Mobile Application Development: Top 10 Factors to Consider

The creation of a mobile application for a business is more than just a technological advance. To create a user-friendly application, you need business expertise. In this blog, we'll highlight a few crucial ideas that every business owner, app developer, and service provider should bear in mind before creating a mobile app.

It is a very proactive and sensible choice that, taking into account business standards, could mark a turning point for your company. The logical follow-up question is: what else needs to be taken into account before hiring an app development company? Consider the following factors when looking for the ideal app development company for your project: These elements will make it easier to choose a top-notch app development company that will wow customers and generate income with flawless results.

What exactly are corporate identity and branding?

In essence, a brand's corporate identity is represented by all of the information and communications you encounter when interacting with it. Despite the fact that logo design falls under corporate identity, the term actually encompasses a much wider range of graphic design elements, including typography, illustrations, colours, photography, and animations.

Examples of corporate identity can be found everywhere, including social media posts, billboard advertisements, letterhead, staff uniforms, product packaging, and app profiles.

Top ten criteria to consider when choosing the best mobile app development company to build your ideal app

1. Recognize their credentials and principles

What should you do as soon as you decide to hire an app development company? You should pick the IT company that best meets your needs because each one demonstrates its own level of expertise. It is crucial to have the assurance that they possess the expertise necessary to produce the outcomes you require.

Searching for industry experience is another thing you can do while you are conducting your research. It is critical to understand the company's history in the field and how they have handled different challenges.

2. Portfolio & References

The confirmation that you are on the right track comes from your portfolio and testimonials. Check out the company's website to see examples of their work and customer reviews. Unsurprisingly, a seasoned business will have a strong portfolio that highlights its accomplishments. Additionally, reading through the portfolio section enables you to determine if they have experience in the industry you are searching for, and customer reviews will increase your faith in the business.

You shouldn't limit yourself as a decision-maker to just the links and case studies of their works. It is not made public. Ask the development team about their methods for approaching various projects and their chosen approaches.

3. Get in touch to talk about the project and idea

It takes careful research and background checking to find a mobile app development company that can handle your project with ease. Once you have completed this stage, be sure to contact the business and go over your project with them. You cannot ignore the possibility that the project will require frequent changes while it is still in the development stage.

In order to ensure that the developers are available and flexible, please check with the company. You must definitely take this important point into account.

4. Go over the project's completion schedule

Make sure the business has the resources to handle your project before granting it. Additionally, because a company works on multiple projects at once, make sure there are enough developers there to meet the deadline for your project.

Make sure the delivery schedule for the mobile app is agreed upon by both you and the mobile app development company before hiring the business.

5. Carefully read the proposal

Any company can be requested to give you the proposal prior to onboarding. The proposal can assist you in selecting the business and determining how they will approach the project. The team behind the proposal's development will be described in a perfect project proposal. It's unprofessional when the sales team sends out proposals without first consulting the technical team.

A perfect proposal would emphasise the functionality, timeline, budget, and features. It should be developed following consultation with the sales team and technical staff.

6. Maintaining the idea for the app in confidence

Any business leader's worst nightmare is their app idea being leaked or stolen. Before the real app was released on the market, there have been instances where copies of under-construction apps were pushed onto app stores.

These are the subpar actions that the malicious actors have taken as a result of the poor security.

By agreeing to a non-disclosure agreement with the business you join, you can stop this from happening. An NDA can protect the idea and concept for the app while allowing for ownership of the app and its code.

7. Speak with the developer(s) or developer team(s) who will work on the project

A mobile device is meant to benefit your company. Period. Investing in a team of inexperienced developers is pointless. Simply put, both parties are wasting their time and resources.

One should recognise when Skin is in the game as the business leader, and it is preferable to speak with the development team directly. The ideal situation would be if you felt secure enough to entrust the company with the app development project.

8. Obtain the code's source

Never ever agree to a contract with a firm that creates apps without getting the source code first. Keep the source code safe with you at all times because it will save your life in the event of future changes and authorities.

9. Recognize the procedure for creating apps

Having a great app idea is insufficient. To provide the best user experience, it should be properly projected in the form of an application. Talk about the development and construction strategies to decide how they should move forward. This is an important factor that must be taken into account in order to get lasting results.

10. The app's upkeep and testing

The maintenance and testing of the app after it has been created are the most frequent problems encountered when hiring a mobile app development company. If they have a small team, there is a good chance that they won't have much time or money to support testing and maintenance.

It is obvious that there may be bugs and technical problems with the application, which is why a top-notch testing team is necessary. After the app is released, maintenance is a crucial component that cannot be ignored. To add new features, your app will need to be updated. It is crucial to confirm that the development firm you choose offers these services.

About us: DesignLab

UX/UI design, product design, graphic design, and other areas of design are all covered by courses and programmes on the online learning platform designlab.com. The courses are flexible and accessible, with a focus on hands-on, project-based learning, and they are taught by professionals in the industry.

To assist students and professionals in advancing their design careers, Designlab additionally provides mentoring and career support. Through the mentorship programme, students are put in touch with seasoned designers who offer advice, direction, and support throughout the course or programme. The career support team offers materials and tools to help students and recent graduates create their portfolios, network with potential employers, and get ready for job interviews. You may contact us to inquire about our services.

How can a well-designed logo create your brand's identity and recognition?

 

Over the past 15 years, our team, DesignLab, has worked with thousands of start-ups, small businesses, and agencies to develop and enhance their visual identities. We frequently write and speak about brand identity on our blog and at conferences, and we have keynoted a number of conferences and webinars on the topic. This guide offers the practical knowledge, advice, best practices, and experience we've gained from assisting more than 100,000 of the most well-known brands in the world.

Knowledge of brand identity

In many ways, a brand's visual (symbol or illustration) aspect is its brand identity. Consider the Nike "swoosh" or the Apple "apple" as two examples of brand identities that are tied to symbols or other visual elements. A powerful visual image is essential for creating brand identity and connecting the brand. Various branding components come together to form a brand identity. When you combine them, the identity resembles your brand's mascot in many ways. It is the way a business expresses and identifies itself through the visuals on its promotional materials, the brand's colours, and the way it uses social media to market itself. An organization's popularity and presence in a crowded market are strengthened by a strong brand identity.

Making a brand identity

The steps a business should take to develop a powerful, consistent, and unified brand identity will vary, but the following are the ones that are generally true for most:

1) Analyze the business and the industry. A thorough SWOT analysis that considers the entire company, looking at its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, is a tried-and-true method for aiding managers in understanding their situation and determining their goals and the steps necessary to achieve them.

2) Establish important company objectives. To achieve these objectives, the brand identity should be used. For instance, an automaker's advertisements should be designed to appeal to the luxury market it is pursuing. They should be broadcast on programmes and websites that prospective customers are likely to visit.

3) Identify the firm's clients. A business can identify its target market by running surveys, holding focus groups, and conducting one-on-one interviews.

4) Establish the tone and message it wants to convey. Instead of attempting to combine every conceivable positive trait—utility, affordability, quality, nostalgia, modernity, luxury, flash, taste, and class—a company needs to establish a consistent perception. The copy, imagery, cultural allusions, and colour schemes that make up a brand should all work together to convey a single message.

How do you pick the right components for a brand identity design?

Memorability: The elements of your brand identity that you select should be memorable and noticeable so that consumers will remember and recognise them.

Meaningfulness: It's essential that the components you pick effectively communicate your brand identity. Elements of your brand identity should inform consumers about your company, service, or product line in a way that supports their positioning and perception.

Likeability: Does the aspect of the brand's identity appeal to consumers? Is it enjoyable, likeable, and likeable? Things that leave a good impression are what you want.

Transferability: Can the element be used on business cards, social media graphics, websites, and other platforms across all market segments? Does it translate well across national and linguistic boundaries? Avoid using brand identity components that are only applicable to certain platforms (such as mobile or print) or those that don’t translate well across your customers’ languages and cultures.

How to Increase Brand Recognition with Your Logo

The process of associating a business or product with a specific image or identity is known as brand recognition. It entails developing a brand that clients will quickly recognise and remember. Using a logo is among the best ways to accomplish this. A logo is used to represent a company's identity visually and aid in brand recognition. Numerous applications exist for logos. They can be used on social media accounts, websites, business cards, and more.

They can also be used to make an impression on a customer that will likely last long after the initial contact. This is why developing a distinctive and memorable logo is crucial.

Advantages Of a Logo In Brand Recognition

Making your brand more recognisable, boosting client loyalty, and boosting sales are just a few advantages of using a logo to establish brand recognition.

Your brand becomes more recognisable with a logo. Instant logo recognition can be advantageous in a competitive market. Customers may remember your brand more easily, and it will stand out from the competition if it has a recognised logo. Customer loyalty can rise as a result of using a logo to increase brand recognition. People are more likely to make a purchase from a brand they are familiar with and confident in. Customers are more likely to buy from you when they are familiar with your logo and see it frequently and prominently.

Sales can be boosted by using a logo to increase brand recognition. Having a recognisable logo can help turn potential customers into paying customers because people are more likely to buy from a brand they recognise and trust. Customers are more likely to refer to a company they are familiar with and confident in, which can increase your audience.

Selecting the Best Logo for Your Brand

You should select a logo that is straightforward, instantly recognisable, and classic. A straightforward logo will be easier to remember and recognise. It should stand out from competing logos and be simple to recognise. Regarding timeless design, make sure your logo won't appear dated in a few years when fashions change.

The colours you plan to use should be taken into account when choosing a logo. Select colours that will best represent your brand because they can be used to evoke specific emotions and feelings. Additionally, you want to make sure that your logo is adaptable and can be used in a variety of settings, including print and the web.

Additionally, you must guarantee that your logo is scalable. In order to use your logo in a variety of contexts, make sure it looks good in both small and large sizes.

Additionally, make sure your logo is original. Make sure there aren't any competing logos by conducting some research. This will make you stand out and help people remember your brand.

How To Build Brand Recognition with A Logo

Make sure your logo is distinctive and memorable because it is frequently the first thing customers see when they discover your company. You can increase brand recognition and set your company apart from the competition by creatively utilising your logo.

Including your logo in all of your marketing materials is one of the best ways to use it to increase brand recognition. Business cards, emails, websites, and any other marketing materials you distribute fall under this category. Customers will more easily recognise your brand if it has a consistent logo across all of your materials.

Utilize your logo on social media as well. People will be able to identify your company when they see it on various social media platforms if your logo is consistent across all of them. To get the most out of your logo, use it in all of your posts, profile pictures, and banners.

Making merchandise with your logo is another way to increase brand recognition. T-shirts, mugs, hats, and any other item you can think of could be included in this. Having merchandise with your logo on it will make it easier for people to recognise your brand.

Developing a Uniform Logo for All Platforms

Making a master logo is the best way to guarantee a consistent logo across all platforms. The official version of your logo should only be used in this context. It should be created to satisfy the specific needs of your brand, including the demands for size and colour.

Once you've established a master logo, you can begin designing specialised iterations for various platforms. You might want to design a logo with a transparent background for print materials so that it can be placed on any background. You can design a logo for digital platforms that is responsive to various screen sizes.

It's crucial to keep the end goal of creating a consistent logo across all platforms in mind when designing a logo. It is best to keep your logo's font, colours, and design components consistent across all of its iterations. This makes it more likely that, wherever it appears, people will recognise your logo.

Conclusion

You can leave a lasting impression on your customers and potential customers by using your logo to increase brand recognition. Your logo can give your brand credibility and brand loyalty, giving you an advantage in the marketplace. You can position your company as a market leader in your industry with a strong logo design, which will help you stand out from the competition and grow your business. To get assistance creating the most memorable logo for you, get in touch with DesignLab.

Why is Website Development beneficial to your company in 2023?

 

Every brand and company needs a website in the current digital era. Given how much time users spend on websites and social media, designers have started to move their businesses online to take advantage of digital marketing.

You can create a store on your website to sell your products in a specific online market. Being one of about a million results in a Google search can make you feel a little insignificant as a designer. Don't let this discourage you, though. A company that doesn't have a website is missing out on numerous customer opportunities. It takes time and effort to make your company and website stand out, but the rewards you will get in the form of conversions will be worth the effort.

1. A website contributes to greater brand awareness

Your brand is promoted to your target market via the website. The most crucial thing you must do to stand out from your competitors in the market is to make it clear who you are, what you stand for, and precisely what purpose you are serving.

Through your brand awareness, you can explain to your customers how and where you differ from your rivals. Customers learn about you as a result, and they are then more likely to make purchases from you. It can be challenging to inform the audience about trustworthy products and services without a website. As a result, one of the primary justifications for why your company needs a website is to raise brand awareness.

2. Your brand's official face

For new design brands, having a platform that accurately represents your brand is essential. The history and brand story of your business will be presented on this website. Many prospective customers are interested in the history of the brand and the products. Your website will humanise the company and make it easier for your customers to relate to you.

3. Websites demonstrate web presence

If you don't have a website, how will customers know you're a real business? Is a company with a website more likely to entice you to make a purchase than one without? The solution is obvious. So, you should make this online investment if you want your brand to succeed.

A website is required to demonstrate your online presence and strengthen the credibility of your brand. It shows potential clients that you take your work seriously and have something to offer each client. Furthermore, if you don't have a website, you are only partially effective. Customers expect businesses to have websites where they can educate themselves about their offerings, respond to customer feedback, and find testimonials from satisfied clients. A website is the ideal online marketing tool for attracting new customers and providing social proof.

4. Take control of the Story

Although you don't have much control over how other people see you, telling your story online can help build your brand's reputation. A website is a much more effective marketing tool for brands when it comes to communicating their voice, goal, and mission than print advertisements or emails. It makes sense that you would want to influence how the client views you. This is only possible with a well-designed website. You have the ability to influence the story and general aesthetic of your brand.

Many things about you could be said about you in the age of social media without your knowledge. However, if you run the website for your business, you write your own narrative. It will also be useful for damage control.

5. Increases ROI

Increasing return on investment (ROI) is undoubtedly one of your top priorities if your brand is successful. Having a website will help you because there are many ways to make sure it is improving and giving you the best return on investment. The following are some examples:

• Spend a lot of money on SEO (search engine optimization) to increase the visibility of your website on SERPs.

• When developing your website, be sure to take the target audience into account. People are more likely to click on your website if it is positioned higher in the search results. Additionally, you have a better chance of turning them into customers or clients after they visit your website.

•  Use calls to action (CTAs) wisely on your website. Using a call to action (CTA), you can instruct website users on what they should do next.

6. Enables more helpful conversations

All too frequently, conversations devolve into pointless debates. This happens because you have to express your ideas clearly and succinctly. However, if you have a website, you can avoid these issues by taking part in more constructive discussions. A website is a tool for expressing your ideas to a global audience. You can have more fruitful conversations with your clients, guests, and co-workers because of a website.

Making a purposeful website will give you the opportunity to engage in more beneficial conversations. It offers a central location for all of your brand's data. You aren't as dependent on jumbled up documents and emails.

It is also simpler to distribute information when there is a website. You can publish content like articles that anyone with an internet connection can read. This makes it simple to hold interesting conversations about crucial issues.

7. Compete with other industry titans

You can compete with the leading companies in your field if you have a website. A website that has been optimised will be much more noticeable and appear at the appropriate time.

A website levels the playing field, enabling small businesses to flourish in the competitive marketplace of today. The biggest benefit is that it allows you to compete against a few other industry titans who have significantly more financial resources than you do. You can sell your goods and services online and reach a larger audience thanks to a website.

8. Your offers can be displayed on a website

It is one of the primary justifications for why your company requires a website. Your target audience's first encounter with your brand is through your website. So, it is entirely up to you how to position your company online. Through your website, you can express yourself.

Online presence for your company is guaranteed by websites. It serves as a channel for communicating the most recent updates to your customers through posts. As a result, you can regularly update the catalogue with everything you are doing. A company website would make it simpler for you to quickly update information for your customers, whether it's about a sale promotion or the launch of a new product.

You can offer short video tutorials or downloadable PDF instructions through your website in addition to showcasing your products. By emphasising your accolades and accomplishments, you can convince customers that you are superior to the competition. Displaying all of these on your website demonstrates your industry knowledge, increases customer engagement, and may persuade visitors to get in touch with you.

9. Better customer service is offered by websites

Customers typically call businesses to ask straightforward questions about location and business hours. If you don't answer any of the calls, the customer will be dissatisfied with your service. Calls made while employees are at work also cause them to lose concentration while working on current projects for the business.

The only way to reduce calls and boost overall productivity is with a website. In order to avoid the need for calls from customers and to ultimately offer a great user experience, the website must assist users in finding all relevant information. Customers can get quick answers to their questions by using the contact us form or other website forms. These days the live chatbot option is also trending.

10. You can prominently feature your best testimonials and reviews on your website

For the purpose of establishing social proof, prominently display customer endorsements and reviews on your website. It is also the main justification for why your company requires a website. You can highlight publications about your business that have been published in reputable blogs or in newspapers on your website. Customers check whether the information provided on the website is trustworthy and authenticated by reading reviews and customer feedback. Even if a third party later deletes the reviews, you can still access them permanently on your website. If your business is service-based, you can create a separate section of client testimonials and reviews.

To sum up

We hope that this blog post explains why, in 2023 or in the future, your company will need a website. Once your website goes live, you begin to experience a number of additional advantages that vary from domain to domain. An eCommerce website, for instance, can bring in the same amount of money or more during emergencies like pandemics, and a doctor's appointment website offers the ability to manage more patients with fewer staff members and aids in keeping effective patient records.

These are just a few instances, but in today's digital age, every industry can benefit from having a website. Reach out to an experienced website development company and request a consultation if you intend to launch an appealing, feature-rich website on an online platform. This will help you better understand the entire website development procedure. We sincerely hope you found this blog to be educational; if you still have any questions, please get in touch. We are pleased to add to our website development guide.

What significant role does UX/UI play in customer engagement?

 

Everyone wants to experience the best technology in the 21st century, but they don't want to spend too much time or strain their already-busy minds doing it. The same is true when using mobile applications or websites for browsing—the quicker and more effectively these tools respond, the better results they produce. In a nutshell, it concerns modern consumers! And most technology companies focus on the user interface (UI) and user experience design (UX) of the applications when it comes to user satisfaction with mobile applications or websites (UX). However, the terms UI and UX are frequently used interchangeably. Consequently, our goal is to explain the meaning behind UI and UX design.

UI design: what is it?

The process of enhancing the presentation and interactivity of a web or mobile application is known as the user interface (UI). It concentrates on the appearance of the app and engages with users. The user interface of an application is represented by each screen, page, button, and other visual component you encounter while using that application.

UX design: what is it?

The process of improving the overall interaction between users and an application or website in order to maximise customer satisfaction is known as user experience (UX) design. It constructs the fundamental framework of any application while keeping customers in mind. It primarily focuses on wireframing an application and properly organising all of its parts and components to create the user flow.

The significance of UI/UX design

Any business's main objective is to boost sales and accelerate business expansion. UX/UI design is crucial to achieving this objective. The application's UI/UI Design improves customer satisfaction and user experience, which ultimately helps to increase the number of users of the specific application.

Given the numerous options and alternatives users have for the goods and/or services you are providing them, you have a limited amount of time to capture their attention, so you need to hit the mark quickly.

By giving customers the experience they want, your application or website will gain their trust and be used more frequently. The success of excellent UI and UX can be determined by the number of users who visit your website or application. Since first impressions last a long time and good UI and UX design can make or break brand recognition, UI and UX design become even more important for start-ups and small businesses.

UI/UX design's essential elements include:

1) Information Architecture

Information architecture, or IA, focuses on achieving business objectives by planning the information structure of an application or website. Regardless of the browser they are using, the IA's main responsibility is to offer its users simple navigation. To create the best top-level navigation menu, the most permutations and combinations are used.

2) Design for Interaction

The goal of interaction design is to develop the conceptual framework through which users will interact with a given product or application. Numerous elements, including aesthetics, colour, font, icons, images, motion, sound, space, graphics, etc., are used in this interaction.

3) Usability

The terms "usability" and "user-friendliness" are interchangeable. Along with determining whether users receive the information they seek when using the app or visiting the website for the first time and whether it is simple to navigate, usability also considers how to deal with errors.

4) Wireframing

Creating a sample of the application to test its features, appearance, and usability before it is actually launched is known as "wireframing." It is an inexpensive way to test functionality and determine whether the application accomplishes its goals.

5) Graphic Design

The visual design of the website or application is similar to defining the company's brand. The visual design is the most crucial part of the UI design because it can influence users' behaviour. Visual design includes not only choosing the best icons, colours, and fonts but also recognising how an application's appearance affects user interaction.

Motives for Having an Effective UX/UI Design for Your App

For the most part, creating an effective UX/UI design for an app is a top priority. In order to understand the needs of your users and the issue you intend to solve with your app, this requires extensive research and advance planning. Whatever your requirements, you will need to create a design that is functional.

1) It increases customer satisfaction, which leads to a higher ROI

Your customers will enjoy the engaging content and simple navigation provided by a great design. This increases the customer's satisfaction with your application's services. Customers who are happy will always tell others about your app. Customers grow as a result of this. Additionally, they will develop brand loyalty and become repeat customers, boosting your company's return on investment.

2) Improves audience comprehension

You must be aware of your clients' needs before developing an UL or UX. This implies that your design was produced with your target audience in mind. Your app will draw the users you intended. Additionally, Ul/UX enables audience segmentation, which is essential to comprehending the preferences of each audience. Understanding your audience makes it simple to turn potential customers into devoted ones, boosting actual sales.

3) Strengthens your brand

Investing in an effective UX/UI design increases customer satisfaction, leading to satisfied customers. Working with brands that make people happy is popular. They will be more apt to suggest features that you can upgrade to, which will encourage you to spend money on enhancing your application. As a result, clients are more likely to develop positive relationships with your business and brand. As a result, the value of your company and brand name will increase.

4) Saves money and time

There is very little chance that your clients will find any issues with your application if you invest in a great UX/UI design. A perfect product will not require frequent upgrades, saving you the money and time necessary to create an update. A financial and time commitment is necessary for upgrading. Your company will suffer losses as a result.

How effective is your mobile app's UX/UI design?

Users of mobile apps prefer those that are more engaging and simple to use. The most popular apps, like WhatsApp, have consistently provided their users with a user-friendly interface and seamless navigation. The first step in creating a successful application is creating one that has an effective UX/UI design. This is so because most app users prefer a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing app to one that has great functionality but a less appealing design.

When using your app, users get a realistic feeling thanks to a great interface. Additionally, it offers them a steady stream of useful information. Your app will continue to attract users as their interest grows, naturally increasing traffic. This will increase conversion rates, which will help your brand name grow. Therefore, it is crucial to work with a skilled UX/UI designer who will make sure that your mobile app is engaging for users.

Which aspect of UI/UX design is more crucial?

Since the two elements are crucial for both website development and ongoing performance optimization, there is a big difference between UI and UX. Without one or the other, your website may skew toward one of the following situations:

1. A visually appealing website that is challenging to navigate and find content and call-to-actions.

2. A user-friendly website with poor visuals that detracts from the user experience and brand positioning.

It is clear from the aforementioned scenarios that a website must be optimised for both UI and UX. The ultimate objective is to provide a wonderful visitor experience, and what

Why is UI/UX design important for business expansion?

Since UI and UX development primarily focuses on the users' satisfaction and enjoyment, it is crucial to the success of the business. From a business's perspective, it is crucial to emphasise user satisfaction in order to develop the company's reputation and brand value. As a highly competitive industry, IT requires UI/UX design services to attract customers and increase sales of the company's goods. It is your and your UI/UX developers' duty to steer users toward their intended destination in the most effective manner, whether they are utilising your applications or browsing one of your websites. UI and UX development has thus grown to be a significant industry.

Conclusion

A very important component of your mobile application is the UI and UX. Your app must have a fantastic user interface and user experience if you want it to be successful. You can make your app more interactive and engaging by being aware of the needs and preferences of your target audience.

Please feel free to get in touch with DesignLab at any time if you have any questions or if you want our assistance in designing the UI and UX for your mobile application. We would be delighted to assist you.

Roles played by the aesthetics and functions of a website

 

Does it really matter how you appear on the outside, or are your mental processes more important? The age-old debate between form and function has been discussed endlessly.

Web design is not exempt as a profession. Since the conception of the website in the early 1990s, discussions on the significance of both aspects have been going on. How could you, as a site owner, strike a balance between the two? What are the inquiries that you ought to be asking yourself? What part do both play, and how significant are they to the audience of today?

But do the same "aesthetics first" guidelines apply when it comes to the design of your website, or do users care more about what's going on behind the curtain? We thought it was time to enter the debate on function vs. form with a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy before coming to our own conclusions about the relative importance of form and function in web design.

Aesthetics

"Good design is about how something works, not about how it looks or feels," the late Steve Jobs once said. Although the majority of us are unlikely to disagree with the man who built the most valuable brand in the world on the strength of good design, this hasn't stopped a lot of website designers from attempting to win over their audience by prioritising aesthetics over functionality. And it has had some success in this oh-so-superficial age in which we live. So what are the advantages of this strategy?

The Benefits

1) Attract attention right away

It's crucial that your website design sparks immediate interest given the number of websites vying for the same customers. Users decide whether to stay on your website and form an opinion in just 50 milliseconds, or 0.05 seconds if you're counting. All they have to go on during that time is the appearance of your website. Therefore, highly noticeable, high-quality images that leave a lasting impression on your visitors can persuade them to stay.

2) Be distinct from the crowd

The customer will undoubtedly value a functional website, but it won't help set your company apart from the competition. To stand out, you'll need to rely on other elements of your branding strategy or marketing mix. An attractive website will help you stand out in the field and establish an online presence that is memorable for the right reasons.

3) Make connections

Having a website that is visually appealing can help you build relationships with your visitors. You're one step closer to a sale if website visitors find something on your site that they like and can relate to. We all like to use our sense of fashion, pastimes, and interests to define who we are. A website that appeals to these choices can be very persuasive.

4) Incite a feeling

The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" is one that we've all heard, and it holds especially true online. We don't want to waste time reading while browsing the web. We want to be able to quickly decide based on what we observe without doing any work. A visually appealing website really shines in this situation. A user can be stopped in their tracks by a website that uses visual elements to convey complex emotions like happiness, delight, sadness, and even pity.

The Drawbacks

1) Slow loading times can cause issues

Users are happier on faster websites. That is true. Numerous studies have shown that visitors will stay on a website for a shorter period of time if it responds slowly. Users may leave websites that rely heavily on videos or high-resolution images simply because they take longer to load.

2) You might complicate matters too much

The assumption made by website designers that all users have the same level of computer literacy is unfounded. You run the risk of alienating specific customer groups, especially older users, by incorporating elements into your website that are not commonly used.

Functionality

Websites that prioritise functionality over aesthetics can sometimes provide advantages over more intricate, aesthetically pleasing websites. While intricate designs may look the part, there are definite benefits functionality can offer if your goal is to make your website discoverable, usable, and accessible.

The Benefits

1) Conversions come first

Maintaining simplicity is the key to designing a website that converts effectively. Less design elements make it easier to direct the user's attention to the most important component of the page, which is most likely your call to action.

2) Easy to use

In order to understand how your website functions, your users don't have time to look past your eye-catching images, animations, and designs. A well-designed navigation system makes it simple, quick, and seamless for users to access the information they need, guiding them from their initial visit to the conversion.

3) Quick loading times

The user experience is critically dependent on how quickly a website loads. Twenty percent of visitors will leave your website in the first four to five seconds if it takes that long for it to load. Faster load times also help websites rank higher in search results. Reducing the number of graphics, images, and complex layouts on your website will increase its visibility.

4) Mobile-friendly

Your website must function just as well on a smartphone as it does on a desktop device because the majority of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. A simple, functional design will work better on smaller screens than one that is visually complex.

The Drawbacks

1) There isn't a lot of wow

Websites that are solely functional run the risk of being classified as "just another corporate website." It can be advantageous to incorporate a few stylistic design elements if you want to draw in younger users.

2) There is only one more name left in the crowd

Playing it safe with your website design is a waste of an excellent opportunity to distinguish yourself from competitors in your industry. You’ll need to consider alternative strategies to distinguish your company if you're not going to be bold with the design of your website.

Which is more important: aesthetics or function?

It would be simple to claim that functionality is the most crucial element. Without the impact of aesthetic usability, functionality could win out. But this effect is too strong to ignore, and it only applies in rare circumstances. You should definitely consider aesthetics when creating a new website or app. Your users might disregard your company if it doesn't have a well-designed layout.

Recall what we said at the beginning when we talked about the aesthetic usability effect? When it comes to functionality, aesthetic appeal has the ability to mask flaws.

Finding a balance between design and functionality is advised, though. It is not a good idea to give one up for the other, especially when you are first starting out. You should keep in mind your objectives, such as engagement, metrics, traffic, user experience, and other aspects, as you design the layout.

Do Form and Function Always Follow Each Other?

For decades, the infamous adage "Form always follows function" by American architect Louis Sullivan has been celebrated in the design community. In essence, this is still true: a visually appealing website that doesn't fulfil its intended purpose won't be of much use to users.

How Much Aesthetics Is Too Much?

Form and aesthetics have consolidated their status as deciding elements in consumers' purchasing decisions in the visual and digital age. Digital products' branding and packaging may occasionally take precedence over their technical specifications; sales and revenue are evidence of this consumer behaviour. You can overdo the importance of design in the fiercely competitive world of design.

The pressure to be minimal and to repeat the maxim "less is more" can lead to the removal of crucial and essential functionalities from your site. Consider an e-commerce site that is intended to detail each product in great detail from every angle and in numerous shots. Although this website might have a lot of photos and be visually appealing, it might lack a crucial feature that a user would need to compare prices on products before making a purchase. The last thing you want is for your users to experience your gorgeous website negatively.

Make a choice that is in line with your brand

The balance is the key when weighing functionality vs. aesthetics. Of course, depending on your branding, you can choose to give one more importance than the other. Users understand there is no harm in positioning oneself as more inclined to provide form or functionality. But how would you know when to begin changing your course away from where you are going?

DesignLab specialises in user interface websites and website design services. It is time to tell us about your project or have a conversation with us about what we can do if you or your client is interested in developing a website. You may contact us anytime in case of any query.