The Difference Between Designing for the Web and Native Mobile Apps

We've noticed that design beginners often times mistakenly approach designing for one platform in the same way they would approach designing for another platform. Whether you're interested in designing websites or native mobile apps, it's important to understand that each platform requires a unique approach and set of considerations. In this post, we'll break down some of the key differences between designing for the web and designing for native mobile apps.

Designing for the Web

When designing for the web, there are several factors you must consider. First, web design is often centered around the concept of responsive design. This means that websites must look and function well across a range of devices, from large desktop monitors to smaller mobile phone screens. As a designer, you'll need to ensure your layouts can fluidly change and adjust based on the device it's being viewed on.

Websites are typically accessed via a web browser, providing you with more freedom in your design. You aren't bound by the stricter rules and guidelines associated with native mobile apps, but this freedom doesn't mean best practices should be disregarded. Consistent navigation, legible typography, and clear calls to action are still integral for an effective website design.

A fundamental aspect of web design is understanding the concept of pages. Websites usually have multiple pages, each containing different pieces of information. It's crucial to ensure these pages are organized logically and information is presented clearly to the user.

Designing for Native Mobile Apps

In contrast to web design, native mobile apps are standalone applications that users download directly to their devices from app stores. These apps must meet the standards and guidelines set by the respective platform. Apple's App Store requires apps to follow the Human Interface Guidelines, and apps on the Google Play Store should adhere to Material Design principles.

These guidelines touch on everything from app architecture to visual design, interaction design, and usability. Understanding these guidelines is crucial, as it significantly impacts how your app is designed, developed, and interacted with.

Mobile app design comes with its unique set of considerations. Screen real estate is limited, so it's important to prioritize content and functionality carefully. Additionally, you must also consider native device features, like GPS, accelerometers, and push notifications, as these can deeply affect your app's user experience.

In the context of native mobile apps, instead of pages, we talk about screens. Each screen represents a step in the user's journey and should be designed to facilitate the user's goals efficiently.

The Process

The differences outlined above directly influence the design process. For instance, testing in web design often involves checking the design on different browsers and device sizes, whereas testing a mobile app requires emulator software or actual hardware testing on different device models.

Accessibility considerations also vary. While both web and mobile designers must ensure their designs are accessible to all users, they have different guidelines to follow and different techniques to implement.

Similarly, best practices and design patterns differ across platforms. Web design leverages common elements like menus, hyperlinks, and forms, while mobile app design leans on platform-specific patterns, such as navigation drawers, tab bars, and gesture-based interactions.

Closing Thoughts

Despite these differences, both web design and mobile app design share a common goal: to create a satisfying, intuitive, and accessible user experience. Understanding the unique requirements and considerations of each platform will allow you to be more effective and versatile as a designer.

Just remember that designing for one platform is not the same as designing for another platform. In other words, just because you can design for one platform doesn't mean you can design for another. With that said, whether you choose to design for the web, native mobile apps, or both, what matters most is your commitment to learning and adapting. The digital world is dynamic and fast-paced, and the best designers are those who aren't afraid to learn and evolve with it. Hit us up if you have any questions!