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There are start-ups coming up and unbelievable inventions cropping up around us. The Gen-Y is so updated with trends and such new inventions, while one wonders how they are able to catch up.

Mobile phones, tabs, laptops are revolutionizing the way we look at things. Now, of course, mobile phones have penetrated to the most remote areas of this land and eventually, the internet is taking over even to places where television and radio are vaguely present. We connect, learn, explore and communicate, all in a ‘touch’.

Somewhere around 2008, Mobile Apps were operated and these are now pre-installed or downloaded for free or for a price on your smart devices. App has been increasingly used and is becoming a major part of Brand-building. With a meager experience, brief knowledge and buckets of interests, you can start off building your own App, keeping in mind the following few basic points.

1.     Research:

The only way to impress your audiences is to give what they want. Research and analysis are the primary steps and the way to understand your audiences’ need. If you are a freelancer or just a single person doing the research, then internet can give you as much as information you would require. In addition, if you have the time and means to meet the audiences directly, taking quick polls or just interacting shall give you an idea of what is required.

When you have decided the ways to carry about your research, your key goal should be known as to what you would like to extract. Knowing that you may pen down your key search points in case of using the internet or pen down the questions to be asked to the audiences in case of direct interaction.

In the process of research, one other important thing is ‘Competitor Analysis’. Unless you know who your competitors are, what they offer, and what are their pros and cons, you can’t really place your App at the best position.

2. Set Basic Features:

Now that you have got all the necessary details about what is required, you have to think of how you are going to present it.

“Fine words do not produce food.” - Anonymous

So all that you researched doesn’t necessarily mean you have a great product in the line. These are very basic points that need to be addressed at this stage. Further through Brainstorming, you may put down the answers for the following.

·        What is the service or use of this App?

·        How is it going to respond to the users?

·        How much is it going to cost to build the App?

·        Should it be a static or a responsive App?

·        What are the basic functionalities of the App?

3. Visualize UX Flow:

Once the requirements are finalized, the next is to foresee how it is to be executed. This is simply deciding and defining how a user should navigate through the app and how each element should react to users’ action.

If a user is lost in the process of navigation then your design is bombed right there! A good design should flow seamlessly and ease the usage of the App. Iteration is a good way to remove unnecessary deviations.

Simplicity doesn’t mean minimizing the process, but to make the user forget how long and smooth they have come without realizing the process of getting to that point.

4. Illustrate Wireframe:

Just as how a well-constructed house has a Plan, a wireframe is a skeleton of your App to define its look and navigation. This is the stage where your ideas from pen and paper get converted to the screen. Of course, a Wireframe can be done on paper as well. But eventually, it has to be reflected on screen.

The more time you spend on your wire-frame, the more efficient will your end product turn out to be. Deciding the size, where images are to be placed, where the text falls, and how the headers and subtexts and body contents are to be placed and aligned shall be the priority when it comes to this stage.

5. Build Prototype:

A test run is vital before making your app live. For this, building a prototype is important. A prototype is almost what your end product is going to look like. Testing this with limited audiences and in case you’re a freelancer, testing it with clients directly may help you reflect how your app is been received and any queries arising thereafter.

To start off, these simple steps will help you do good work and great design. With experience, you can beat the best!