Animations’ being used in mobile apps is no more a thing of the past. We rarely ever come across an app these days, especially the ones that are considered to have the best mobile app design, which doesn’t use animation to set up better interactions between the application’s elements and the user.
So, what is a concept behind creating these, and what do designers go through in their minds while they put their pencils, paper, and mind to developing amazing animations for mobile apps?
What is the Basic Idea behind Using Animation in Mobile Applications?
Every technological update and upgrade usually comes from this one place in the human psyche – that is to be able to make a piece of technology more user-friendly.
And today, user-friendly is a term that we’re letting goes for a newer concept – we want the technology, the machines around us to communicate with us humans; in a way, we want them to be more like us humans. An animation is absolutely a wonderful step towards that notion.
We today want to build apps that can not only let the users know about a particular service or product but also have the users give their feedback.
We want the attention of the end users to navigate around the app in a manner that makes their experience more fulfilling, and gives the app a better chance to showcase the product it represents.
Because we identify with animation, say more than a piece of text, it’s a smart step to include the element of motion design in apps. This way, it seems that the control of and navigation through the app becomes more convenient.
Therefore, the whole experience of an end user becomes more memorable. It further has a positive effect on how that user perceives the actual product or service.
At What Stage Does the Process of Creating Animations Begin?
Looking at how an app is designed, we have five stages that it generally goes through. In no particular order, they are – research, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and visual design.
We say, the order is not set, for the process itself is an iterative one. It is usually the prototyping stage which has a developer looking into the animation aspect of the UI of a mobile app. But, one can safely say that the idea for such a thing can easily come even during an earlier stage, like that of wireframing.
So, a developer basically prepares a blueprint of how this part of the project would move ahead; this is the part where a lot of brainstorming happens, and some initial sketches are created.
A general page structure is decided upon, which again is open to any changes that might be agreed upon at any later stage. That is also the reason, that the sketches of interactions or animations created at this stage are called ‘low-fidelity’ ones, for nothing is final and everything is just in the testing mode at the time.
Once the UI screens are ready and a visual style gets confirmed upon, it is then that the designers start looking into the motion design part of the app.
What Does a Designer have to comply With, In Order to create animations for Mobile Apps?
Comply With the Guidelines of the Platform
One of the primary requirements in the case of mobile app design and development, be it an element of the app, is to adhere to the guidelines set by the platform. It’s not such a bad thing from the design point of view, for one doesn’t have to do a lot of special research.
Also, the users find everything quite familiar, and hence, easy to use. But, it’s not a cent percent win-win, because there are times when a designer gets stuck, and the guidelines are no help at all. That’s when their creative side has to come out so they can come up with a unique solution. This is how unique motions and interactions between different interface elements come to be.
Comply With Your Brand’s Identity
Again, like any other element of mobile app design and development would have to, the animation style and the mood of various interactions too has to comply with the brand itself. If anything, it should be able to showcase the identity of the brand to its target audience in the best way possible.
It already has the advantage of being the point of attraction in an app – with a little more thought, the attention that it gets, can be used to make the app more relevant and interactive for the end users.
Comply With the Cultural and Societal Norms
This is a point that one either takes too seriously or forgets to consider at all. Every place and its people are usually culturally biased towards certain things and consider some things very rude.
So, while trying to make your app interactive, be cognizant of whether the interactions, in any way, might rub your target the wrong way. If you do find something of that nature, it goes without saying – change it immediately.
For, after having spent so much of resources, including your time, money, and energy – it would be a shame for a mobile application development company to have to get rid of it altogether, just because they weren’t sensitive enough!