A comprehensive guide to mobile app design for online courses

Mobile app design requires both a touch of creativity and science if you want to create applications that are not only visually appealing but also functional and user-friendly.

If you are just getting to understand the nuances of mobile app design and why it plays such a solid part in creating apps that stand out in a crowded marketplace, this article will take you through the essential aspects of mobile app design.

From understanding its importance to mastering the core principles and best practices, we will cover it all for new mobile designers.

So, let’s dive in and have some fun while we are at it.

Understanding mobile app design

Mobile app design reunites app software development by integrating user interface (UI) design principles that deal with appearance alongside user experience (UX) design principles that focus on user interface efficiency.

Why great design matters for mobile applications

Modern digital users work with numerous apps. Yet, they always put an easy-to-use design together with use cases as the main conditions for choosing those mobile projects to begin with.

Great mobile app design provides plenty of benefits for product and development teams including:

• Users decide what their opinion of a mobile app is immediately after opening the program for the first time. An app with strong style elements creates positive initial user experiences that make them want to continue using it.
• Products with excellent design solutions tend to maintain their user base. Users will stop using a mobile app when it proves hard to operate or if it fails to satisfy their requirements.
• The competitive mobile app market is easier to navigate when designers create excellent app layouts that outshine competitors. A well-designed interface keeps users within your app and prompts them to recommend your applications, so you can stay in business for longer.
• When you design mobile applications, pieces directly mirror what your brand stands for. Brand reputation can be harmed by a poorly designed app, but a well-designed mobile app provides positive enhancement.

Core principles of mobile app design

To create a successful mobile app, mobile app developers should stick to the following core design principles that will get a final product that is both functional and user-friendly.

User interface design (UI) principles

Starting with the UI design aspects lets you first focus on the visual aspects of the app, including layout, colors, typography, and interactive elements.

Simplicity and clarity

Interface design starts with the very basic principles that create better comprehension. Excessive or useless visual elements in a user interface create confusion which makes it harder for people to locate required information. Interface mobile design should follow minimalist principles like only keeping essential content.

It’s also best when designing mobile apps to use clear wording for your text and buttons. Couple this with logical icons to assist users during their journey through the application.

Simple mobile app designs example

Consistency maintained across components

All components need consistent implementation if you want to maintain a balanced connection between all elements. Design repetition should extend to all interface components along with buttons and fonts along with colors and navigation elements.

Mobile app with consistent design patterns

Providing feedback and ensuring quick response times

In-app actions should be followed by confirmation screens or text to show when these user-initiated actions were processed. Immediate confirmation is simply a must whenever they click on buttons or submit forms in your app.

Mobile apps can also provide feedback through visual cues, animations, push notifications, and sound effects. A quick response time for user inputs lets you avoid user frustration and keep the experience fluid.

Examples of in-app action confirmation at different steps

User experience (UX) design principles

Moving over to the UX design aspects, these will cover the overall experience a user has with an app, including how easy it is to navigate, how well it meets user needs, and how enjoyable it is to use.

Enhancing usability for seamless interaction

Good UX means you are prioritizing usability over all else. When designing user-friendly mobile applications, you must have simple navigation together with clear commands and directions. You can organize user-testing sessions to detect usage problems that need changes to optimize usability.

User-friendly UX sample

App designing with a user-centric approach

User-centric development means that the creators of mobile app designs will always place end-users at the center of their mobile design process.

To do this, get to know your target users. What are their app usage requirements? Any cultural preferences? How do they prioritize their use cases? Use this information to guide your design decisions and create a mobile app that resonates with users.

UX prioritizing user preferences

Making accessibility a priority

Accessibility in UX design is no longer an extra if you want inclusive applications. In fact, all apps should have strong accessibility features so real users including people with disabilities can use the app.

Example of an app that’s easy to configure for accessibility

Before we wrap up the mobile app UI/UX design aspects, ensure that your mobile app is as you – and users expect it to be. Explore and implement modern trends in mobile app design that will enable it to be unique. As already mentioned, minimalism is always in fashion, and you can try dark mode, passwordless logins, chatbots, and more.

Best practices for designing mobile apps

Now that we have covered the core principles of mobile app designing, let’s explore some best practices for mobile app design you should rely on when creating your very first mobile app.

Streamlined user interface and intuitive navigation

Creating intuitive mobile app interfaces and ensuring simple navigation is essential for building a positive user experience. Make sure:

• You prioritize accessibility alongside the usability of the app’s main features. Users should be able to use your core functionalities with as few hurdles as possible.
• Users will work with familiar patterns including bottom navigation bars and hamburger menus because these are navigation methods they already find easy to access and use (from using other mobile applications).
• You reduce the total number of required steps needed for task completion. Consider adding automatic form fields that combine with straightforward commands to guide their actions.

Optimized content organization and seamless data entry

Organizing content effectively and simplifying data entry can greatly enhance the user experience. Make sure:

• You are organizing related information in groups. Section headings, for instance, guide users to specific content elements or sections within your app.
• You support visual order through size, color, and positioning so the most essential elements will get attention from users first.
• Your data entry systems use input masks, data validation, and auto-suggestions. Also, avoid asking for unnecessary information to avoid deterring users unnecessarily.

Focus on usability and accessibility

Usability and accessibility should be at the forefront of any mobile design process. Make sure:

• You run periodic mobile app tests with actual users to detect usability issues that need adjusting.
• Your mobile app follows accessibility platform guidelines that include the standards from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
• The visual and audio systems you use for in-app communication let users easily understand what the results of their actions are.

Enhancing performance and responsiveness

Performance and a responsive design for mobile apps are critical for a positive user experience. Make sure:

• You reduce mobile app load times by optimizing images together, code, and HTTP request numbers.
• You are using fluid and smooth animations that won’t slow performance.
• You run the applications on different mobile devices during the final testing phase.

Aligning with platform-specific guidelines

Each mobile platform has its own design guidelines and conventions you need to keep up with. Make sure:

• You stick to the mobile design conventions of the platform you picked (e.g. using platform-specific navigation patterns and icons).
• You use platform-specific design tools, such as Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and Google’s Material Design Guidelines, to ensure your app aligns with the platform’s standards.
• You test your mobile app on these different platforms to ensure it looks and works as expected.

Tools for mobile application design

You can pick from hundreds of app design tools but we have narrowed down the list to the most popular options:

• Sketch: A web design tool that is widely used for creating vector-based UI designs and prototypes.
• Figma: An app design tool that makes real-time collaboration and prototyping easy.
• Adobe XD: A design and prototyping tool that integrates with other Adobe products.
• Miro: A prototyping tool that allows you to create interactive prototypes and gather feedback from stakeholders.

If you prefer an all-in-one platform that can also host your online academy and online courses then our platform is all you need.

LearnWorlds’ Mobile App Builder gives you full control over designing, branding, and launching your own learning app, allowing you to customize screens, navigation, themes, and user experiences with a no-code, drag-and-drop interface while offering real-time updates and live previews.

The mobile app design process

Designing a mobile app is a multi-step process that involves user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement. You can create your own process for this but here’s the most typical approach to the mobile apps design process:

Research and ideation

Research lets you come up with those innovative ideas you need to make sure your mobile app truly stands out. Your first task should always be studying the audience you want to target.

This will give you an edge in recognizing and understanding their requirements and obstacles. You should also hold user interviews and send surveys to members of your ideal target audience to get more in-depth insights.

Wireframing and creating prototypes

Testing should be a part of mobile app development as early as during the design stage. UI prototypes support this, allowing you to gather feedback and spot possible usability issues before you even start working on the app.

Use the feedback to update your designs until you reach a point where user requirements are satisfied with the in-app experience you will provide.

Testing, refinement, and iteration

Testing is a crucial part of the design process. Conduct user testing to gather feedback on your prototypes and identify any usability issues.

Use this feedback to refine your design and make necessary adjustments. Iterate on your design until you have a final product that meets user needs and provides a positive user experience.

Ready to design a mobile app for your academy?

Designing a mobile app for your online course requires careful planning and execution. From understanding your learners’ needs to optimizing the user interface and incorporating interactive features, every detail plays a crucial role in enhancing mobile learning.

If you are ready to take your course to the next level and want to design mobile applications, consider your own academy’s learning app to create a branded learning environment.

LearnWorlds’ mobile learning app provides the tools to design and customize your app effortlessly, ensuring an optimized experience for your students. For even more flexibility and innovation, explore upgraded e-learning solutions to enhance engagement and course accessibility.

By following best design practices and using the right tools, you can build and design a mobile app that supports and elevates your online courses, delivering a top-notch educational experience anytime, anywhere.

Alexandra Cote

Alexandra Cote is a SaaS growth marketer and online instructor who's worked with dozens of brands in the MarTech, HR tech, and productivity space. She's also a strong supporter of staying happy at work and choosing a healthy career path.