Long app screens don ’ t have dead-ends ( e . g . so the user continues to discover and explore )
If your app has long screens of content , make sure that when users reach the footer of the screen they can continue to discover and explore , and don ’ t encounter dead-ends that cause them to abandon the app . For example , at the footer of a long screen your app could provide a : Back to TOP button Search field if one was displayed at the top of the screen Few navigation options to encourage users to continue exploring Or , you could provide an infinitely scrolling screen , which is used by engagement-type apps ( e . g . social , messaging , content ), but is also used by some eCommerce apps to display items as part of a stream of content
Menu list is either short ( e . g . up to 7 ) or is longer and has clear sections
There are many ways to design a menu list , but they must be obvious to the apps ’ target user . A short and clear list is the default menu . An alternative is a menu containing more items that is separated into clear sections , possibly labelled to be quickly understood by the target user , e . g . a retail apps could contain the following menu sections ( and links ): Shop ( gender , department , sale , etc .), Account ( basket , details , sign-out , etc .). ( See image 05 )
image 05
Menu list terminology is obvious to the target user ( menus should not contain terms that your target user base won ’ t understand )
Users need to identify with menu labels / terminology , so that they can navigate to the app section they need as quickly as possible . And order the menu list based on popularity or other system that will be understood and of value to users . Menu ’ s with terms that require business knowledge , or try to mix - e . g . literal and metaphoric - terms may confuse users , and increase abandonment .
Carousels are obvious to navigate ( beware , most are not !)
Carousels are problematic on apps just as they are on web sites , where 98 % drop-off between the first and second screen in the carousel is not uncommon ( source : Erik Runyon ). Carousels can be blind spots where promotions are rarely seen . That being said , if a carousel is the appropriate interaction method in your app , design it carefully and leverage the mobile design patterns that users ’ are familiar with from their native operating systems , i . e . in Android and iOS a series of dots indicate a series of horizontal swipeable images .
User can swipe horizontally to quickly navigate laterally
Good mobile app design enables users to quickly swipe to navigate laterally to the next screen , instead of being forced to hierarchically navigate -
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