MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

 ¿WHAT IS A MOBILE APP DESIGN? A mobile app is a computer program designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone/tablet or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications that run on desktop computers, and with web applications which run in mobile web browsers rather than directly on the mobile device. MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

The term “app” is a shortening of the term “software application”. It has become very popular, and in 2010 was listed as “Word of the Year” by the American Dialect Society. In 2009, technology columnist David Pogue said that newer smartphones could be nicknamed “app phones” to distinguish them from earlier less-sophisticated smartphones.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

OVERVIEW OF A MOBILE APP DESIGN

 Most such devices are sold with several apps bundled as pre-installed software, such as a web browser, email client, calendar, mapping program, and an app for buying music or other media or more apps. Some pre-installed apps can be removed by an ordinary uninstall process, thus leaving more storage space for desired ones. Where the software does not allow this, some devices can be rooted to eliminate the undesired apps.

Apps that are not preinstalled are usually available through distribution platforms called app stores. They began appearing in 2008 and are typically operated by the owner of the mobile operating system, such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, and BlackBerry App World. However, there are independent app stores, such as Cydia, GetJar and F-Droid. Some apps are free, while others must be bought.

Usually, they are downloaded from the platform to a target device, but sometimes they can be downloaded to laptops or desktop computers. For apps with a price, generally a percentage, 20-30%, goes to the distribution provider (such as iTunes), and the rest goes to the producer of the app. The same app can therefore cost a different price depending on the mobile platform.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Apps can also be installed manually, for example by running an Android application package on Android devices.

The official US Army iPhone app presents the service’s technology news, updates and media in a single place

Mobile apps were originally offered for general productivity and information retrieval, including email, calendar, contacts, stock market and weather information. However, public demand and the availability of developer tools drove rapid expansion into other categories, such as those handled by desktop application software packages.

As with other software, the explosion in number and variety of apps made discovery a challenge, which in turn led to the creation of a wide range of review, recommendation, and curation sources, including blogs, magazines, and dedicated online app-discovery services. In 2014 government regulatory agencies began trying to regulate and curate apps, particularly medical apps. Some companies offer apps as an alternative method to deliver content with certain advantages over an official website.

Usage of mobile apps has become increasingly prevalent across mobile phone users. A May 2012 comScore study reported that during the previous quarter, more mobile subscribers used apps than browsed the web on their devices: 51.1% vs. 49.8% respectively.  Researchers found that usage of mobile apps strongly correlates with user context and depends on user’s location and time of the day. Mobile apps are playing an ever-increasing role within healthcare and when designed and integrated correctly can yield many benefits.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Market research firm Gartner predicted that 102 billion apps would be downloaded in 2013 (91% of them free), which would generate $26 billion in the US, up 44.4% on 2012’s US$18 billion. By Q2 2015, the Google Play and Apple stores alone generated $5 billion. An analyst report estimates that the app economy creates revenues of more than €10 billion per year within the European Union, while over 529,000 jobs have been created in 28 EU states due to the growth of the app market.

 DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE APP DESIGN MIAMI CORAL GABLES

 Developing apps for mobile devices requires considering the constraints and features of these devices. Mobile devices run on battery and have less powerful processors than personal computers and also have more features such as location detection and cameras. Developers also have to consider a wide array of screen sizes, hardware specifications and configurations because of intense competition in mobile software and changes within each of the platforms (although these issues can be overcome with mobile device detection).

Mobile application development requires use of specialized integrated development environments. Mobile apps are first tested within the development environment using emulators and later subjected to field testing. Emulators provide an inexpensive way to test applications on mobile phones to which developers may not have physical access.

Mobile user interface (UI) Design is also essential. Mobile UI considers constraints and contexts, screen, input and mobility as outlines for design. The user is often the focus of interaction with their device, and the interface entails components of both hardware and software. User input allows for the users to manipulate a system, and device’s output allows the system to indicate the effects of the users’ manipulation.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Also Mobile UI design constraints include limited attention and form factors, such as a mobile device’s screen size for a user’s hand. Mobile UI contexts signal cues from user activity, such as location and scheduling that can be shown from user interactions within a mobile application. Overall, mobile UI design’s goal is primarily for an understandable, user-friendly interface.

Mobile UIs, or front-ends, rely on mobile back-ends to support access to enterprise systems. The mobile back-end facilitates data routing, security, authentication, authorization, working off-line, and service orchestration. This functionality is supported by a mix of middleware components including mobile app servers, Mobile Backend as a service (MBaaS), and SOA infrastructure.

Conversational interfaces display the computer interface and present interactions through text instead of graphic elements. They emulate conversations with real humans. There are two main types of conversational interfaces: voice assistants (like the Amazon Echo) and chatbots.

Conversational interfaces are growing particularly practical as users are starting to feel overwhelmed with mobile apps (a term known as “app fatigue”).

David Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of devices, says in an interview with Bloomberg, “We believe the next big platform is voice.”

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APPS ARE MAINSTREAM NOW – A POPULAR WAY OF DELIVERING CONTENT AND SERVICES.

But according to Fortune, more than 75% of users open an app once and never come back. Today, mobile users expect a lot from the app – fast loading time, ease of use and delight during the interaction. Adapting to the context of use, while keeping the interaction levels as low as possible (limit the number of actions required to complete a task) is quickly becoming a standard for many apps.

So what exactly can be considered as “good experience”? Let’s explore the six fundamentals of mobile app design.

MINIMIZE COGNITIVE LOAD

The less friction and confusion users have when interacting with an app (e.g. the cognitive load), the better the chance that app stays around.

If you think that mobile apps are solely for big name brands like Walmart and Bank of America, you are wrong. More and more small and midsize businesses are following the mobile trend, understanding that an effective mobile strategy involves more than just a mobile-friendly website.

OPTIMIZE INTERACTIONS FOR THE MEDIUM MOBILE APP DESIGN

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

 Mobile phones aren’t smaller version of desktops — they come with their own nuances and constraints.

Designed Elements Should Look Like How They Behave

A mobile UI needs to clearly communicate what elements are  interactive and what elements are static.

Unlike desktop where users can use hover effects to understand whether something is interactive or not, on mobile users can check interactivity only by tapping on an element. Users should be able to correctly predict how an interface element will behave just by looking at it.

Design Finger-friendly Tap-targets

When you’re designing actionable elements in mobile interfaces, it’s vital to make targets big enough so that they’re easy for users to tap. As a rule of thumb, design controls that have touch area of 7–10 mm so they can be accurately tapped with a finger. Such tap target makes the edges of the target visible for the users when they touch it. Users will be able to understand whether or not they’re hitting the target accurately.

Also, ensure that elements aren’t located too close to each other – there should be a proper amount of spacing between tap targets to prevent false input.

CONSIDER THE THUMB ZONE MOBILE APP DESIGN MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Designing for thumbs isn’t only about making targets big enough, it’s also about considering the way we hold our devices.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

While a thumb can sweep most of the screen on most mobile screens, only a third of the screen is a genuinely effortless territory. This territory is called the natural thumb zone. Other zones require finger stretching or even changing the grip to reach them. Based on hand placement (left, right, or combined), we can see how the safe zone looks like on the modern mobile device

DESIGN FOR INTERRUPTION MOBILE APP DESIGN MIAMI CORAL GABLES

We live in a world of interruption. Something is constantly trying to distract us and direct our attention elsewhere.

For example, users might use your app while waiting for the train. It’s critical to design for mobile mindset. Make it easier for users to re-engage with an app when they return to it after the interruption.

Twitter is one good example of design for interruption. The app’s notification screen shows all recent notifications. As long as the user stays on this screen, the app doesn’t update the list automatically – it simply shows a status “X new notification” at the top of the list. This allows users not to lose their current position when they re-engage with the app after some period of time.

STRIVE TO CREATE MULTICHANNEL EXPERIENCE MOBILE APP DESIGN

Mobile apps don’t live in a vacuum.

For example, mobile users usually browse an ecommerce website on mobile, then switch to desktop to purchase.  That transition needs to feel invisible.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

INTUITIVE GESTURES OF MOBILE APP DESIGN MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Only use gestures that are most natural for the app from your category.

Why? Because gestures are hidden controls.

Every time a visible control is replaced with a gesture, the app’s learning curve goes up. This happens because gestureshave a lower discoverability — they are always hidden and people need to be able to identify these options first. That’s why it’s essential to use only widely-accepted gestures (the ones that users expect to have in your app).

One good example of a category-appropriate gesture is pull-to-refresh for feed-like apps.

Make the app appear fast with skeleton screens

Your app should be fast and responsive – but you’ll inevitably face situations where that’s not always possible.

For example, the internet connection might be too slow. If you can’t shorten the line, you should at least try to make the wait more pleasant. That can be the perfect time for skeleton screens (a.k.a temporary information containers).

A skeleton screen is a blank version of a page into which information is gradually loaded. Unlike animated loading spinners that focus user attention on the fact of data loading, skeleton screens focus user attention on progress instead of wait times.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

SKELETON SCREEN IN SLACK FOR IOS MOBILE APP DESIGN

Focus On First Time Experience

Just like a person, your mobile app doesn’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. If you don’t,  you can bet (with 80% confidence) they won’t be back.

Good onboarding is a must

Perhaps the most important rule for creating onboarding – it shouldn’t be generic, it should be beneficial to the people who’ll use the app.

Designers should consider onboarding as an opportunity to create an entry ramp for the first-time users. At the same time, onboarding should only be employed if it’s really essential for first use.

Design Zero State

An empty state (or zero state) is the state in which nothing has yet occurred. This state shouldn’t be a blank canvas (or dead-end as many designers call it), it should provide direction and guidance for getting up and running with the app.

Take an error-state screen from Spotify as an example. It doesn’t help users understand the context and doesn’t help them find the answer to the question: “What can I do about it?”

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Nothing in your app should be a dead end.

Now compare it to the empty state from NFL Fantasy. This zero state makes an error message both readable and helpful. Concise, polite, and instructive copy clearly states:

What went wrong and possibly why.

What’s the next step the user should take to fix the error.

NFL Fantasy explains why a user cannot see anything, and how to solve it. Image credits: Emptystates

Use Functional Animation To Improve Interaction

Animation solves a lot of functional problems within interfaces while making them feel alive and genuinely responsive.

Show system status

When an app is busy doing something, you should let a user know that the app isn’t frozen by surfacing system status. Visual signs of progress give users a sense of control over the app.

This app using animation to notify users that it’s loading content now.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Navigational transition mobile app design

Animation is the best tool to describe state transitions. It helps users comprehend the change in the page’s layout, what has triggered the change,and how to initiate the change again when needed.

In fact, these days you’ll notice that many small businesses you interact with in your everyday life have their own dedicated mobile app — be it the corner coffee shop or the beauty spa downtown. These companies are ahead of the game when it comes to taking their marketing to the next level.

In case you are still not sure why anyone would want to build their own mobile platform, here are the top seven benefits of going down this path sooner rather than later.

Be Visible to Customers at All Times

Statistics show that the average American spends more than two hours a day (!) on his or her mobile device. While probably only a handful of applications make up the bulk of this total usage, it doesn’t change the fact that each user has to unlock, scroll, and scan their device for the apps they’re looking for. Being “in the way” can be an advantage to your company, as our mind unconsciously does record every image and text (or well-designed app icon!) it comes across — even if it happens unnoticed.

Create a Direct Marketing Channel

Apps serve many functions: they can provide general info, prices, booking forms, search features, user accounts, messengers, news feeds, and much more.

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

One of the biggest benefits of having a mobile app is that all the information you’d like to provide to your customers – including special sales and promotions – is right at their fingertips. Through push notifications you’re getting even closer to a direct interaction, and can easily remind customers about your products and services whenever it makes sense.

Every day, the technology and tools to create apps are becoming more easily accessible and more user friendly. Bad news: you are not the only one who knows this. People all over the world are embarking on their first app company making journeys. But no worries, there is more good news: everything you need to know of business design in Miami Coral Gables, it is here.

Also with business design Miami, Coral Gables, you are in charge of the look and feel of the product, as well as the relationship between app and user. Knowing this, the possibilities are endless. However, with so much room for success, there is also a lot of room for error.

Let is take a look at the top things to keep in mind when designing  businessapplications Miami, Coral Gables, from research to working with developing teams.

TOP THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN DESIGNING BUSINESS MIAMI, CORAL GABLES

  1. First, research for business app design: Before we take a look at the research portion of creating an application, take a second to pat yourself on the back. Congratulations! You are about to embark on a journey that is very fun, a little difficult, and extremely rewarding.
MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

If you are planning on becoming an application designer company Miami, Coral Gables a good first step is to be an application company user. As an application company user, you will start to learn what you like and don’t like in an application, like which fonts look the best and which layouts are easiest to use.

Mobile application company design is different than designing websites or online applications, but you know that – by now you are an prolific app user and an obsessive smartphone owner, right? You know that mobile applications are focused. They are specific. They are individual. They are insular. Remember this when you are designing your application.

Another thing to keep in mind is that mobile applications company are new! And so are the platforms they are used on, smart phones. Keeping on top of the new innovations in the world of smart phones will put you ahead of the curve in the designing world.

  1. Second, more research for business app design: Why are you doing this and how are you going to do it? These are two daunting, but absolutely necessary, questions you must ask yourself at the beginning of your application designing process.
  2. Check out your competition for business app design in Miami, Coral Gables: Seeing what you are up against is always smart, regardless of whether you are in a battle of the bands or a cooking competition. In the case of mobile applications, there are many different sites, forums, and threads for users to express opinions about applications.
MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

  1. Get inspiration for business app design in Miami, Coral Gables: As previously mentioned, you are entering into a huge, dynamic, and young field in Miami, Coral Gables. With thousands of apps being created every day, there is always something new. The popular phrase, “There’s an app for that”, didn’t sprout up out of nowhere. The amount of apps and things that they do is staggering.

Visual inspiration is very important part of this. It is also a way that you could leave your own mark on the entire industry. Think about the gestures that exist.

  1. Now it’s time to design the app for business app design in Miami, Coral Gables: Finally! Time to put all that research to use! Think about all the things you experienced using apps and all of the comments, concerns, and suggestions of the users that you have read. Now, keeping this in mind, how do you want your app to look? To feel? To be used? Either by sketching or using Photoshop, start to design the app.

This part of the process can be difficult and time consuming. Remember: Time spent here is time saved later.

  1. Details Matter for business app design in Miami, Coral Gables: If the devil is in the details, so is the angel. A beautiful accent or a stylish font will help your app to stick out in a huge market. The little things matter; they can make or break an app. Navigating your app should be easy. But, if users can’t find what they’re looking for, they will not get the full app experience. Intuitive use should take precedent over style. Taking a page out of the books of google, or other popular search engines is not a bad idea.
MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

But experienced app designers all agree, navigation is not an element to be extremely creative with. And add personal flare to conventional searching systems, don’t create a system that users will have to learn.

  1. Typography for business app design: And this is one of the most important aspects of designing your app in Miami, Coral Gables. If your text is difficult to read or your font is hard to look at, your app will be impossible to use.

Spaces between lines and words are important to nail, especially with mobile apps design where the space is limited. You want to make sure you are maximizing your space without cramping your text.

Experienced app designers all agree, you can make it possible for the client to choose the text but you still have to make the fonts look great. Besides it’s all the more impressive if your clients get options when it comes to font. But regardless of whether you include font settings in your design, make it readable, make it stylish, and make it match.

  1. Ending thoughts for business app design: Now that you know all the basics of designing apps, go and make your masterpiece! The mobile app platform is a fantastic one to design in, with so many options and opportunities.

As a parting tip, working closely with the developer of your app is always a good idea. You want to make sure that your app is exactly how you envisioned it, in all its splendor and glory.

¿WHY TO DEVELOP A MOBILE APP DESIGN IN MIAMI?

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

 Miami is a cosmopolitan and tropical tourist destination, surrounded by the peaceful waters of the Atlantic Ocean, is famous for its white sands beaches and turquoise sea, under an unbeatable climate. To this are added the multiple attractions, recreational activities, museums, festivals and fairs that give a touch of lively fun that Miami haves.

First-class hotels and restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and endless shopping opportunities are just a few of the factors that make up the magical charm in Miami.

The Miami Beaches stretches along 5.18 square kilometers in the southeastern end of the Florida peninsula. Its tropical climate allows enjoying the sun to fullness all year round.

In Miami, more than two million people also live, bringing a  cultural diversity. Greater Miami, is also the meeting point of commerce, finance, culture entertainment, which is not surprising, are Miami’s main source of income.  MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Also The Port of Miami, which is centrally located, is the largest cruise ship port in the world and accommodates more than three million passengers a year. In addition to its importance in the cruise industry, Miami Beach is also known worldwide for its row of hotels along its golden coast, its large mansions and outdoor recreation facilities.  MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

¿WHY TO DEVELOP A MOBILE APP DESIGN IN CORAL GABLES?

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

 Coral Gables, officially the City of Coral Gables, is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, located southwest of Downtown Miami. The United States Census Bureau estimates conducted in 2013 yielded the city had a population of 49,631. Coral Gables is home to the University of Miami.  MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Coral Gables, a.k.a. City Beautiful, is a quiet, lovely neighborhood of Mediterranean Revival homes that was originally developed by George Merrick in 1925. Merrick also established a very luxurious hotel – The Biltmore – in the area. The streets, largely residential, are adorned with classy fountains, such as De Soto Boulevard’s Venetian fountain.  MOBILE APP DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MIAMI CORAL GABLES

Learning a platform takes time, effort and dedication. That said, most solution providers make evaluation or limited-use versions of their platforms available at low or no cost, so aspiring developers can learn them. Many also offer low-cost or free self-study materials to help novice developers learn what they’re doing and how to make best use of such tools. (Look around for Massively Open Online Courses on some of these toolsets, such as jQuery/jQuery Mobile, too.)

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