable the feature, but not before a new Twitter account called @stopautopreview was created.

Google is also not immune to falling short of the mark when it comes to user experience. 

Are you familiar with Google Wave, the company’s collaboration and real-time communication application? Most likely not, and there’s a reason for it. 

While many believe Google simply didn’t advertise it well, some believe it failed due to poor user experience. It was inaccessible, had a strange layout, and was difficult to operate.

The list of well known organisations that have failed miserably at UI/UX design is long. While this demonstrates that no one is immune to user experience errors, these errors may be avoided by approaching UI/UX design with the appropriate information and tools.

Apps with great UI/UX design

Everyone appreciates apps that are convenient to use, add value to their lives, and have an incredible look and feel. Take Instagram, which has consistently provided its users with wonderful features that are both interesting and attractive.

Another example is Spotify; it is simple to navigate and visually beautiful, which attracts a large number of people. Virtually every successful app is simple to use and has attractive interface design.

What UI and UX factors do you need to consider when designing a mobile application?

There are some critical components of UI/UX design that you should consider before beginning to develop your app.

• Your software should run well across all relevant platforms; consistency improves comprehension.
• Keep your design simple and uncluttered with limited input, as cluttered mobile apps are difficult to navigate.
• Maintain bug-free applications that load quickly so users don’t have to wait for the program to load.
• Keep your app’s fundamental features interactive, such as the colour palette, buttons, and icons. Work with a graphic designer to make your app more minimalistic, as the more minimalistic the design, the better.
• If you want to improve mobile app involvement, utilise high-resolution images.
• Experiment with repetitive UI designs are they’re quite engaging.
• Create a wireframe for your mobile application so that you can visualise the end product.

Why UI/UX design is important to a startups growth

Now, we’re going to discuss business.

Because UI and UX development are primarily concerned with the satisfaction and pleasure of users, they are vital to a startup’s success. 

From a business perspective, it’s important to satisfy your customers in order to build the brand’s value and reputation. 

With information technology being a competitive area, the requirement for UI/UX design services to capture consumers’ attention and generate income from the company’s products is crucial. 

If people are browsing your websites or interacting with your applications, it is your obligation and that of your UI /UX developers to efficiently navigate them to their desired destination. 

As a result, UI and UX development has become a critical component of modern web and mobile development.

Final thoughts

To create a successful mobile application, you must have a well thought out UI/UX design plan. 

Your project must begin with a firm grasp of what you’re creating and who you’re creating it for. While feedback from your end users is key, you must ensure that you’re requesting the correct information at the right time and in the appropriate setting. 

Fortunately, there are numerous tools available to assist you with everything from graphic design to wireframes and evaluation. With these resources at your disposal, you can design the next great mobile app that is visually appealing, functional and ultimately successful.

Are you in need of assistance with user experience and design? Appomate can assist you in developing a mobile app that is both visually appealing and intuitive to use. To learn more about our services and how we can assist you, contact us today.