1. Branding: I found the section about branding particularly interesting because of how such a simple difference could make a big difference in user experience. The guideline presents a comparison between recommended and not recommended designs. It was funny to see how the logo and advertisement shout for attention in the “not recommended” example, and I could clearly see how one was much less visually pleasing to look at. I am an Android user, and I feel like I see this “not recommended” version a lot in my Android apps (especially in the apps that exist for Android only). I have an iPad as well so I often compare apps between iOS and Android. Now that I think about it, it seems like apps on my iPad tend to have far less obtrusive branding and advertisements, compared to apps on my Android phone. A lot of apps on my phone have visually annoying logos and banners everywhere. When it comes to apps that are for both Android and iOS, however, they tend to be more well-designed in terms of user experience. I don’t know the exact reason for these differences between iOS and Android apps. It might just be a coincidence, and perhaps the apps that I install on my phone happen to be the poorly designed ones. Or could there be other reasons?
2. Interactivity and Feedback: It was interesting to see all the standard gestures laid out in one place. I thought it was quite amazing to realize how natural most of these gestures have come to feel. The part about avoiding making up new gestures for productivity apps (in contrast to how new gestures could be an element of fun in game apps) was interesting too. It made me realize how gestures could bring different effects to the users depending on the main purpose of the app.
3. Terminology and Wording: I particularly appreciated the phrase “Every word you display in an app is part of a conversation you have with users.” I thought it was a really nice way to think about text in apps, and made me think of the word “empathy.” Also, the part about considering user’s locale was helpful. It is obvious that there are smartphone users all over the world, but I don’t think I ever thought about it in the context of app design. It was a good reminder for me to be aware of the diversity of users, not just culturally but also geographically. This section also mentions how important the App Store description is in communicating with potential users. When I look back, though, I rarely pay attention to the app descriptions when I’m searching for new apps. My habit is to jump directly to user reviews, and if I find the app interesting, then check if it offers in-app purchases. I’m curious if this is just me or if other users do the same.
Overall, the guideline was informative and it made app design seem like a breeze, even though I am fully aware that is not true. In any case, the guideline helped me think of UI elements that I wasn’t aware of before. It was also fun to look at the visual examples think about the recent graphic trends.