There is a rage for Android development with more and more businesses trying hard to grab a share of world’s most popular smartphone platform. But developing apps for Android is very challenging considering the fact that one has to develop apps for hundreds of devices with different screen sizes, aspect ratios, pixel densities and resolutions. It would be wise to sit and chalk out all the ideas on a paper before you start with the designing process. Here are some of the tips which will help you design stunning apps for Android devices.
Pixel It
Even the best of Android developers in the world don’t have an idea on the range of devices that the apps will be used on. So instead of becoming a pixel slave and working on a range of screen sizes, it’s wise to master it. You might ask how? The easy way out is to design apps using the Density Independent Pixels or DIP. This way you won’t have to worry about the screen size of the devices as your app which offers great experience to all users.
Size Matters
When designing buttons and other clickable items on your app, make sure you take their size into consideration. Don’t clutter buttons and clickable elements as not every Android user might have pointed fingers! The same app may be used in large tablets and small screen smartphones, and it would be wise to consider the need of entry end users. Doing so will enable you to create an app that has universal appeal among all Android users.
Perfect Launch
Some of the best apps have failed because of a poor launch. Like a good website, an app should also grab its users’ attention during the launch period. Users should be able to figure out all the functionalities that your app provides and ease of use should be stupid-proof. If you’ve a strong launch, you have won half the game. Having a strong promotional plan in place will allow you to stir up a buzz in the blogosphere.
Use Nine Patch Drawables
There are a number of Android-powered devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras etc. This tool allows the PNG graphics to stretch and scale nicely in pre-defined ways. There are markings top left edge which define the extent of all the patches on different screen sizes. You don’t need to draw these nine patches manually as the Android SDK comes with tools which can draw these nine patches for you.
Get the Contrast Right
You can spoil a perfect app if you don’t get the colors scheme right. The background of your app and all elements in it should have highly contrasting colors so that users can distinguish between them even while using your app in broad daylight. Also, you should give different elements in your app proper hierarchy such as using bright shades of color for important elements. This also acts as a guide for users.
Don’t Test a User’s Patience
The last thing that you should do is make users wait for different functionalities in your app to roll out. No user likes waiting and thus you should make sure that your app is fast and caters to the performance needs of users. You can also deceive users by making use of progress bars or a small animation which keeps them engaged as you fetch data to be displayed on the screen.
Branding is Key
If you are launching a new app, you need to establish a brand and it would be nice to experiment with logos and distinguished color schemes. This will help users easily recognize your app and recall it. For established players, it is wise to carry on with the legacy as this creates a sense of continuity in their offering.
All these aspects contribute to the successful development of an Android app. Remember you are competing among thousands of apps in your genre and unless you get it right on all aspects you will merely be a number in the list of Android apps.
Check out our previous articles:
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- Designing Interesting Infographics – Tips and Tricks
- Developing a Mobile App: Factors That You Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Miss out on
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