Complete Beginner's Guide on How to make Minimal Apps

Posted by Parangat Technologies on December 9th, 2019

Over the last few years, Minimalism as a concept has gained immense popularity. 

Gone are the days when more was considered merrier! There is a shift towards a more simplistic way of life, and this stands true even for the mobile applications that we use. But before we dwell on this part of our conversation, let us first explain to you what minimalism means exactly.

So here the question is what is a minimal app? 

"Minimal is an art of creating easy to navigate applications, where people don't have to use manual to understand all the features. Or further, we can say most minimum elements are used to create all the features where there is no scope of removing elements"

This definition pretty much explains the idea behind designing minimalism apps. App designers around the world, especially UI/UX design services companies in UK, are focusing their attention on this new age concept of creating apps that are basic yet full-fledged. 

The main objective behind creating Minimalistic design apps is to increase efficiency while at the same time, reducing the cost, time, and energy involved. Minimalism design apps are more user-friendly, which means they have the following characteristics: 

• They are easy to understand

• Navigating through apps is convenient

• Content is written in an easy to read style

• Loading time is super-fast

• Visually more appealing, with a lot of images and videos

Features to Focus on in a Minimal Design App

When it comes to creating minimal design apps, app developers have a lot riding on their shoulders. The dilemma of what to and what not to include is daunting. To make the task a little easier for you, we have mentioned below a few features that you can include in your app to create the right blend. 

1. Go for Flat-Design over Artificial-Design: Ever looked at Instagram and wondered how simple yet attractive the app looks! The chief designer of Instagram, ShadmanAhmed, decided for the app to have a flat design, and the idea became such a phenomenal success. Flat design UIs have bright colors infused with two-dimensional elements, including simple textures and very few visual effects. This basic design concept does not reduce the quality of the app and is, therefore, both attractive and desirable.

2. Work on the Color Pattern: There is not much to experiment with when working on minimalist design apps. Therefore, developers should focus their attention on every minute detail possible, including the color pattern. In minimal apps, you should avoid experimenting with a lot of hues, as it can make the apps look clustered. Instead, opt for either monochromatic or analogous colors. 

3. Fonts and Writings Styles: Written words speak volumes about your work, and this is particularly true for minimal apps. The challenge here is to express with clarity while using limited words and styling techniques. Always make sure that you use fonts from a single font family, else it would look excessively casual. A great way of overcoming this challenge is to use typography tools.

4. Use the Negative Space wisely: Negative space or more popularly called white space has always been a much-debated topic among developers. While a few developers consider white space as a further waste of already less space, the opinion of the majority is in its favor. White space between different elements of the user interface makes it look more clear and systematic. Negative space saves the app from the crowding of information. 

5. For the Visual Treat Use Icons: The best way to express your idea through visual representation is by designing in-app icons. These icons help in reducing the use of more words, use less space, and are visually more appealing.

Best Examples of Minimal Apps

1. Instagram: The app went through a total revamping when its designer thought of turning the app into a minimal one. It is not just the logo that changed, but a lot of other elements were either modified or removed completely. Although these changes made the app more user-friendly and engaging.

2. Twitter: The app is a perfect example of simple yet full of functions. Although the user-interface is pretty basic, the app is full of features, but this in no way means clutter.

3. Google Drive: The app lets you save complex data in different file formats, including documents, images, and videos. Yet, it is one of the most basic apps you would find on your mobile. 

Concluding Remarks

The idea that 'less is more' is the driving force behind the creation of minimal apps. These apps have become a trend nowadays, and if you go with the number of apps that are either getting build on the minimalist concept or getting refurbished, you would know that the concept will keep trending in the future too.