Design Process — Planning out a Mobile App

Designing an app isn’t just as simple as figuring out what it’s going to look like. There is a lot that goes into making a successful application including user research, design documentation and prototyping to name a few. Making an app design from start to finish can be a lot of work and can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a large team to help you with the process. This is why understanding the process and everything that it should include is crucial for successful application design.

I am definitely not an expert at app design. At the time of writing this article, I am still in college with a few semesters to go in the Web and App Development program. Even though I don’t have a lot of real-world experience with the app design process, I have worked through the process enough times to know what is important.

So what is the process for creating an app?

To be able to successfully design an app for any project, you first need to understand exactly what the client wants. The best way to look at each project to be designed is to think of the project as a problem that needs to be solved. The problem should be written down and put into a concise one or two sentences so it is clear and easy to understand for anyone that is involved in the project.

You should then write a longer but still concise description of the problem or mission statement that proposes how the problem can be solved. This should include details about what the proposed solution will accomplish. It should also include details for how the end user will interact with the product.

In one of my college classes, we worked on a project for an aquarium. Below is an example of the problem and the mission statement we came up with for the project.

Problem:

“Kids and parents want a way to stay educated, entertained and connected outside of the aquarium”

Mission Statement:

The aquarium wants to create an interactive app that allows guests to combine different fish parts (heads, bodies and tails) to create their own custom fish. These fish can then be added to a virtual aquarium displayed on a large monitor, where guests can see how long their fish lasts competing for resources with fish that other guests have created.

Planning and Discovery

This is where you and/or your team should start diving into the details of the project. This stage should include deciding what features should be included in the app. You should do research on similar projects that have already been completed and find what works and what doesn’t.

Another important part of planning is to look specifically at how your users will interact with the finished product. You should look at all of the different types of users you might have for your app and walk through the process of how they might each use the program differently. You should draw out a map or story for the process that your end user would take to accomplish the goal they are trying to achieve.

Research

After planning and discovery is complete you will want to do user research to see what the user would be looking for in your application. This can include interviews and surveys to reach out directly to potential users.

Design

The last part of designing an app is making the actual designs. This part includes the standard process of making sketches, wireframes and prototypes of exactly what the app will look like when it is complete.

At the end of the design phase there should also be another small round of research/ testing to make sure that the design is usable by an actual user. Make any adjustments to the design as needed.

Landon Hatch is a student in the Digital Media program at Utah Valley University, Orem Utah, studying Web & App Development. The following article relates to (Final Project) in the (DGM 2240 Course) and representative of the skills learned.