How can you use cards to improve mobile UI design?

1 What are the benefits of cards?

Cards are a great mobile UI element to use as they can break down complex information into easily understandable chunks. They provide a consistent and familiar layout across different screens and platforms, as well as encouraging user engagement with clear feedback, such as animations, shadows, or gestures. Additionally, cards are highly adaptable to different content types and user preferences, like vertical or horizontal orientation, grid or list view, or dark or light mode.

2 How to design cards for mobile?

Designing cards that are effective and user-friendly requires following some basic principles. To ensure success, you should use cards for discrete and independent units of information that can either stand alone or be grouped together. Additionally, keep cards simple and concise, avoiding unnecessary details or clutter. Images, icons, or colors are great for attracting attention and conveying meaning, but don't overload the card with visuals. Typography, hierarchy, and contrast should be used to highlight the most important information and guide the user's eye. Lastly, whitespace, margins, and padding should be used to create breathing space and separation between cards and other elements.

3 How to arrange cards for mobile?

When arranging cards in your mobile app, you need to consider the number of cards per screen, the alignment of cards, the spacing between cards, and the order of cards. The number of cards depends on the screen size, card size, and content density. Cards can be either horizontal or vertical depending on content type and user preference. The spacing should be consistent and proportional to the card size and screen width. The card order should follow a logical sequence such as chronological, alphabetical, or based on relevance or popularity.

4 How to animate cards for mobile?

Animations can add life and personality to your cards, as well as provide feedback and affordance to the user, but should be used sparingly and purposefully. When animating cards, opt for subtle and smooth transitions, such as fading, sliding, or flipping, to show the user how the cards change or move. Interaction with the cards should be enabled by clear and distinct gestures like tapping, swiping, or pinching. Additionally, realistic and consistent physics like gravity, friction, or inertia should be employed to make the cards behave naturally and intuitively. Lastly, ensure appropriate and coherent timing, duration, and speed are used to match the user's expectations and the app's context.

5 How to personalize cards for mobile?

Personalization can make your cards more relevant and appealing to your users, as well as increase their retention and loyalty. You can use data and analytics such as location, behavior, or preferences to tailor the content and appearance of the cards to the user's needs and interests. Additionally, feedback and ratings like likes, comments, or stars can be used to show the user how others have interacted with the cards and to encourage social sharing and discovery. Customization and settings like filters, sorting, or themes allow the user to adjust the cards to their liking and mood. Moreover, gamification and rewards such as badges, points, or levels can motivate the user to engage with the cards and to achieve their goals.

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?