A successful iOS app needs a combination of an aesthetically pleasing UI design and a seamless UX. One crucial aspect of crafting a visually striking app is iOS asset development.
iOS asset development is the process of designing aesthetically pleasing assets that align with the brand guidelines and connect with users. This includes assets like icons, illustrations, elements, images, and animations that contribute to an app’s design.
Let’s understand iOS assets in more detail.
Understanding iOS Assets
iOS assets are the visual elements that make up the UI of an app. These include all of the graphical elements that users interact with to navigate through the app. Designing them is more than just the visual appeal. They should also be compatible with different screen sizes and resolutions.
Types of iOS Assets
App Icons
Your app’s icon will create a first impression on your users. It’s displayed on the app stores as well as the home screen of your user’s device. It’s going to be the defining factor of your app.
A well-designed app icon will make your app stand out among others.
Both the App Store and Play Store have specific guidelines for designing app icons. This includes size specifications and recommendations for avoiding common design pitfalls.
Launch Screens
This is what users will see once they open your app. It serves as a transition between the home screen and the app’s main interface.
Images and Illustrations
They make up a substantial part of most applications and are crucial for conveying the right information. These may include background images, product photos, or anything relevant to the app’s content.
Buttons and Icons
These are interactive elements that allow users to navigate through the app. They must be consistent throughout the app to provide a cohesive experience.
Tab Bar and Navigation Bar Icons
If your app has a tab bar or a navigation bar, then you must ensure that they’re clear and recognizable. This helps users smoothly navigate through the app.
Best Practices for iOS Asset Development
Maintain Consistency
Consistency is key to making your app feel unified and providing a cohesive user experience. All of the assets should have the same color scheme, typography, and design style. Users should feel they’re using the same app as they navigate through different screens.
Optimize for Different Devices
iOS has multiple iPhones with different screen sizes and resolutions. You must ensure that all your assets are optimized for all devices, from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple provides guidelines on resolution and size specifications for different devices. You can provide a seamless user experience by adhering to them.
Understand iOS Design Guidelines
Familiarize yourself with Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG). These guidelines cover everything from the navigation bars to buttons and icons. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your app aligns with iOS design principles.
All our designers at WDI are adept with the HIG and design UIs that blend seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem.
Use Vector Graphics
Use vector graphics for your assets wherever possible. The big benefit of using vectors is that they are resolution-independent. This means you can scale them up without pixelation.
Vector assets will look sharp on iPhones with different screen sizes and resolutions.
Create Adaptive Layouts
iOS has support for adaptive layouts that allow your app’s interface to adjust dynamically based on factors like screen size and orientation. Keep adaptability in mind when designing assets to ensure that your app looks stunning on all devices. This also includes the landscape mode.
Consider Accessibility
Designing for accessibility is a fundamental aspect of iOS app development. Ensure that your assets, especially text and icons, are legible and distinguishable for users with different visual abilities.
Apple has guidelines for creating accessible apps that you can refer to.
Optimizing for Different Screen Sizes
Here are some tips to optimize assets for different screen sizes.
Auto Layout and Size Classes
Interface Builder has auto Layout and size classes that you can use to create adaptive layouts that adjust to different screen sizes and orientations.
Asset Catalogs
Use asset catalogs to manage and organize images for different devices. This makes it simple for you to incorporate assets into your Xcode project and manage various versions.
Storyboard and Interface Builder
You can leverage Storyboard and Interface Builder to design UIs visually. It’s easier to preview and adjust layouts for different screens.
Testing on Multiple Devices
Most iPhone models have similar screen sizes and resolutions. This means you have a limited number of devices to test. To make it easier, you have the iOS simulator on Xcode that allows you to simulate different devices.
Animation and Motion Design
Want to take your design to the next level? Adding animations and motion design elements can enhance the user experience by making interactions more enjoyable.
You can use UIKit Dynamics to provide physics-based animations. Along with this, you can implement core animations for more granular control over animation properties.
Keep in mind that older iPhones have limited processing power and GPU capabilities. Ensure that you test on those to provide a consistent user experience for users.
Develop a Stunning iOS App
To fully realize your vision for an app, you need the guidance of a top mobile app development company like WDI. With our technological prowess and experienced resources, we can create a captivating iOS app for your startup.
Get in touch to start your iOS app development project!
