Tools and good examples of how Android UI design is done

Probably one of the most important aspects of any app is the user interface part. More and more the design part is important because this decides the way somebody will judge your app. No matter if we are talking about Android UI design or a web project the development process of this part is important.

Mobile app developers that focus on Android app design will always be focused on choosing the right tools that will make their work look good in the face of the end-user. Creating a good mobile app requires a lot of skill and creativity together with the right Android UI design tools.

What Makes a Good User Interface?

The idea that goes behind UI design is to make interfaces that are focused on the user. This means that interfaces are designed using the perspective of the user and they focus on his needs and how he would like to interact.

Android UI design requirements will always be different from those that work with desktop computers. A smaller screen touch screen means it will have some different design elements. In mobile interfaces, symbols can be used more and controls could be automatically hidden until accessed. When aiming to create an intuitive and engaging Android UI design, businesses might find it beneficial to hire an Android developer who is well-versed in the latest design trends and tools.

Android designs need to make the mobile user interact with its device and offer a personalized experience that is enjoyable. By doing so you make sure that they are engaged and will continue to use it. So, Android UI design is a great way to offer services that are connected with user needs and helps them navigate through apps by keeping the interaction levels low.

Criteria for Choosing a Good UI Creation Tool

Key features

The functionality of UI tools is important so this is why you need to analyze it carefully to discover if it covers all the requirements.

Learning curve

However, many designers don’t really have the spare time to learn tools like this. A good way to start depends on how easy it is to learn the user interface prototyping tool.

Support

Support is always going to be a plus point. For sure some problems will always appear and having somebody to get help and support from is important. The quality of support is also significant.

Cost

This criterion is also relevant because you need to know how much you want to pay for Android UI design mockups to analyze all offered solutions.

Fidelity

You need to be able to simulate the interactivity of your prototype with such a tool.

Collaboration opportunity

You have to discover if the tool lets you share your work. This is important especially if you work in a team and you create Android UI designs for clients then you will need feedback for sure. Teamwork is important together with the idea of being on the same level as your teammates.

9 Good Examples of Android UI Design Tools

These tools are some of the best for planning and brainstorming and they are of great help in communication, solving technical problems, creating mind-blowing animations and many more. In the last years, app designers have worked hard in order to refine their design tool kits so they can work faster.

inVision

Did you finish your Android UI design and need to bring some interactivity to it? inVision lets you upload your design files and add animations, different gestures, and transitions that transform static prototypes into clickable prototypes.

This is a perfect software prototyping and by using it you can easily create interactive and mockup designs. Once finished, designers can send the final design to the client to get some feedback. This is probably one of the most efficient ways to share your working files and helps projects proceed faster. Clients can even give feedback or discuss the design within the app.

UXPin

UXPin is a product design that you can use with your design teams to collaborate and present different wireframes and prototypes. It is great to generate Android UI design templates without any compromise.

There are a lot of interface elements and components that you can use with a drag and drop system connected with Photoshop. By doing so you will preserve the design layers and will simplify the workflow.

POP

This POP APP is useful and if you are searching for a working prototype that is compatible with the Android device that you have your search can stop. It is one of the best apps to use in mobile prototyping to make the transition from paper to digital prototyping very easy.

All you have to do is take pictures of the sketches you make and upload them to POP. Once this is done you can shift between views, gestures, and interactions. POP is also integrated with Dropbox so for sure you will be able to share your work with the rest of your team.

Axure RP

This is a great tool for Android UI design that is used by a lot of professionals. It offers all the functionalities that you need to design from start to finish. On top of prototyping, you can also use it to design wireframes, mockups, personas and so on.

You can go between the Standard and the Pro edition has extra collaboration and different documentation elements. It is indeed one of the biggest applications that have been created for advance work. What is cool about Aure is that you can quickly create prototypes for responsive websites and mobile applications.

Avocode

This is not a typical Android UI design tool. It doesn’t help you to create designs or prototypes. What it does is it allows you to preview and inspect designs that are created in Photoshop/Sketch. In Avocode you can export images assets, copy text and CSS, measure distances between elements and other tasks that developers usually do.

In Avocode you can drag, drop and share any designs that you make, prototypes and chat about different components in the comments next to it. You can use it to change the threads and even let your team members while tagging them that a certain task or error appeared.

Origami Studio

Origami was first developed by Facebook to help teams design products. This prototyping tool is also perfect for Android UI design ideas because you can even preview mockups live on your mobile in real-time.

We can also show the designs in presentations on the full screen. Photoshop designs can be imported into the program and all the project layers will be preserved and are ready to be transformed according to your needs.

Sketch

In the last years, Sketch has become one of the most used mobile interactive UI Design tools. Unfortunately, it is available only for Mac OS users in many aspects, Sketch is very similar to Photoshop.

Sketch is a really easy-to-use vector app that helps you create Android UI design faster and more efficient. The platform also simplifies features that usually get used in Photoshop and Illustrator, designed specifically for UX/UI.

BuildFire

This is an app development platform that can be great for Android designs and not only. It lets you create a functional prototype of the app that you are designing. It has fully customizable functionality and it lets you upload all the designs you make.

The cool thing about it is that it has a friendly dashboard and admin control panel that can be used easily. The platform is popular among the clients due to the easy use, and extent of customization app.

Android UI Design inspiration

FAQ about Android UI design

What’s the difference between DP, SP, and PX in Android UI design?

DP or density-independent pixels are used for designing layouts that look consistent across various screen densities. SP or scale-independent pixels are similar to DP, but they’re used for font sizes, taking into account user preferences for text scaling. PX or pixels are the actual pixels on the screen, but using them is discouraged because it doesn’t ensure consistency across different devices.

How can I create a responsive layout for different screen sizes?

To create a responsive layout, you should use ConstraintLayout as your base layout. It allows you to create flexible and scalable UIs by defining constraints between elements. Additionally, use dimensions like DP and SP, provide alternative resources (layouts, images) for different screen densities, and utilize Android Studio’s layout preview tool to see how your design adapts to various devices.

What are Material Design guidelines and why are they important?

Material Design is a design language created by Google to help developers create visually appealing and user-friendly Android applications. Following these guidelines ensures consistency, usability, and a familiar experience for users across apps. It covers aspects like color palettes, typography, navigation patterns, and component styles. Adhering to Material Design principles is essential to create a professional-looking app that feels native to the Android ecosystem.

How do I choose the right color scheme for my app?

Choosing the right color scheme is vital for creating an attractive and accessible app. Start by understanding your brand’s identity and the emotions you want to evoke. Then, refer to the Material Design color guidelines for inspiration and best practices. Use primary, secondary, and accent colors to create a harmonious palette. Also, ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors to maintain accessibility.

What are the best practices for designing app icons?

App icons are essential for users to recognize and remember your app. Follow these best practices:

Adhere to Material Design icon guidelines.
Use a simple, unique, and memorable shape.
Utilize a limited color palette.
Make sure it’s scalable and looks good in different sizes.
Test on various devices and backgrounds to ensure readability and recognizability.

How do I optimize images for different screen densities?

To optimize images for various screen densities, create multiple versions of each image in different resolutions (e.g., mdpi, hdpi, xhdpi, xxhdpi, xxxhdpi). Save them in corresponding drawable folders in your app’s resources directory. Android will automatically select the appropriate image based on the device’s screen density.

What are the key principles of effective navigation in Android apps?

Effective navigation in Android apps is crucial for a great user experience. Key principles include:

Make it simple and clear.
Keep it consistent across the app.
Prioritize frequently used actions.
Utilize standard navigation patterns (e.g., bottom navigation, navigation drawer).
Provide visual feedback on the user’s current location in the app.

How do I design a custom theme for my Android app?

To create a custom theme, start by extending an existing base theme (e.g., Theme.AppCompat.Light). Then, override attributes like colors, fonts, and styles in your app’s styles.xml file. You can also create different themes for different activities, or even apply themes dynamically at runtime. This approach ensures a consistent look and feel across your app while still allowing for customization.

How do I create animations in Android UI design?

Android provides several ways to create animations:

View animations: Animate simple properties like position, rotation, and scale using XML or the Animation class.
Property animations: Animate more complex properties with greater control using the ObjectAnimator and ValueAnimator classes. 3. Drawable animations: Create frame-by-frame animations with AnimationDrawable or AnimatedVectorDrawable.
Transition animations: Animate between UI states with the Transition framework.
MotionLayout: Design complex animations and transitions with this powerful and flexible subclass of ConstraintLayout.

Choose the right approach based on your animation requirements and performance considerations.

What are some tips for designing accessible Android apps?

Designing accessible apps ensures a better experience for all users, including those with disabilities. Here are some tips:

Use larger touch targets for buttons and interactive elements.
Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors.
Provide alternative text for images with contentDescription attribute.
Design layouts that work well with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Test your app with Android’s accessibility features, like TalkBack or Switch Access, to ensure compatibility.

Ending thoughts on creating Android UI design

In conclusion, many Android UI design companies need to have their workflow and the right tools to make this happen. There are a lot of platforms to choose from and it all depends on what are the preferences that you and your team want to have. For sure you will find what you need so just try to find the best for you.

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.

Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.

His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.