The best apps for interaction take it a step further than simply working: they’re fun to use. This isn’t limited to apps that do exciting things, even fintech and communication apps are getting with the program and becoming a pleasure to use.
If your mobile interaction makes users feel some type of way, you better believe they’re going to tell someone about it. And word of mouth can catapult your app to much higher success than a run-of-the-mill marketing campaign.
Let’s jump into the top 5 mobile interaction designs that I picked out this month:
1.Google Duo
FaceTime finally has an app to give it a run for its money. Google Duo is great because, unlike FaceTime, it’s made for Android users as well. As an iPhone user, it can be a bummer to want to chat with a friend only to remember that they have an Android and won’t get your call. Luckily, Google Duo solves this once and for all.
Another way that it goes beyond FaceTime is with its “Knock Knock” feature that provides a live preview when a person from your contacts calls. With a straightforward interface that puts video calls first, this high-quality contender is poised to be a real alternative to FaceTime and maybe even Skype. Audio-only calls are also reported to be coming soon.
Get Google Duo on iOS and Android.
2.Canva
Canva brings graphic design abilities to anyone with a smartphone or tablet. You might be the design wizz of your friend group, but what about when you’re not around? Canva is there to make graphics when your Aunt Mary with a new small business doesn’t have time to go to design school but needs beautiful images to promote it. Using professional templates, it puts users in the driver’s seat with uncapped creativity. From customizable social media posts to designing your very own eBook, this app is perfect for non-designers that need a little design in their life.
Get Canva on iOS.
3.Gogobot (now Trip)
Gogobot is the go-to app for planning trips and adventures in your own city and beyond. It’s the guide you wished you had on previous trips with user reviews of places to eat, stay, and visit all in one place. It takes it a step further than just advice by allowing users to book hotels and more. No need to open up your Hotels.com app after reading how friendly the staff is at a certain hotel from users on Gogobot. These features that make it such a seamless experience made it one of PC Magazine’s “Best Travel Apps of 2015. Gogobot’s vision is to make the planning process just an enjoyable as the adventure itself and with a sleek interface that puts users first, it accomplishes just that.
Get Gogobot on iOS and Android.
4.Volo
Clearly, I’ve got the travel bug since Volo, a travel companion app to keep all your travel memories together, made the list as well. Whether you want to save pictures, directions, or notes, you’ll have access to them all and have everything backed up even when you don’t have service or wifi. This is a big perk when you’re travelling abroad and only have wifi at your hotel. They clearly understood the travel experience when creating Volo. In addition, there’s a social component to it when all the data from your trip comes together as a full travel story. You can choose to share it as a travel journal and/or add it to a traveling companion’s so that friends at home can see your experiences as one.
5.Kitchen Stories
Kitchen sits at the lovely intersection of design and cooking. It goes beyond simple recipes to help users cook beautiful meals with helpful videos and images that take cooks through each step of the process, and articles that go over tips and trends. It’s so much more than just a cooking app because it’s possible to personalize the in-app experience and it’s very easy on the eyes. Not to mention, it gives users access to a global network of fellow cooks. What’s not to love about an app that allows you to create your own cookbooks and gathers your favorite recipes by logical categories?
Get Kitchen Stories on iOS and Android.
Did you know that you don’t have to code an entire app just to test it for user engagement? With the new Proto.io, you can create fully-interactive high-fidelity prototypes that look and work exactly like your app should. No coding required. Test the flow, interactions, and animations of your app before you write a single line of code. Sign up now for a free 15-day trial.
