A Smart Guide To Designing Mobile Apps with Minimalism Trend

Learn all about creating apps with minimalist designs. Learn how to add value to your app’s offerings with strategic minimalist design.

• Apple has been a proponent of ‘extreme minimalism‘ for a long time and every year their iOS designs have become progressively more minimalist
• Instagram’s design team adopted minimalism back in 2016 — they stripped all the noise away from the interface to let users’ uploads and comments become the app’s focal point
• The same year, Airbnb’s design team gave their app interface a minimalist redesign, removing all extra imagery, reducing colors, and simplifying the app’s icons

Thanks to these major brands adopting the minimalism trend, there has been an explosion of apps attempting to do the same. In fact, many apps now differentiate themselves solely based on their ultra-minimalist UI designs:

• Fitness app 8fit has gained popularity mainly for its sleek and minimalist UI design
• Notte’s ultra-minimalist aesthetic and stark black-and-white interface have carved out a niche in the note-taking app segment
• Journaling app Reflect’s minimalist design encourages users to engage in self-reflection without overwhelming them with options
• Habit-tracking app Grow employs a minimalist design to help users stay focused on their daily goals

There are thousands of apps like this that use minimalist design to add value to their offerings. In this article, we’ll show you how to do the same.

Understand how to infuse minimalism into your app’s design to make it more valuable for users. But it would be great to clarify some concepts first.

What is Minimalism in Mobile App Design?

• Minimalism is an app design philosophy that is rooted in the ‘less is more’ principle
• It claims that excessive use of design elements can distract users from an app’s main features
• In minimalist app designs, we see designers prioritize simplicity by using clean layouts, a restrained color scheme, and ample whitespace
• These designs also have short, clear headlines and simple, universally understandable icon designs
• By stripping away distractions, minimalist apps allow users to engage more deeply with the content, whether it is reading, writing, or interacting with features

Why has this mobile app design approach gained so much popularity in recent years? The main reason is our dwindling attention spans. The average attention span of people staring at a singular screen dropped from an average of 2.5+ minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds in 2021.

How to Design Mobile Apps with Minimalism Trend

These attention-deprived people prefer using apps with simple interfaces. They do not want pointless visual design details distracting them from their objectives. They like clean lines, clear layouts whitespace, and other minimalist design elements that simplify in-app interactions.

That is, of course, if minimalist design is used effectively. Minimalist design that does not enhance an app’s usability will never impress users. Here’s how you can add minimalism to your mobile app’s design to enhance its value and usability:

Define the App’s Core Features

• Conduct thorough user research through surveys, interviews, and usability tests to identify the specific needs and design preferences of your audience
• List the primary tasks your users need to accomplish with your app
• Focus on designing the functionalities that directly address these tasks first
• Critically evaluate each feature’s necessity to embrace the minimalist, ‘less is more’ philosophy
• For each design idea, ask yourself — is it essential for achieving the app’s primary purpose?
• If the answer is no, consider removing or simplifying it

Make a Grid Layout

• Implement a grid layout to create a cohesive framework for your app
• A grid system organizes content, making it easier for users to navigate and interact with the interface
• Use established grid systems like the 12-column grid to maintain consistency across different screen sizes
• Use the grid to highlight the most important design elements
• Place call-to-action buttons in prominent grid positions to boost visibility

Develop a Simple Color Scheme

Select a color scheme that promotes visual harmony. You have two options:

• Monochromatic Palette: Use various shades and tints of a single color to create depth without overwhelming users
• Analogous Palette: Pick colors next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue, teal, and green) to create a cohesive yet simple palette

Stick to 2–3 primary colors for your interface elements. Reserve additional colors for accents or notifications.

Minimalist Typography

• Choose a single typeface that embodies your brand’s personality while ensuring readability across devices
• Use platform-standard fonts like San Francisco or Roboto to maintain simplicity and consistency across iOS and Android
• Use variations in font size (e.g., larger for headings) and weight (e.g., bold for emphasis)C
• Maintain adequate line heights for body text to maintain readability on smaller screens

Use Whitespace

• Whitespace enhances an app’s usability by allowing interface content to breathe
• Strategically use whitespace around buttons, text blocks, and images to create visual separation
• Use it strategically to lead users through your app’s content
• Group related elements together while maintaining enough space between them to avoid clutter
• Aim to create a balanced layout where content is complemented by negative space

Simplify Navigation

• Implement familiar navigation methods (tab bars, hamburger menus, etc.) that your users can instantly recognize
• Label all navigation elements with short but descriptive text
• Present users with a limited number of navigation options at any given time
• Too many navigation choices (more than 5 to 7 options) can overwhelm users
• Use simple visual cues and consistent placement of navigation elements to reinforce familiarity

Use Simple, Universal Icons

• Opt for icons that are easily recognizable and convey their meaning without additional explanation (e.g., a magnifying glass icon for search)
• Use solid icons for active sections and outlined versions for inactive ones
• This visual distinction helps users quickly identify where they are within the app
• Add subtle animations or color changes when icons are tapped or hovered over to give users feedback in the subtlest way

Do Not Oversimplify Design Elements

• While minimalism emphasizes simplicity, avoid oversimplifying your design to the point where it confuses users about the app’s purpose
• Ensure that essential features remain accessible and intuitive

Create a Visual Hierarchy with Size and Color

• Make important actions or messages in the app stand out by using larger font sizes and contrasting colors
• Avoid overuse of lines in-app screens — use whitespace instead of dividers
• Rather than cluttering your interface with visible lines to separate sections, use whitespace effectively to create natural boundaries between content areas
• Use color highlights or background shades to group related items together (without using dividers)

Use Blur Effects

• Use blur effects to create depth in your interface
• Blur effects provide an opportunity to explore various overlay solutions
• Create interactive elements that appear over blurred backgrounds
• Seamless transitions between different states of information will enhance user engagement while keeping the interface clean
• Experiment with different levels of blur until you find a balance that maintains readability and aesthetic appeal

Write Crisp Content

• Focus on writing clear and concise text that effectively communicates your message without any unnecessary add-ons
• Use straightforward language that resonates with your target user segments
• Consider using action verbs and strong adjectives
• Use whitespace around text elements to improve readability and direct attention to key messages

Create a Visual Hierarchy with Contrast

• Consider using dark backgrounds with bright typography for a striking contrast that enhances readability and engagement
• Ensure sufficient contrast ratios between text and background colors for accessibility
• Adding dark mode to your app’s design? Adjust contrast rules accordingly by using lighter shades for text and interactive elements against darker backgrounds

Remove Extra Elements

• Conduct a thorough review of all elements on the screen
• Retain only those that serve a clear purpose in enhancing UX or conveying essential info
• Only use images that add value or clarity to your message; avoid decorative images

Test Your Design

• Recruit real users and ask them to share their opinions on the app’s design
• Watch how users navigate through the app and detect any points of confusion
• Use Task Scenarios to pinpoint areas where users struggle
• After testing, ask users open-ended questions about your app’s minimalist design style
• Review all collected data to identify recurring themes in user feedback

Iterate

• Use the info to refine your app’s minimalist design
• Implement changes iteratively rather than overhauling the entire design at once
• After making refinements, conduct another round of usability testing with both previous and new users to assess whether the changes improved the experience

Conclusion

If you are serious about infusing minimalism into your app’s design, consider working with a mobile app design agency providing professional mobile app design services.

Minimalism is an art form on its own. The more minimalist app designs you create, the better you get. So, working with specialists in this field is definitely the right move.