The importance that the brain gives to change and movement
Before discussing why many successful apps use some degree of animation in their UI, it is crucial to understand more about the user- the human brain.
Human brains are programmed to be more attracted by changes than by static objects or situations. Therefore, to save processing power and dedicate our mental energies to more critical tasks, we have learned to ignore what is fixed or unchanging because it does not threaten our existence.
A simple example:
a) You are hiking in the woods, and you see a bush. No surprise there. You ignore it and continue walking into the sunset.
b) You are on a hike, and as you pass the same bush, it moves and rustles. You are immediately startled, and your attention shifts from the beautiful sunset to the bush. Your fight or flight system is directly engaged. There could be a sweet bunny or squirrel in the undergrowth – or it could be a poisonous snake.
This example shows why the human beings’ nervous system is more attracted to environmental changes. It is far more likely that the humans that did not react this way were eaten before further spreading their genes.
Why animate a mobile app
Mobile app animation aims to keep users on the app by reassuring dynamic animations that create a sense of interaction between the user and the machine. Animations make bland pages and numbers and data more fun and engaging. They make the app feel more “natural” and less digital. They give the app a feeling of flow in time.
This user experience enhancement is the only reason to animate your app. A user who gets bored or annoyed with your app will soon stop using it—possibly passing to another one that offers the same functionalities but is more intuitive or natural.
Keep in mind that the animation of an app needs to be done in a balanced and harmonious way. The animation should offer interaction but not go so far as being a distraction. It must be used to smoothen the transitions between pages or give the user feedback about the choices they have made or are about to make. TechCrunch offers some great insights into how app animation should look and perform.
Some standard animations used in mobile phone applications are:
- Buttons that light up when they are pressed – reassuring the user as to the choice they have made
- Page transitions – where one page flows seamlessly into the other
- Progress bars – which make the wait less unbearable and more fun
Menus and lists can also be animated, representing a highly appealing way to use better the limited space offered by the mobile phone screen.
Good use of animation will give the user all the information necessary to make the choice they want to make and eliminate all the other “informational clutter .”This will incrementally increase how comfortable they feel with your app, and therefore, your brand and a lasting connection will be formed.
“Good design is obvious and great design is invisible,” to quote the Mobile App Daily 2021 article on how to use mobile animation.
Technical aspects to consider
Some technical issues must be considered. The animations must be light enough not to hinder app performance. Heavy animations all over the place could mean too much for the device and the user to cope. Less is more when it is effective. Nobody wants a beautiful app that doesn’t work!
If you still don’t know what kind of animation you need for your app, you can always consult experts at mobile app development services who would be glad to help you.
To sum things up
There are infinite ways to animate your app, but whatever you decide to do must have the final user’s experience in mind. They need to be reassured by the app and guided by it into making their choices. Therefore, animations must complete the app intuitive to use even for the first time.
Also, something to keep in mind; animations in the digital world must move just enough to tell the user that something is happening and that everything is alright. But, on the other hand, they should not move so much as to make them seasick!
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.
