Just wondering if any TalkGraphics people have got involved in designing mobile apps? I have an opportunity to get into it, but not sure where to start (don't want to do manual coding).
Jim
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Just wondering if any TalkGraphics people have got involved in designing mobile apps? I have an opportunity to get into it, but not sure where to start (don't want to do manual coding).
Jim
I have made a few Jim.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimhanus
Paul
How does it compare to building websites? Were they template-based or from scratch? I would like to see them. I'm trying to retire but have a hard time passing up an income stream!Quote:
Originally Posted by pauland
Jim
It's completely different. All buttons need to be a minimal size because people use fingers not mice. The design is catered to a specific form factor - mobile and/or tablet. Designs must adapt if possible to different device size ratios. If there is a footer button bar, it's generally pinned to the bottom and scrollable content will scroll between the header and footer.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimhanus
Care must be take about how the app is used.Often people are using the app single handed so it's good if most functions can be operated with a thumb. Unlike a desktop text/number entry may need a keyboard to pop-up so it's desirable to allow pages to scroll to enable the entry field to be visible.
There are various conventions for editing lists, drilling down into details, deleting entries etc.
If you are going to design mobile stuff you really need to be at home using apps and knowing the feel of how they operate.
That said, many of my apps are from client designs and can be very unconventional. Other times I make them from design to appstore submission. The majority of my clients are small businesses or design houses who can do most of the design but can't make it work. There is no 'typical' app that I make. Often I just get the difficult bits to program when the client is making the app themselves but needs help with it. Many of my clients appear then disappear as their business ideas don't work out.
Take a look here: https://www.ipauland.com/portfolio-ios.html
Always from a client design/storyboard or from scratch.Quote:
Were they template-based or from scratch?
Paul
Nice clean design work Paul.
(The image for Dan Mitchell Comedy is either broken or missing.)
Thanks Gary. The website needs a good spruce-up.Quote:
Originally Posted by gwpriester
Dan Mitchell has since moved on so I should remove him.
Paul
Jim, you may find this interesting - inspiring app designs to look at. You can see how apps differ from websites. Probably the key is that apps usually have a distinct purpose and often manipulate data rather than just display it.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/p...0design&eq=app
Paul
Ok Paul,
Not knowing anything about this so I have to ask. What are you using to develop the app? Do you make the screens up in Xara and then develop the code for the buttons or something else?
Ray
I generally create iPhone and iPad apps and for that I use Apple's development environment XCode and use their development language Swift.Quote:
Originally Posted by RKissane
In the past I have created cross-platform Apps (for iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets) using Adobe Animate-CC (I used to specialise as a Flash Developer).
I have created one Web application using Tumult Hype, but also use that software for in-app animation sometimes.
I used Xara for many years for various applications and it was fine. These days I predominately use a Mac and I use a superb bit of software (Sketch) for creating new designs and also for preparing artwork for use in an application. If you compare Sketch to Xara you could say that generally Xara is far more capable, but Sketch beats it hands-down in developing UI designs and preparing artwork for use in Apps or websites. Sketch fits a niche very well. It can also create simple prototypes.Quote:
Do you make the screens up in Xara and then develop the code for the buttons or something else?
Ray
The behaviour of the app is coded in Xcode. Xcode brings together graphical assets and a coding environment. Generally apps are far more complex than websites.
I recently did a revamp of an app - Kay-say-n-match, which is designed to be used with an adult to prepare young children in taking an eye test. The graphics are not arbitrary but based on a proprietary eye test and the app compliments the work of opticians using that test.
The graphics were prepared in Sketch, character animation was either supplied in video format, or I animated the cartoon animation that is part of the UI itself using Tumult Hype. Xcode brings all those elements together. The UI is highly animated, with buttons positioned using code and the sizes and layout adapt to the display format.
This is a simple looking app but is very complex behind the scenes, animated in code and also using flip-book techniques as well as video. The app has been very challenging, mostly because of the need to interrupt graphic sequences mid-way and return to a consistent state afterwards.
Anyone can try the app to get a flavour of what I do. It's a free download on the Apple IOS Appstore (ignore the paid-for section). https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kay-sa...h/id1293751403
My App development is all over the place in terms of scope and you can see how different website design can be from app design when you look at kay-say-n match. Most people would imagine animation is confined to games, but that's far from the truth.
Paul
Apologies for the long post!
Paul,
Excellent reply. Sounds like a lot of work and I can see that every project can open up a whole host of different objects to overcome.
Ray