Home > Store

Designing the iPhone User Experience: A User-Centered Approach to Sketching and Prototyping iPhone Apps

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Designing the iPhone User Experience: A User-Centered Approach to Sketching and Prototyping iPhone Apps

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

About

Features

Designing the iPhone User Experience provides an end-to-end overview of the user-centered design process, specifically for iPhone applications. After reading this book you will know how to:

  • Conduct upfront user and competitive research to inform your app’s vision statement, also known as the “Production Definition Statement.”
  • Brainstorm, sketch, and prototype your app concepts. The prototypes covered take many different forms, from simple paper to scripted videos.
  • Refine your app’s user interface and visual design, using best practices based on established design principles.
  • Make your app accessible to individuals with impairments, with specific attention to VoiceOver, the screen reading software built-into the iPhone.
  • Localize your app’s user experience with an emphasis on language, content, and culture.

While the book is focused on the iPhone and iPod touch, many of the principles you will learn here can also be applied to user experience design for the iPad. For example, the research methods in Part II, Defining your iPhone App, and sketching and prototyping in Part III, Developing your App Concept, can also be applied to the iPad. Many sections in Part IV, Refining your App Concept, are also relevant, however, there are some new iPad user interface controls and transitions that are not covered in this book. To learn more, you should take the time to read the iPad Human Interface Guidelines.

Description

  • Copyright 2011
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-321-69943-2
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-321-69943-5

"In her book Designing the iPhone User Experience, Suzanne Ginsburg takes a fresh look at cutting-edge, user-centered design from the perspective of designing mobile user experiences for the iPhone. Her book brings together everything you need to know to design great products for mobile contexts."
—Pabini Gabriel-Petit, UX Strategy & Design Consultant and Publisher and Editor in Chief of UXmatters

“It’s about time! Suzanne Ginsburg takes the best of User-Centered Design (UCD) principles and tweaks them with a dash of mobile and a lot of hints about what it means to implement the Apple Human Interface Guidelines for iPhone. Your idea for an iPhone app has much better chances of being accepted by iPhone owners (and by the iTunes watchdogs guarding entry to the App Store) if you follow even half of the suggestions in this book.”
—Nancy Frishberg, Ph.D., User Experience Strategist and past Chair of BayCHI



Given the fiercely competitive state of the iPhone app landscape, it has become increasingly challenging for app designers and developers to differentiate their apps. The days are long gone when it was possible to crank out an app over the weekend and refine it after receiving a few not so flattering user reviews. Users now have choices -- lots of them. If your app is difficult to use or doesn’t meet their needs, finding another one is just a tap away.

To illustrate, consider the ever-growing field of Twitter clients. There are hundreds of variations in the App Store but only a handful stand out from the pack (such as Tweetie or Twitterific). For most apps, it boils down to one thing: the user experience. The same is true for countless other categories within the App Store; well-designed apps are more likely to attract and retain users. Of course there are other critical aspects of iPhone app development: the coding, the marketing, the customer support. All of the elements must come together.

Designing the iPhone User Experience will help you tackle the user experience part of the iPhone challenge. Three key themes will be reinforced throughout the book: Know thy user, the Design Lifecycle, and Attention to Detail:

  • Know Thy User
    Millions of people depend on iPhone apps to get them to work, find their next meal, and stay in touch with family and friends. Professionals of all kinds also rely on iPhone apps: doctors look up drug interactions; photographers fine-tune lighting; cyclists find the best routes. To truly understand how your apps can fit into their lives, designers and developers must learn how users do things today, what’s important to them, and what needs have not been met. Part II, Introduction to User Research, will introduce a variety of user research methods.
  • The Design Lifecycle
    Award-winning designs rarely happen overnight; they usually only occur after many rigorous design cycles. To illustrate this point, consider USA TODAY's iPhone application, which went through at least seven iterations for the article view in their app. These kinds of iterations should happen before you launch your app, since it will save valuable time and money, not to mention the headaches a bad design could create for your user. More importantly, you may only have one chance to impress your users -- you do not want to sell them half-baked ideas. Part III, Developing your App Concept, will explain how to iteratively design and test your app concepts.
  • Attention to Detail
    Most professionals know that attention to detail is important, but hundreds of apps fail to incorporate even the most basic design principles. This lack of attention is not merely an aesthetic issue (which is important) it also affects the way apps function. For example, a news article without proper alignment will be difficult to read, and a poorly rendered icon will be challenging to interpret. Apps with a razor sharp attention to detail will stand out because their apps will look good and perform well. Part IV, Refining your App Concept, will show you how to make to your app shine, from visual design and branding to accessibility and localization.

Mastering these three areas will help set your app apart from the crowd. You may not have an award-winning app over night. But knowing your users, iterative design, and attention to detail are important first steps.

Extras

Author's Site

The following resources are available as companion content for this book:

www.ginsburg-design.com
www.iphoneuxreviews.com
Twitter acct: @suzanneginsburg

Case Studies

Download Designing the iPhone User Experience: Case Studies

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Designing the iPhone User Experience: Prototyping App Concepts

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 7 and Index)

Table of Contents

Preface xv

We’d Like to Hear from You xxvii

Acknowledgments xxix

About the Author xxxi

Part One: iPhone Application and Device Overview 1

Chapter 1: iPhone Application Overview 3

Utility Apps 4

Productivity Apps 7

Immersive Applications 12

Summary 17

Chapter 2: iPhone Device Overview 19

Reviewing the iPhone and iPod Touch’s Features 20

Multi-Touch Display 21

Light, Proximity, and Motion Sensors 27

Location and Compass Information 29

Bluetooth 30

Still and Video Cameras 31

Microphone and Speaker 33

Summary 35

Part Two: Defining Your iPhone App 37

Chapter 3: Introduction to User Research 39

Common User Research Questions 40

Shadowing and User Interviews 43

Documenting User Interviews 47

Diary Studies 49

Choosing a Research Method 53

Planning Your Research 54

Recruiting 60

Facilitating Interviews 63

Related Research Activities 67

Summary 67

Chapter 4: Analyzing User Research 69

Share the Wealth 70

Analyze Notes 71

Document Implications and Ideas 74

Report Findings 75

Create Design Tools 79

Revise the Product Definition Statement 86

Summary 86

Case Study 1: Windspire 88

Case Study 2: Aardvark Mobile 90

Chapter 5: Evaluating the Competition 93

Benefits 94

Apps to Include 95

Methods 95

Choosing a Method 105

Impact on the Product Definition Statement 106

Summary 107

Part Three: Developing Your App Concept .109

Chapter 6: Exploring App Concepts 111

Creating a Design-Friendly Environment 112

Effective Brainstorming 113

Sketching Your Concepts 117

Common Questions 128

Summary 129

Case Study 3: Foodspotting 130

Case Study 4: Not For Tourists 132

Case Study 5: MUSE 134

Chapter 7: Prototyping App Concepts 137

Why Prototype? 138

Common Questions 139

Prototyping Approaches 142

Summary 157

Case Study 6: Prototyping at Dan4, Inc 158

Case Study 7: What’s Shakin’ 160

Chapter 8: Usability-Testing App Concepts 163

What Is Usability Testing? 164

Why Usability Testing? 164

Role of Context 166

Usability-Testing Methods 167

Usability-Testing Timeline 169

Planning Usability Tests 169

Recruiting Participants 173

Drafting the Discussion Guide 174

Pilot Session 177

Facilitating Usability Tests 178

Analyzing Usability Tests 179

Presenting Usability Findings 180

Guerrilla Usability Testing 181

Beta Testing 183

Choosing an Approach 184

Summary 184

Case Study 8: REALTOR.com 186

Part Four: Refining Your iPhone App 189

Chapter 9: User Interface Design 191

User Interface Best Practices 192

User Interface Q&A 207

Back-End UI Checklist 215

Summary 217

Case Study 9: Sonos 218

Case Study 10: FlightTrack 220

Chapter 10: Visual Design 223

The Importance of Visual Design 224

When Should Visual Design Begin? 224

Visual Structure 225

Color 230

Type 234

Icons and Other Imagery 237

Summary 245

Case Study 11: USA TODAY 246

Case Study 12: Voices 248

Case Study 13: Convertbot 250

Chapter 11: Branding and Advertising 253

What Is Branding? 254

Brand Expressions 257

Mobile Advertising Formats 261

Summary 263

Chapter 12: Accessibility and Localization 265

Accessibility 266

Internationalization and Localization 270

Summary 273

Looking to the Future 275

Handheld Forms Will Evolve 276

Mobile Payments Will Become Ubiquitous 277

Health Care Monitoring and Delivery Will Improve 277

Environmental Monitoring Will Lead to Scientific Discoveries 278

Privacy Issues Will Come to a Head 278

Conclusion 279

Index 281

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020