In the competitive realm of mobile apps, a well-designed user experience (UX) could be the difference between hundreds of uploads a day and dozens of 1-star reviews a day on AppStore. Whether you’re a rookie designer or a seasoned pro, avoiding these common mobile app design pitfalls can be the differentiating factor between an app users love and one they quickly abandon.

As rule of a thumb, the best approach to UX design is to keep it iterative and user-centered. At CIGen, our web designers are always on the lookout for ways to simplify, optimize, and constantly test our designs in real-world contexts. This not only minimizes common pitfalls but also builds a robust foundation for an app that resonates with its audience. Starting with a clear focus on performance, accessibility, and intuitive interactions and then letting data and user feedback guide our refinements worked for us every time. Based on diverse experience creating mobile apps for clients in logistics, manufacturing, Fintech, Martech, and retail, we documented the most common mistakes we have seen on repeat across the board in the industry.

Here are the top 17 mistakes UX designers make when building mobile applications, along with practical guidance on how to get it right.

1. Neglecting mobile-first performance

Designers sometimes prioritize flashy visuals and complex interactions at the expense of performance. Heavy images, unoptimized code, and resource-hungry animations can slow down your app, resulting in increased bounce rates.

Example:
An app with high-resolution background images might look great initially, but if these images aren’t optimized, users with older devices or slower connections may suffer through longer load times.

How to fix:

• ‍Optimize assets: Compress images and use scalable vector graphics (SVG) where possible.‍
• Prioritize content: Use lazy loading for non-critical elements.‍
• Streamline animations: Keep animations subtle and ensure they don’t hog resources.

2. Overcomplicating navigation

Mobile apps have limited screen real estate, so a cluttered or overly complex navigation structure can confuse users. According to Nielsen Norman Group, simplicity in navigation directly correlates with improved user satisfaction and better decision-making.

In their 2024 study guide Psychology for UX, Nielsen Norman Group compiles a plethora of useful materials, inclusive of materials on simpler design, with telling titles:

Example:
An app that hides critical features behind multiple layers of menus forces users to dig through an onion of options, resulting in frustration and abandonment.

How to fix:

• Embrace simplicity: Use bottom navigation bars or hamburger menus wisely.
• Prioritize primary actions: Ensure that the most-used features are accessible in one or two taps.
• Test early: Run usability tests to see if your navigation aligns with user expectations.

3. Ignoring platform conventions in mobile app design

Each mobile operating system (iOS, Android, etc.) has its own design guidelines. Ignoring these conventions can result in an app that feels out of place, leading to a steep learning curve for users.

Example:
An Android app that mimics iOS navigation patterns can confuse users accustomed to standard Material Design elements and interactions.

How to fix:

• Study guidelines: Familiarize yourself with Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and Google’s Material Design.
• Customize wisely: While unique branding is important, it shouldn’t come at the cost of usability.
• Iterate based on feedback: Gather user insights to adjust platform-specific elements.

4. Overloading the interface of the mobile screen

In a bid to pack in features, designers sometimes cram too much information on the screen. Overloaded interfaces can lead to cognitive overload, where users feel overwhelmed and disengaged.

Example:
Consider a finance app that displays every statistic and update on one screen. Users may find it hard to focus on the information that matters most.

How to fix:

• Prioritize content: Use progressive disclosure to reveal more details only when needed.
• White space is your friend: Don’t be afraid of empty areas; they help guide the user’s focus.
• Visual hierarchy: Use size, color, and spacing to signal importance and guide the eye.

5. Inadequate touch target sizing

Mobile interfaces require precision, but if interactive elements are too small, users will struggle to tap accurately. According to the World Health Organization, optimal touch target sizes should be at least 9mm on each side to accommodate all users.

Example:
A weather app with tiny buttons for navigating between daily forecasts can lead to frequent mis-taps, causing user frustration.

How to fix:

• Follow guidelines: Ensure buttons and touch targets meet recommended sizes.
• Test on devices: Use real-device testing to check the usability of interactive elements.
• Consider all users: Factor in users with different hand sizes and dexterity levels.

6. Overlooking accessibility

Accessibility is not an afterthought—it’s integral to good UX. Neglecting accessibility can alienate users with disabilities and even expose you to legal risks. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide benchmarks that are essential for inclusive design.

Example:
An app that relies solely on color to convey information might be unusable for colorblind users.

How to fix:

• Color contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background.
• Alternative text: Provide descriptions for images and icons.
• Voiceover support: Make sure your app is navigable using assistive technologies.

7. Not designing for context

Mobile users are often on the move, interacting with apps in diverse environments. A design that works well in a controlled setting might fail in real-world conditions where lighting, noise, and interruptions are factors.

Example:
An app with a subtle color scheme may look good in a dim environment but become unreadable in bright sunlight.

How to fix:

• Contextual testing: Simulate real-world conditions during user testing.
• Adaptability: Offer themes or adjustments (e.g., dark mode) to cater to different environments.
• Responsive design: Ensure your layout adapts to various screen sizes and orientations.

8. Poor information architecture in mobile app design

A confusing structure can make it hard for users to find what they’re looking for. Effective information architecture (IA) is about clear organization and predictable navigation.

Example:
An e-commerce app with poorly categorized products can frustrate users, driving them to competitor apps with better-organized interfaces.

How to fix:

• User research: Understand how your target audience thinks and organizes information.
• Clear categorization: Use card sorting or tree testing to structure your app logically.
• Consistency: Maintain uniform labeling and navigation across the app.

9. Overcomplicating gestures and interactions

While gestures can make an app feel dynamic and modern, too many complex gestures can confuse users, especially if there’s no visual cue or explanation.

Example:
An app that requires a pinch, swipe, and then a long press to access a common feature risks alienating users who might not discover or remember the sequence.

How to fix:

• Keep it simple: Focus on one or two intuitive gestures per screen.
• Visual cues: Use animations and icons to indicate available gestures.
• Onboarding: Provide a brief tutorial or hints to help users learn unique interactions.

10. Skipping iterative testing as part of the UX design process

Design is an iterative process. Failing to test with real users throughout the design cycle can lead to overlooked issues and assumptions that don’t hold up in practice. Norman Nielsen Group studies have shown that usability testing can uncover up to 85% of major issues with just 5 users in the first iteration.

Example:
An app designed solely on theoretical user journeys may perform well on paper but falter in real-world scenarios due to unanticipated user behaviors.

How to fix:

• Early and often: Integrate usability testing at multiple stages of design.
• Diverse testing groups: Include users of different ages, backgrounds, and technical abilities.
• Iterate based on feedback: Use test results to refine and improve the design continuously.

11. Clunky checkout flow

A complicated checkout process can derail even the most engaged users. Lengthy forms, too many steps, or unclear error messaging during checkout are common issues. According to Baymard Institute, the average cart abandonment rate is around 70.19% for online stores, underscoring the importance of a streamlined checkout process.

Example:
An e-commerce app that asks for unnecessary information—such as multiple address fields or redundant verification steps—can frustrate users and lead them to abandon their purchase.

How to fix:

• Simplify the process: Reduce the number of steps required to complete a purchase.
• Provide inline validation: Offer immediate, clear feedback for errors to help users correct mistakes as they go.
• Offer guest checkout: Not forcing users to create an account can reduce friction.

12. Overcomplicating FAQ & help pages in mobile app design

FAQ and help pages are essential for user support, but an overly complex or poorly organized support section can leave users feeling lost. Users often rely on these pages to resolve issues quickly, and a convoluted structure undermines this goal.

Example:
A mobile app’s FAQ section that lists hundreds of questions without clear categorization or search functionality can make it hard for users to find answers promptly.

How to fix:

• Organize content logically: Group questions into clear, concise categories.
• Implement search functionality: Enable users to quickly locate specific topics.
• Use progressive disclosure: Start with the most common issues and allow users to drill down for more details.

13. Misusing carousels and sliders

Carousels and sliders are popular UI elements, but when misused, they can cause more harm than good. They tend to hide content behind multiple clicks or swipes and may move too quickly for users to absorb the information.

Example:
A news app that cycles through headlines too rapidly might result in users missing key stories, while the need to manually control the slider can become a barrier to engagement.

How to fix:

• Limit the number of slides: Showcase only a few key items rather than overwhelming users.
• Allow manual control: Provide clear navigation arrows and pause functionality.
• Test speed and timing: Use A/B testing to determine the optimal rotation speed that balances information delivery and user control.

14. Over-reliance on design tools without cross-team collaboration

While tools like Figma have revolutionized the design process, relying solely on prototypes without involving developers or end users early can lead to impractical designs. A design that looks impeccable on screen may not translate well into code or real-world use if it isn’t vetted through collaboration.

Example:
A Figma prototype might include micro-interactions that require extensive development time or rely on browser-specific capabilities, causing delays or inconsistencies in the final product.

How to fix:

• Integrate early developer feedback: Include developers in design reviews to ensure technical feasibility.
• Conduct collaborative testing: Share interactive prototypes with cross-functional teams to gather diverse perspectives.
• Iterate beyond the tool: Transition from high-fidelity prototypes to real-device testing as soon as possible.

15. Inconsistent form design & validation feedback

Forms are a critical component of many mobile apps, whether for sign-ups, feedback, or transactions. Inconsistencies in design or unclear validation feedback can confuse users and lead to errors.

Example:
A sign-up form that mixes different styles of input fields (e.g., dropdowns, text inputs, toggles) without consistent labeling or real-time validation can result in higher error rates and increased abandonment.

How to fix:

• Standardize form elements: Use consistent styles and placements for input fields, labels, and buttons.
• Provide real-time validation: Offer immediate, clear feedback for each field to prevent errors before submission.
• Simplify input requirements: Only ask for essential information and consider using smart defaults where possible.

16. Lack of clear micro-interactions and feedback

Micro-interactions—small animations or feedback loops that guide users—play a key role in making an app feel responsive and intuitive. Neglecting them can leave users uncertain about whether their actions have been registered.

Example:
Imagine tapping a button in an app and receiving no visual indication that it has been pressed. Users may repeatedly tap or assume the app is unresponsive, leading to frustration.

How to fix:

• Integrate micro-interactions: Use subtle animations, color changes, or haptic feedback to signal actions like button presses, form submissions, or successful actions.
• Be consistent: Ensure that similar interactions yield similar feedback throughout the app.
• Test for clarity: Validate that the feedback is noticeable and helpful across different devices and user conditions.

17. Overlooking onboarding flow optimization in mobile app design

The onboarding process is the user’s first interaction with your app and sets the tone for the entire experience. A clunky or overly lengthy onboarding process can deter new users right from the start.

Example:
An app that bombards first-time users with multiple tutorial screens and complex instructions risks overwhelming them, leading to early abandonment.

How to fix:

• Keep it brief: Focus on essential information that helps users get started quickly.
• Make it interactive: Use interactive walkthroughs that let users experience key functionalities rather than just reading about them.
• Offer skip options: Allow users who are familiar with similar apps to bypass the onboarding process easily.

Knowing the top UX mistakes in app design is the first step to avoiding them

Avoiding these top 17 UX mistakes can significantly elevate your mobile app’s user experience, leading to higher engagement, increased user satisfaction, and ultimately better business results.

Remember, great UX isn’t about eliminating risk entirely—it’s about reducing friction and making your app as intuitive as possible.

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