Today, the app development industry continues to evolve because of technological advances. The industry is growing rapidly since digital innovation pushes many businesses to develop interactive, functional, and easy-to-use apps.
Since app design requires expertise, creativity, and time, design for startups is an effective approach to app development. It helps the team to create quality apps that meet the users’ needs.
With many agencies in the market, it is advisable to work with experts to develop a top-tier web app. Here is a detailed guide on how to make such apps.
What Is a Web App?
It is imperative to understand what a web app entails before proceeding with the design steps. In a nutshell, it is an app designed to function on web browsers only.
Web apps are not downloadable because you can access them directly via a network. Some of the web browsers you can use to access the apps include Safari, Firefox, or Google Chrome.
Such apps require databases, application servers, and web servers to function. The web server manages requests from clients, the application server finalizes the requests, and the database is a storage location for relevant data.
Steps to Develop a Web App
You must follow several stages when you want to develop an app. Let us dig deeper into these stages. We shall look at the process from conception to the product launch.
Identify a Relevant Idea
Every creative product must first start with an idea. This first stage is where you source the original idea. What do you want to build? What do you intend to achieve or solve? These are some of the questions you must ask yourself. Many designers get stuck at this phase since it is quite tough to develop an original idea.
If you want to be successful, ensure you think about an app that will solve a particular problem. Also, go for the one you are passionate about because it will motivate you to create an exceptional product. The trick is to make the process as fun as possible.
Conduct Extensive Market Research
After identifying a relevant idea, it is essential to conduct market research. Also, you need to establish if there is a ready market for your product. Sometimes you might have a great app idea, but the market is flooded with similar apps.
You need a product that will satisfy the customers’ needs to prevent your startup from failing. Thus, carry out due diligence and determine what the competitors are offering. If the market has similar apps, it means your idea is valid. Your work is to polish and make the app better. If there are no products in your market, you have an original idea on your hands. Or another individual tried to create the app and failed. Either way, research more before you proceed to the next phase. Know your target audience and the market trends, and share the app idea to get accurate feedback.
Define App Functions
Functionality is key, so you need to include all mandatory features for your web app to function effectively. But the more the features, the longer and more costly the development process. A way out is to focus on a minimal set of required features.
Sketch App Designs
This phase entails sketching your app idea to know the features you will include. In this phase, consider the functionality and user flow. You must capture all the points that need user interaction.
Thus, factor in the navigation tools, the buttons, and interactive components. Since it is just a sketch, make it simple so that it communicates the initial idea.
Plan Workflow
This section captures the app’s workflow from when a user signs up on the app. You can analyze other market apps to help you plan your workflow.
Below are points you need to consider:
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The signup procedure
- User verification
- Login process
- Changing passwords
- App navigation
- Subscriptions
Develop a Prototype
This phase is crucial since you now turn your design sketch into a prototype. A prototype will help you get feedback from users. It is the app’s blueprint that determines the UX design and usability. This phase allows you to introduce changes to the design or add other features to make it more functional. You can use Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD for prototyping.
Get Feedback
After the prototype is ready, test it with a target user group for constructive feedback. The users will assist you in validating the model and assessing its usability. You must ensure you capture each response, whether negative or positive. Finally, incorporate the changes and prepare for the development phase.
App Development
After introducing relevant changes to the prototype, you can proceed to the development stage.
You must set up a database, secure it and give instructions to the dev team so that they can write codes to build the front-end and back-end. These two sides allow the app to function simultaneously.
This phase requires skilled and experienced developers to ensure the project is seamless and successful.
Front-end developers focus on the user interface where the users interact with the product. Also known as the client-side, the front-end displays the visual features like the menu, typography, and images. The developers must be conversant with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Conversely, the back-end is commonly known as the server-side. The developers write codes to process the requests from the client-side. When a user sends a request, the server receives it and responds. The browser will then interpret and display the information on the screen.
After the app is ready, find a cloud provider and put it on a cloud server to allow universal access to users.
Final Words
The app design process requires expertise and experience to develop a quality product. Follow the steps above and break your project into manageable tasks. If you miss any of them, the product may be flawed, non-functional, or irrelevant to the current users’ needs. You can always hire a professional development team to handle your app’s development if you are stuck.