How product managers design small screens

In 1997, it was a spring. An old man drew a circle on the edge of the South China Sea. This circle was painted in our big Shenzhen City! The person who draws the circle is Comrade Xiaoping.

In the spring of 2014, the popularization of mobile devices has become another revolution in the development of the Internet. We draw one circle after another on various small screens, the user's mobile experience is becoming better without intention, because more and more websites have begun to design mobile devices, and designers also understand what is more suitable for small screens. However, there are still many obstacles to performing task operations on mobile phones.

If you are suffering from this problem, follow these steps:

First, even the 4G download time problem still exists. Second, users hate to need a large number of download websites because they need to pay for it, once again, even experienced mobile users visit the full website through mobile terminals, which is no different from ordinary users. This means that users still have high failures throughout the mobile experience.

From the perspective of devices, the main mobile devices in the market can be divided into functional mobile phones, smart phones, and full-screen mobile phones.

(Note: Functional mobile phones are basic functions and do not have function extensions or few extensions. The biggest difference is smart phones. Function phones generally have a long waiting time and are relatively stable.

Smart Phone: Like a personal computer, it has an independent operating system and an independent operating space. Users can install software, games, navigation, and other programs provided by third-party service providers, mobile communication networks can also be used to achieve wireless network access.

Full screen mobile phone: Also known as a touch screen mobile phone. Its biggest feature is its ultra-large screen. Using the touch screen technology, this technology is applied to an intelligent mobile phone on the screen of the mobile phone. Is currently the most popular mobile phone category .)

To achieve higher user performance, we should design a different experience for each mobile device type: the smaller the screen, the fewer functions, and the simpler the design.

How to Design small screens?

When designing a mobile device, pay attention to the following two points:

1. Whether content and navigation are obvious enough, so users do not have to spend learning costs.

2. Design small screens and slow download speeds.

These two points explain why all mobile websites must follow the characteristics of the target website.

The mobile screen is so small that you waste so much space, does your mother know?

Figure 2 shows more news, which is actually used by people. Figure 1 adds a step-by-step operation for users. Although it looks nice, it is flashy. Why do users prefer common and boring designs in daily use? This is because this design allows users to see more content at a glance.

In the second case, the screen space of the iPad is wasted successfully. The screen space of most weather information is arranged at the bottom, and the space of most screens is decorated with a pure picture, this default design is boring.

More options for one content presentation

If two different presentations of the same data are redundant, the designer usually does not know which one is more suitable for the user. Therefore, two solutions are provided for the user to choose. To use two interfaces for data, the only reasonable situation is that the two interfaces must emphasize that they have different directions.

The Meituan interface consists of a list view and a map view. The two interfaces allow users to view different directions. The list includes detailed information and prices, while the map displays the geographical location of the restaurant.

The iBook also shows two types of display, but you will find that one interface is obviously better than the other. Facts show that the List interface allows users to easily identify the books and authors, or use titles for quick search. The list is sorted by letter quickly, but not on the shelf. When a large number of books exist, it is also possible to quickly search through the book cover.

Don't let virtual elements grab the ground

The so-called virtual design element refers to the command that the user provides information about the screen content or operates the content. These virtual elements are usually provided by the underlying system. For example, the virtual element on the PC end is various commands of the PC, such as the taskbar and System Tray area. The menu bar and toolbar in the software PS tool.

The cost of using these virtual elements on the Mobile End is obvious. They occupy space and compress the content area.

In Figure 1, you will find that these virtual elements make the effective content appear less, but they will also overlap with some elements that come with the system, the accumulated virtual elements usually occupy half of the screen space. It is also dangerous to temporarily hide these elements, because users usually ignore invisible parts. What should I do ?!!!

In fact, as long as you treat them well, they will naturally return you with a better attitude:

1. Consider making these virtual elements simpler and more effective

2. provide consistency from beginning to end, so that users can remember that these virtual operations are hidden, and their operations can be repeated. 3. Reduce the complexity of hiding by context prompts and progressive exposure methods based on incorrect content falls.

The path is hidden from the menu in the early stage. The long-term use has cultivated users' cognition of this virtual element. You must repeat this operation during use.

The default status tool of the reader is hidden. You can refer to the page flip page by mistake and click the screen calling tool.

Where is the time?-the secret of the download time

Imagine if you have used all the space well, but wait for a long time, the user will not forgive you. Therefore, it is critical to minimize the interaction process cost when designing for mobile devices.

1. Let the operation flow line, the fewer interfaces you need to download, the better. For example, if the content is already stored on the mobile phone, you do not need to download information from the server.

2. Load only the required information, that is, the value information useful to the user.

3. Do not abuse images. The more images, the slower the download speed. (PS: Maybe this is one of the reasons why mobile terminals are flat)

4. provide feedback to users. For example, you need to know the status of your download, so that even though they cannot completely solve the problem, it can be mitigated a little.

Can users be retained to improve the success rate if the above problems are solved? Others ~~

Please refer to the last move!

Early registration and high threshold must be avoided

One of the most important principles of a mobile application is to prevent users from registering in the first step. In the early stage, users did not establish a good understanding of such products. In the early stage, it was wrong to require user registration. It should be noted that the user's initial investment in your application is very low. Unless you are too popular and worthy of registration.

Let's take a look at several cases:

In Figure 1, the first step is to ask the user to fill in the information, resulting in a high loss rate. Because the user does not know your information at the beginning, why do you want others to fill in the information. Figure 2 Force user registration. Why do you want to register ?! Many people leave the application and never touch it. In this way, you lose a good first impression on others.

The example shows a reasonable experience:

1. display the information required by the user

2. allow users to make their own orders

3. display the price information and the corresponding order time.

4. Accept the order. At this time, you must enter registration and other relevant information, just right.

If you can consider the above ideas in mobile design, I believe that your mobile design will become more sincere, in fact, more users just want to see the services you have tailored for them. This is just like Comrade Xiaoping defined Shenzhen as a special economic zone for reform and opening up, and enjoyed economic privileges. Such a sincere circle created today's Shenzhen.

Deep feelings, not deep drinks

Make clothes for you with sincerity

How product managers design small screens