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How to Design a Mobile Application

Feb 10, 2014 11:14 AM

Light bulb with "Great Idea!" text and lightning bolts.

The use of smart phones is not limited only as a mode of communication now-a-days. There are many things that can be done with the help of a smart phone.

Developing various useful applications and games is the buzz these days. Let's just checkout steps that are to be followed in order to develop a mobile application.

Idea

Having a great idea for an application is the most important thing. Your idea must be different and must be unique one.

Identify the Requirements

Once you are clear with the idea to create the application comes the step to identify the requirements for the application. Identify the target audience that would definitely use the application.

Identify the mobile platforms that would support the application.

A person placing a puzzle piece to reach a goal.

Design the Application

Designing the application is the most important phase in the whole cycle of the application development.

Primary focus must be on the UI of the application. User interface is the first thing which attracts users so one has to be sure that the UI is best suited for is application. UI must be designed by keeping both the touch screen and the non touch screen mobiles.

Smartphone, notepad, pencil, and art supplies on design sketches.

Identify the Approach

The designer then has to choose the approach which will be most suited to develop the application. For mobile applications the approach may include a native approach, web approach or a hybrid approach.

The native approach delivers the best results for the mobile applications, they require a specific platform for development and require people having expert knowledge about that platform.

The web approach includes development with the help of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash.

The hybrid approach is the combination of both the approaches.

Decision-making and choices concept with a figure surrounded by arrows.

Prototype

The prototype includes designing the basic functionality of the application. It includes the basic blocks of the application, the data flow and all the technical things regarding the application.

Website wireframe sketches for user login and registration pages.

Integration of Analysis Tool

The analysis tool plays a very important role. They tell you the proper progress of your application. They give details as how many visitors visited the application, number of downloads. They track the application properly.

Red puzzle piece fitting into a gray puzzle.

Testing

Before releasing the application a proper testing of the application is very important. The feedback's from result of these tests is then analyzed properly and the required changes are done in the application.

A 3D figure using a laptop while another figure appears to be sneaking away.

Release or Deploy the Application

Once the application in tested OK you are free to release the application in the app store and let people download and enjoy your application.

Mobile app interface displaying performance metrics and settings options.

Capture the Metrics

After releasing the application in the app store keep a track on the performance of your application. Checkout the number of downloads, the feedback from the customers, the performance of your application.

Graph showing fluctuating data points over time.

Add New Features

Keep updating your application by adding new features and features requested by the users. This will help your application to perform good in the app store.

Laptop displaying a growth graph with increasing bars.

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