Dos and Don'ts of Android UI

Juhani Lehtimki, Snapp TV Ltd

Plan for different Hardware

Don't assume software

http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

Follow design guidelines

http://developer.android.com/design

Design for users

You're not your user!

"I like the back button and don't
have issues with it."

"I personally find nothing confusing

about the back button. It takes you
back to the previous Activity."

Your users are not designers

Don't use designs from

other platforms

Don't build a tablet app

Design scalable UI

Make your layouts scalable

RelativeLayout
GridLayout

LinearLayout
etc.

Don't lock to portrait

Support multiple screen

densities

LDPI

MDPI

HDPI

XHDPI

android:layout_marginLeft="64dp"

1 DP = 1 PX on
MDPI screen

Use scalable graphics

9-patch

Draw in XML / code

Prepare for different default

theme

Keep navigation simple and flat

Help users to keep track

Don't use bottom tabs

Let users swipe between tabs

Menu button is dead

android:targetSdkVersion="8"

android:targetSdkVersion="16"

Use Android intents to share

Use Android icons

Don't use on-screen back button

Don't use popups

Don't use splash screen

Don't use tutorial

screens

Don't force login

Don't hide the status bar

Customization is not an
alternative to design!

vs.

Design
Decision

Put your app in front of

real users

And the most

importantly

Thank you!

http://snapp.tv
http://www.androiduipatterns.com/
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