Designing for Mobile: 5 Tips for a Seamless User Experience
by Gina Armstrong, Lead Designer
Insights / Website Design /
Photo by Tara Winstead via Pexels
Website design often focuses heavily on the desktop experience, but at some point, most users will interact with your site on a mobile device. When they do, you want to ensure a seamless experience.
So, how do you do that? Here’s a checklist of 5 considerations you’ll want to make.
Sticky Navigation
Making your menu sticky simplifies the navigation experience on mobile devices.
Rather than being forced to continuously scroll to find menu items, users can easily access everything in one click. This is pretty standard practice on most sites, so users have come to expect it and may even become frustrated if a site doesn’t match those expectations.
If space is tight and you don’t want to give up permanent real estate to a navigation bar, you might consider a sticky nav on scroll up feature or, on longer pages, including a “back to top” anchor link.
Menu Design
The design of the menu itself is crucial on mobile devices. Not all menus are created the same – and you’ll need to design differently for something like a mega-menu versus for a menu with only a few links.
If the menu is larger, be sure that you establish hierarchy and consider options for subnavigation like accordions or sequential menus.
Many mobile menus eliminate extraneous items like “Featured Resources” or “Upcoming Events”, which can help keep things from feeling cluttered on smaller devices. We’d recommend always keeping the search function, though, as it’s an important tool for users and will mitigate frustration.
Text & Button Sizes
On smaller screens, you have to be particularly mindful of text and button sizes.
The text should generally be at least 16px for legibility purposes, and buttons should be at least 40px to ensure tapping them is easy. (Make sure you’re also giving plenty of breathing room between any buttons, too – you don’t want to create a situation where users are accidentally clicking the wrong link.)
Other legibility considerations include contrast, leading, and typeface – read more here.
Animations & Images
Interactivity is great on desktops, but can become overwhelming on a mobile device.
Graphics that are subtle background elements on desktop can feel clunky and crowded on limited screen sizes, so consider eliminating (or adjusting) animations and other elements that could interrupt the user flow. When it comes to images, be sure you’re setting yourself up for success by selecting imagery that works at multiple screen sizes.
Test Functionality
You’ll want to be sure the site works for users on mobile devices, so the last step is to take some time to click around.
Eliminate pop-ups that block content or are difficult to close out of. Ensure form fields are functional and large enough to use. Make sure the calls to action are straightforward and easy to find. Think about your users, and make it easy for them to achieve their goals.
Not everything that works on a desktop design will translate on a mobile or tablet device. When it comes to mobile design, it’s important to be intentional in creating a smooth user experience. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a great mobile design – but if you still need help, just reach out to us.
About Gina Armstrong
Gina is the Lead Designer at Digital Ink. Gina has explored design while serving various roles in the non-profit sector, developing a passion for branding and digital design. Digital Ink tells stories for forward-thinking businesses, mission-driven organizations, and marketing and technology agencies in need of a creative and digital partner.
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