Take advantage of some proven design strategies

The most successful IOS applications are often thoughtful, iterative design results. When the developer focuses on the main task and makes the functionality more refined, it is possible to create an excellent user experience. This section summarizes the strategies that can help you improve your ideas, review design options, and focus on the applications that users will appreciate.

Refine the Feature list. Identify the application's capabilities and target users as early as possible during the design process. Use this definition (called an application definition statement) to filter out unnecessary functionality and to guide the application's style. Although, the more features the application the better the idea is tempting, many times, it is a negative. The best application, usually focused on a primary task, provides only those features that the user needs to complete the task.

Designed for the device. In addition to integrating the IOS user interface and user experience patterns, make sure your application runs on the device. If you plan to develop a generic application (that is, an application that runs on both the IPhone and the IPad), this means that you must design a different UI for each device, even if most of the underlying code can be the same. Similarly, if you plan to use Web-based content, it is necessary to redesign the content so that it looks and feels like a native application.

Properly customized. Each application includes some custom UI (even if only in its app Store icon). The IOS SDK lets you customize all aspects of your UI, and it's up to you to decide how many customizations are appropriate. The best applications will be custom-made with purpose-specific and easy-to-use considerations. Ideally, you want users to feel that your app is different, while appreciating its intuitive and easy-to-use, consistent with other applications.

Prototypes and Iterations. Once you've decided what features to include, you can start creating testable prototypes. Early prototypes do not need to show real UI or artwork, nor do they need to deal with real content. However, they need to give testers an accurate idea of how the application is used. In the testing process, pay special attention to where the tester tried but failed, because these attempts can expose the behavior that the application should have but not implemented. Continue testing until you're satisfied that the user can easily understand how the application is being used and can manipulate all of the functionality.

Take advantage of some proven design strategies