These days, mobile application design means a lot of things. UX designers are tasked with creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to define not only the look and feel of the app (layout, color scheme, typography, iconography), but the structure and intended functionality (navigation and flow) as well. But that’s not all – as a UX designer you could also be tasked with conducting user research, designing an app icon, creating custom assets, defining interactions, communicating with developers and stakeholders, and more. That’s a lot to keep track of!
It may sound like a lot, but more and more software companies are realizing that it’s worth the effort. A study conducted by Forrester Research found that investing in mobile application design can yield a return of up to 9,900%. According to the report, companies that prioritized UX design had reduced customer acquisition costs, increased customer retention, and captured a higher market share. In a study of 15 publicly traded US companies, the Design Management Institute found that design-driven companies outperformed the S&P Index by 211% over a ten-year period.
Investing in user experience can lead to
- Increased customer satisfaction – By understanding what your users need and want, you’ll be better prepared to deliver them experiences that meet their expectations
- Improved customer retention – When users have positive experiences, they’re more likely to stick around – and recommend your product to others.
- Enhanced brand reputation – A positive experience with your product will in turn lead to an overall increase in appreciation for your brand.
- Increased Revenue – As we noted above, investing in UX can pay dividends! It’s a financially sound decision to focus on design when developing software products as it can lead to an increase in revenue from ads, sales, and other funnels for revenue.