For most brands, the decision to invest in a mobile app requires a lot of thought. You want to make sure that you're choosing the right option for your brand in terms of design and development, and you have to ensure that your budget will allow you to market the app as needed. Ultimately, your mobile app should be something that your audience will find valuable and use on a regular basis. Aside from those items of consideration, one of the most important things to grasp when you're designing and developing a great mobile app is that you need a strategic approach that is focused on your users. To better understand some of the most effective and successful mobile apps across various industries, and identify what they all have in common, we've sat down with our talented team of designers to gather their insights for their favorite apps. From design to usability, these apps have proven their worth to our experts and have captured the interest of users alike:
1. Fandango
The Fandango app seamlessly connects movie-goers with all of their respective needs when it's time to visit the theater. In terms of usability, the app itself is incredibly easy to use and focuses on providing an excellent experience for customers.
2. Amazon
I think the app Amazon is the best of it's kind in the retail world. Typically, if I find something interesting that I would like to purchase on another site, I'll then go back and check it out on the Amazon app. Each time I use the app, it already has all of my information stored and with just with one click (literally), I can order any item I want. Besides general products, there are also millions of music, books, movies and TV shows that are all easily accessible on my phone.
3. Digit
Digit is a micro savings account app with a text messaging interface that allows you to interact with the platform the same way you would send a normal text message from your smartphone. The app itself monitors your financial activity and makes it as effortless as possible to save money.
4. Waze
When you are driving, you often need to be able to make quick decisions to avoid making your trip longer than it needs to be. Waze is a mobile app that helps people plan their driving routes based on information that other users of the app provide. It allows you to comment whenever there is a cop, or an accident, or traffic jams along your route, letting other around you know of what to avoid. The app also provides you with alternative routes to take you around these situations and get to your destination faster.
5. ESPN
With a brand like ESPN, they need a mobile app that presents audiences with a large amount of content through an organized, yet appealing design. Their app successfully displays news, articles, scores, social media, videos, and podcasts in an easy-to-use interface that compiles all of this in a way that is still easy for users to digest. It allows you to pick which teams are your favorites, and the mobile app curates content and news just for you surrounding those teams.
6. Starbucks
For most Starbucks customers, they want quick refreshment while on the way to work or on their lunch break. The Starbucks mobile app is clearly focused at providing those users with what they're looking for and making the process of purchasing an item as easy, efficient, and enticing as possible. As well, all of the aesthetics and visuals on the app are of the utmost quality.
7. Venmo
Venmo, the popular app which allows you to easily send money to your friends, has all the essentials of a user-friendly and engaging mobile app. As far as use, the app makes it incredibly easy to split the cost of things or pay someone money you may owe them for a concert, dinner, etc. In terms of UX design, the app could not be simpler to use. If you want to send someone a payment, you click one of the large calls-to-action that say "Request" or "Pay" , and as long as you have your banking information set up already with the app (also very easy to do), you're done. It has a clean and modern user-interface making it a viable option for most users looking for a payment option.
8. Mosaic
Mosaic allows you to take all of the pictures that you curate and keep stored in your phone, and make them a tangible item to enjoy offline. Through the app you can create and order an 8 x 8 book of your selected photos, making a great gift for yourself, or a friend!
9. Line
Line is a Japanese-based messaging app that offers free video and voice communication. For an illustrator or someone with a design background, the app has a lot of elements that make it really appealing-especially the unique set of emoticons, which makes it stand out in comparison to it's competitors.
10. Viber
Viber is a free call, text, and video messaging app that keeps you connected with your friends and family anywhere in the world. Whoever has this app on your contact list can be reached within seconds. While there are many apps similar to this one, I find that those other apps ask you to login using a Facebook account or enter more detailed information in order to use them. With Viber, there are just a few steps to enter your basic info and you are ready to use it, so from a usability standpoint, the sign up is close to effortless! I never experience any dropped calls or poor connection. The app is set up so that anytime I call, send a video or text, it gets delivered right away and sends me a notification on delivery.
Best Mobile App Design
The best mobile app designs keep the user and their needs as the forefront focus. By ensuring that your mobile app is completely optimized to be as user-friendly as possible, you'll be able to offer your customers an experience that instills trust and helps build a relationship with the user. From financial apps to mobile apps that offer direction--whatever your brand's service or products might be, your mobile app must be tailored to the unique needs of your users in order for it to be successful.