8 UX Design tips for “Not always” cases when designing for iOS and Android
By: Daniel Danielyan
Tags: UX, UI, Design, iOS, Android

Photo by Halacious on Unsplash

Before going on, I would like to say that everything you read is only based on my UI/UX design knowledge, experience, and conducted user tests. Somethings could not work for you but in my case, it turned out good.

Many examples that I will bring I took from an enormous medical app that stakeholders wanted to fit into a small screen (I felt like an IMF agent considering how big the application was). I decided to go with that exact application because it had many problems and challenges as stakeholders wanted almost all functionalities of a hospital plus features of doctor kitchen.

1. Not always fewer clicks are better.

When making a page of certain functionality, that has too many exits, sometimes it is better to add more clicks (in my case taps), make additional pages rather than fit everything in one small screen.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

On a small screen, everything stacked together can mislead the user.

Key functions become more noticeable and easier to access.

Visually more appealing.

When we check the case with add workday section, the first time I added two more buttons on the top as stakeholders and POs didn’t even want to listen to any argument. They wanted quick access from the first page.

But as potential users pointed out, they often tapped on the user profile menu instead of the edit button underneath it.

2. Not always native solutions are the best.

When I was designing a native iOS ‘cancel’ and ‘done’ actions on the Modals, I decided to improvise and put the same section on the bottom.

Image of a project I worked on. In the left picture on top, we see the native solution for modal Cancel and Done actions. In the right picture, I brought them to the bottom.

It’s easier to access with the thumb.

The native version is too high, and on newer devices often impossible to reach without rearranging the phone in hand or using second.

I did the native version too, and after AB testing results were on my side. I can’t even tell you how happy I was with that.

IOS, do you read this? 1 point for me :)

3. Not always stick to the same solution for the same OS

I’m not talking about Gmail that uses Material Design for iOS and Android or Instagram that used iOS style on both platforms. I am talking about using a feature of one in the other, while most components stay native to each platform.

Before going on with this one, I must say that I absolutely adore both solutions for text fields iOS (Human Interface) and Android (Material Design).

Image by me. I used Material Design and Human Interface add contact forms

Forms of iOS are just so simple yet elegant, and they have great UX.

Material design’s popping titles are so mindblowing and again have great UX. You always know what fields you are filling.

In the case of the app, I used popping Material Design forms for both platforms. All three groups (stakeholders, users, and our team) unanimously preferred the popping animation fields.

4. Not always perfect means good.

This one goes for the stakeholders. I respect them a lot, and working with them was so much fun. The thing is that they aimed at perfect. And the project lasted for a very long time because every week they came up with new ideas that will “work better”. And we, constantly came back to do changes and the project lasted even longer.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

The first time I saw the phrase “Done is better than perfect!” on a MacBook sticker, I fell in love with that phrase. At the same time, I was designing my personal website and I did the same perfect thing every day. New ideas, new changes, new inspirations, that all led to a new schedule which delayed the success for me. When you aim for perfect each imperfection keeps delaying the project. Our minds can’t project the perfect thus we will never be able to form that as a goal. On the other hand, good is formed, it’s stable, and it has “measurements.”

By no means, I am saying that you have to rush your project for sooner results. I am just saying that there is no absolute perfect, and by chasing it, you may never finish the project.

Remember this, and I am saying as a huge perfectionist — there is never a perfect, just like in physics. Repeat that to yourself! It’s like trying to catch the junkie dragon in South Park 11.14 episode. You can never catch it. For me, closest to perfect is Apple’s website design, especially the iPhone 11 pro page. And they keep updating. Because there is always better.

My advice is to look at your design after some time away from the screen. If you think it is good, then it’s already better than perfect. Trust me. If stakeholders say it’s good, and sugar on top — users approve it, there is no better perfect than that.

5. Not always what is simpler for you simpler for others.

I really love iOS data pickers, and I use them as often as I get the chance. But user testing showed that most users easier navigated in android data pickers.

Image made by me. iOS and Android Datapickers.

Everyone agreed that iOS looked cooler, but it’s the famous problem where UI and UX are going against each other. In some cases, there is no sweet middle spot. And you ALWAYS want to go with the users.

6. Not always going with the users will have the best outcome for YOU.

We know the phrase ‘Client is Always Right!’ Thankfully, in web design, thanks to many kinds of researches, including user testings, they often admit that it’s not the case.

But in some cases, stakeholders want to stick with something they love, and whatever you do, whatever UX research proves them wrong — they won’t agree to take it away. In some rare cases, you might even lose the project if you keep insisting to take away the thing they love so much. Here comes a delicate spot where you have to choose for yourself what’s more important; do the wrong UX, and in some severe cases, lose your rating or lose the project.

I’m afraid it’s all up to you. It depends on how important you think that feature is, how much it will impact other’s opinion of your professionalism. And how much do you need that project. I’m afraid each case is unique, and you have to decide for yourself.

In my case, it was a user icon that worked by Hamburger menu logic. It opened when tapping on the user icon. I didn’t like that profile pic button opened the hamburger menu. But the Client is Always Right.

7. Not always User Experience is better than Marketing.

To my shame, I have to admit that I am worse at marketing skills than I should have been. Marketing is a big part of UX and vice versa.

On the app, there were pages where the Marketing department, along with stakeholders, ingeminated to use their big brand symbol on a small screen (not a logo) on pages where the right thing would be to use more functional assets.

And the thing is that we both were right. From the UX perspective, it would be friendlier for users to have some functions there. And I was forced to fit it on other pages.

But from a Marketing perspective, the brand was new, and they needed to make people see the symbol in as many places as possible. Marketing department won, and the outcome was good. Though I don’t know what would happen if we did it my way. The goal of the marketing department was achieved, and sacrificed pages didn’t even impact users.

8. Not always — I have 8 tips.

I’m sorry, just kidding :)

8.1. Not always people know what they are used to.

I know, it’s a bit odd. I’ll explain it. In one test, I crossed users and platforms. I gave the iOS version to Android users and vice versa. Many Android users navigated easier in some iOS features even though they never held an iPhone in their hands. It was most noticeable when they navigated through modals (popups). And vice versa; iOS user group navigated easier in the Android calendar.

In conclusion:

Not always — you have to stick to the right UX, Native solutions, etc. Use Your Skills, Experience, and most of all, a common sense. It’s a big UX design world out there, and everything is constantly changing. What was right before is wrong now, and what is wrong now might someday be considered the best UX. Trust your gut and keep going. I’m sure if you made it so far with this boring article :), you’ll make it in the big league and you’ll make it really good. Which is better than perfect! (See what I did there?!)

Thank you for reading.

If you have any questions or thoughts about the article feel free to leave a comment.

Wish you Best User Experience in real life!