What is the difference between a good digital product and a great digital product? It is no longer enough to simply have a mobile app or a website. If your products do not serve people’s needs, they will not be used. Innovation is rooted in understanding real problems and opportunities, not just delivering on a technology offering. If you want to create an innovative digital product in 2019, you must start by understanding, not only the market and your competitors, but the ecosystem that surrounds your end users.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) hit the scene promising fast and reliable experiences to users without having to use a web browser or visit the app store. They were the theoretical answer to the discoverability problem of native apps and the reliability issues of responsive websites. However, depending on the version of iOS or Android you are using when you access a PWA, you may have a relatively full featured experience or a severely handicapped one. So what are the advantages and limitations of PWAs and when should you use them?
As designers, we are focused on creating human centered experiences that help people connect, solve problems, have fun, or get things done. However, it is rare for us to dive deeply into a technology as part of our process. How much do designers need to know about the technologies powering their designs? Does focusing on mobile help us build better experiences?
Nearly two-thirds of Americans carry and use a smartphone daily. That number is only expected to grow in the coming years. When considering statistics like this, creating a native mobile app for Android or iOS can be a tempting — and smart — proposition for many businesses, not to mention an exciting project for your team!
Though every product and business is different, there is a core set of best practices applicable to nearly all apps that will start your mobile product off on the right foot.