MCLEAN, VA , MAY 9-11, 2013
Designing Killer Apps for Mobile devices
Raj LalNokia Inc.@iRajLal
Mobile Developer Evangelist
5+ years on Mobile dev.
Author • Digital Design Essentials • Smartphone Web Development• Gadgets and Widgets
About Me
Learn how to design a Killer Mobile App
Goal of the Session
Define: A Killer Mobile App
What is a Killer Mobile App? Anyone?
A Killer Mobile App
• More than 100 reviews
• 4.5 Star ratings in the app store
Example
Mini Recorder
•236 ratings
•4.5 stars
Mini Recorder: User Interface
Mini Recorder
• One page app
• No design elements
• Visual hierarchy
• Modern UI, Big tap-able content
• Color icon similar to native icons
• Familiar UI, look and feel & Settings
And btw It also works
Mini Recorder uses Metro UI Guidelines
Other Recorders
Other Recorders
Tip #1
Use Device Design Guidelines
Familiar visual design is 200% better than a New and ”better” design
Context of the user
Context of the user
• Mobile
• In the middle of a session/class
• This speaker is awesome
• Need a FREE app to record audio
• Search “audio recorder” in app store
App Store View
App Store View
Give extra attention
• Icon
• Title
• First 3 lines of description
• Description
• Screenshots
Tip #2
Grab user attention in App Store
App store is your first point of contact with your customer make it count
User is Mobile
User is Mobile
• User is distracted
• Focused for a short amount of time
• Divided attention
Top Games App
BreakoutPopball
Tip #3
Design for a mobile user
A mobile user needs quick App
User don’t want to spend time
Wikipedia Flixter
User don’t want to spend time
• Make the app self explanatory
• Have defaults
• Don’t make user signup
• Add value for unregistered users
Tip #4
Make it self explanatory
A mobile user needs to access data fast
The Clock App
The Killer Clock App
Full Screen Clock
Tip #5
Simplify the user interface
Simple is always better than sophisticated
The Clock App
Nokia Lumia 920
Modern UI
Pure view cameraPure view cameraNokia HERE
8 mp cameraWindows Phone 8
Image stabilization4.5"
Vibrant colors
Live Tiles
Carl zeiss
32 GB
768 x 1280
Wireless charging
1 GB RAM
1080p HD NFC
Nokia Lumia 920
Tip #6
Utilize the device potential
Maximize the impact by integrating with the hardware
News / Information App
News/Information App
Baconit Astronomy Hub
Tip #7
Understand the category
Know and apply the best practices
Style + Fashion App
Tip #8
Add Character
Make your App stand apart from the competition
Finance App
Chase Mobile
Tip #9
Make it Accessible
Accessibility is about making you App available to more user
One More App
Smartboard Calculator Free
Tip #10
Have Fun
If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right
10 Tips for Killer App Design
1. Use design guidelines
2. Grab user attention
3. Design for Mobile User
4. Make it self explanatory
5. Simplify the UI
6. Utilize device potential
7. Understand the category
8. Add character
9. Make it Accessible
10. Have Fun
MCLEAN, VA , MAY 9-11, 2013
Thank You
Raj LalNokia Inc.@iRajLal