App design tricks get businesses above the bar

While developing an application is different than a website, some of the same principles come into play. Web GUI design has to be easy to navigate, pleasing to view and focus on the user's needs, and application design is the same way. However, many similarities end there, and it takes a different approach to differentiate between creating an app and making it successful. For businesses looking to branch into the mobile generation with a strong initial presence, there are certain steps that need to be taken.

According to GoMo News, some of these tips can save a failing app, or prevent one from floundering in the first place, and should be considered by any business or developer looking to design its first mobile application.

Plan first, design later
By knowing exactly what you want the app to do and how it will do it, the design process becomes much easier. Planning ahead allows a business to ensure every step is taken in the proper order and minimize surprises during the development process. From testing user reactions to potential features to laying out the actual design work, planning can be the most important step in the creation process.

Design for the device
Whether considering an iOS, Android, Windows or BlackBerry app, a business must recognize each mobile operating system has a distinct look and feel to it. If a business is looking to make its app available on any device, it may need to invest in different designs for each OS, or risk alienating the users of one device or another. The application design for iOS won't work as well for Android users and vice versa, and this needs to be taken into consideration.

Optimize for touch
A common mistake that can be made with any mobile app is forgetting that users will be interacting with it with their fingertips, not a mouse. Fingertips come in different shapes and sizes, and, as such, an app must be as easy to navigate with larger fingers as it is with slender ones. This means larger buttons, larger graphics and better utilization of the small screen space of most devices.