IDENTIFY USER NEEDS

Let’s say you go to a supermarket and there is a great new hat. It looks cool but you are not a hat man, its summer now but you don’t get out much in the sun. Would you buy it? Most probably no. Not because you don’t think the hat looks great, but because you don’t really need it.

This is the same thing face by app designers; they need to find the specific needs of users before starting to design an app.

LIMITED SCREEN SPACE

It’s mobile. To be mobile it needs to be portable, that means As Small As Possible. Designers need to present their matter in single column. It can be either scrolled vertically or horizontally.

Anything more and the app is doomed. The challenge is to strip features and anything that can’t be stripped need to be pinned to the screen – without hogging screen space.

EASY NAVIGATION IS ANYTHING BUT EASY TO DESIGN

Humans want it easy. Taking shortcuts is the logical thing to do. Anything that is long is tedious. Minimum steps are the requirement in order to access any functions and tasks. Much like A-B-C.

Anything longer and it’s work, and people don’t mix work and play. Challenge is to make the navigation Smooth.

INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE OPERATION SYSTEM

Different operating systems render Apps differently. Designer have to identify the most common modules and use them. There are times when users are so used to native graphic user interface(GUI) that hybrid design just doesn't work.

WHERE DO WE STAND IN THE COMPETITION

Users use a variety of apps, sometimes different apps for the same function. Where do we stand out with our new app. Designer not only have to stand out in terms of design, usability and interaction but also the concept.

As with shortcuts, users will stereotype your app based on their experience. There would also be copies if(& when) our app becomes successful.

MODULES

In early stages of development, the technology to be used is undecided. Hence the App designer doesn't have a pre-defined path to follow.

NO CONTEXT MENU

Since there are no right clicks available in mobile, there are no context menus. The challenge is to give what the user wants in minimal taps. And to think what he requires when he want it.

PERFORMANCE ISSUES

The functions provided and information displayed need to be suited towards the limited processing and real electrical power that the mobile has. You can’t give all the options that are available with the app. Along with being smooth(with fewest taps) an app also needs to have less options, so choose the option that are most relevant.