How can you design for emerging mobile technologies?

1 Understand the context

Before you start designing for a new mobile technology, you need to understand the context of use. Who are your users, what are their goals, needs, and pain points, and how does the technology fit into their lives? You also need to consider the environmental factors, such as lighting, noise, privacy, and connectivity, that might affect the usability and accessibility of your design. Conduct user research, create personas, scenarios, and user journeys, and test your assumptions with prototypes and feedback.

2 Define the core features

Once you have a clear picture of the context, you need to define the core features of your mobile design. What are the main tasks and functions that your users want to accomplish with the technology? How can you simplify and prioritize them to create a clear and intuitive user flow? How can you leverage the unique capabilities and constraints of the technology to enhance the user experience? Focus on the essential features that provide value and solve problems for your users, and avoid adding unnecessary complexity or clutter.

3 Design the interface

The next step is to design the interface of your mobile design. This includes the visual, auditory, haptic, and gestural elements that communicate information and feedback to your users. Depending on the technology, you might need to design for different screen sizes, resolutions, orientations, and input methods. You also need to follow the design principles and guidelines of the platform or device you're designing for, such as iOS, Android, or Wear OS. Use consistent and recognizable patterns, icons, colors, fonts, and animations to create a coherent and engaging interface.

4 Optimize the performance

Another important aspect of designing for emerging mobile technologies is optimizing the performance of your design. This means ensuring that your design loads fast, responds quickly, and uses minimal resources. You also need to handle errors, interruptions, and fallbacks gracefully, and provide clear feedback and instructions to your users. Use tools and techniques such as compression, caching, lazy loading, and progressive enhancement to improve the speed and reliability of your design.

5 Test and iterate

The final step is to test and iterate your design with real users and devices. This will help you validate your design decisions, identify issues and bugs, and gather feedback and insights. You can use various methods and tools to test your design, such as usability testing, user interviews, surveys, analytics, and remote testing platforms. Based on the results, you can refine and improve your design until you achieve your desired outcomes and user satisfaction.

By following these six steps, you can design for emerging mobile technologies that offer innovative and delightful mobile experiences to your users. You can also keep learning and exploring new technologies and trends that might shape the future of mobile design.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?