My Top 10 UX Quick Tips to Instantly Improve the User-Friendliness of Your Mobile App

Summary

In this video, the host shares 10 quick UX design tips aimed at improving mobile app user experiences, specifically for Android apps. The tips cover essential design principles like increasing touch target sizes, validating inputs live, implementing IME actions, and ensuring proper contrast for readability. Practical advice is given on creating intuitive interfaces, simplifying user actions, and avoiding frustration with clear feedback. Additionally, the video emphasizes the importance of context for runtime permissions, state restoration, and a streamlined UX approach. These tips are useful for developers across various mobile platforms aiming to enhance their app's usability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ensure clickable targets like icons are large enough by placing them in icon buttons to improve accessibility.
• 😀 Validate text fields inline as the user types or when the field loses focus, providing immediate feedback on input errors.
• 😀 Customize IME actions to guide the user seamlessly between input fields, improving form navigation.
• 😀 Limit each screen to a single primary action button, making the most important action the most prominent.
• 😀 Position primary action buttons near the user's thumb for easier access, particularly for right-handed users.
• 😀 Use clear dialogue titles for destructive actions like deletion to help users understand the consequences of their choices.
• 😀 Show real-time character counters for input fields with length limits, preventing errors before submission.
• 😀 Ensure text and icons have sufficient contrast for readability, especially for users with visual impairments.
• 😀 Request runtime permissions only when necessary and in the context of an action the user is about to perform.
• 😀 Handle app state restoration after process death to prevent data loss, especially for apps with time-consuming user input.

Q & A

What is the purpose of putting small clickable icons inside an icon button on Android apps?

The purpose is to increase the touch target size of small clickable icons. Small icons by themselves can be difficult to tap accurately, especially for users with larger fingers. By placing icons inside an icon button, the clickable area expands, making the app more user-friendly.

Why should text fields be validated inline after the user types something or when the field loses focus?

Validating text fields inline allows users to receive immediate feedback on their inputs, making it clear when there is an error. This improves the user experience by preventing frustration, as users don't need to submit the form to find out about validation errors.

What are IME actions, and why is it important to implement them correctly?

IME actions are actions associated with the keyboard's primary action button. They are important because they provide a better flow in form completion by allowing users to move to the next field or submit the form without manually tapping into each field.

What is the benefit of having only one primary action per screen in a mobile app?

Having a single primary action per screen reduces confusion for users. It directs their attention to the most important task, improving the clarity of the user interface and ensuring that users can easily understand what they should do next.

Why is it important to keep the primary action close to the user's thumb on a mobile device?

Placing the primary action close to the user's thumb, especially for right-handed users, ensures that they can easily reach and interact with the button. This minimizes discomfort and enhances accessibility, making the app easier to use.

How does the wording of a confirmation dialogue affect user experience, especially for destructive actions?

Clear wording in confirmation dialogues is crucial, particularly for destructive actions, such as deleting data. A well-worded dialogue specifies the consequences of the action, making it easier for users to understand what will happen if they proceed, thus preventing accidental mistakes.

How can showing a character counter in text fields improve the user experience?

A character counter provides real-time feedback on the length of the user's input, preventing errors before they happen. It allows users to plan ahead and ensures they stay within the required limits, reducing frustration when submitting forms.

What role does contrast play in UX design, and how can contrast checkers help?

Contrast ensures text and icons are legible against their background. Using contrast checkers helps ensure sufficient visibility, which is especially important for users with visual impairments. The WCAG guidelines provide standards to ensure accessibility, and contrast checkers help designers adhere to these guidelines.

Why should runtime permission requests be deferred in mobile apps, and when should they be requested?

Deferred runtime permission requests improve user experience by making the permission request relevant to the context of use. Instead of asking for permissions immediately upon app launch, permissions should be requested when the user performs an action that requires them, such as recording audio. This makes the request feel more logical and reduces user skepticism.

What is the significance of restoring state after process death in mobile apps, and how does it affect the UX?

Restoring the app's state after process death ensures that the user does not lose their data when switching between apps or when the system kills the app to free up resources. For apps where users enter significant data, like notes or audio recordings, restoring state prevents frustrating data loss and enhances the overall user experience.