Almost everyone these days has a cell phone. And of those who have a cell phone, the majority have a smart phone with an internet connection. What this means is that most people are using their mobile phones to surf the internet. Whether we are looking to glean certain information or just killing time while waiting for an appointment or in a line-up, everywhere you look people have their heads down and their fingers are tapping, swiping, or scrolling. If you’ve ever wondered how to design your own mobile app, look no further.
iPhone app design has come a long way since its inception and when considering how to design an app, there are three main options to explore:
Using Photoshop – When utilizing Photoshop for iPhone app design you will need a basic knowledge of Photoshop as well as iOS, which is Apple’s mobile operating system. The basic steps to take with Photoshop are as follows:
- Set up Photoshop to look good. An iPhone screen is high res, so you’ll want your settings to reflect that.
- Make yourself a template for iPhone apps and include things like a status bar, a grid system and typical guide lines you would use.
- Download the iPhone 4 GUI PSD retina display elements.
- Download LiveView for the iPhone so you can preview your design
- Read Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines for best practices to follow.
If you want to design a custom UI or user interface, with or without Photoshop, go here to learn how to design an app.
Hiring a Designer – If you possess neither the skills nor the time for iPhone app design, an alternative is to hire a designer to do it for you. They know how to design and app and will work with you to design an app you are happy with. The only downside is that it will cost you. Dearly. Here is a fantastic alternative for iPhone app design without spending a fortune can be found at.
Buying Designer Templates – The benefit to buying designer templates for your iPhone app design are clear. Designer templates can provide the best of both worlds. The design work is done for you, without paying for the whole enchilada. Templates are less expensive than paying a designer to do the whole job, but will still save you all the time you would spend designing.
With all the available options for how to design an app for an iPhone or other mobile device, you will be able to get your app up and running in no time.