Smashing Android UI

Chapter 1: Introduction to Usability and User Interface Design

Usability is the most important quality of any app. It doesn’t matter how good a feature is if the users don’t know how to get to it or can’t figure out how to use it. In the cutthroat environment of the mobile app market, users almost always have alternatives. If an app doesn’t feel right or if users can’t figure out how to perform the main tasks, they will very often uninstall it without giving it a second chance.

The user interface is users use and view your app. Everything that lies beyond is reflected in the UI. If your killer feature provides the next generation cloud communication (or whatever the most awesome capability of your app is) but isn’t intuitive, you risk wasting hundreds of hours building something that users won’t even try.

Getting the user interface right requires investment into design. This chapter introduces concepts and ideas that make it easier to understand the importance of that investment. It also explains key concepts of the design process and provides some ideas for making users a more integral part of your design process.

Considering Technology versus design

User interface design is not an exact science. It also doesn’t happen automatically. It requires effort and a budget. In my professional career I’ve mostly worked for tech-driven companies, so-called developer houses. Almost my whole career I have had to fight to include design considerations in the application-building process. ...