Stephen Headrick / Android Authority
I used iOS for over a decade before fully switching to Android. Even today, my favorite part of iOS doesn’t come from Apple itself, but instead from its third-party app community. My social media feed is filled with examples of beautiful indie iOS apps, crafted beautifully down to the most minute of details.
On Android, however, I struggle to find apps with uniquely designed experiences. As long as the app technically does what it’s intended to do, it gets a passing grade for most people. I’ve long wanted to see that change, and I think the only way that happens is if Google leads from the top. Material 3 Expressive shows Google is recognizing design’s importance more than ever before — I prefer it to Apple’s Liquid Glass — but it only matters if the design system is applied to the apps we use every day. With Google’s very own Fitbit app — the new version that’s still rolling out, so you may not see it in your app yet — I see a shining example of what the future of Android apps might look like, and now I want every app I use to look this good.
Does app design matter to you? 65 votes Yes, good design is essential. 65 % Yes, but it's not vital to my usage. 22 % No, I just want an app that does what it's intended to do. 14 %
It’s in the details
Stephen Headrick / Android Authority
To me, good design is more than meets the eye. It’s a bunch of little things that add up to create an experience that just feels good to use and look at. This can be accomplished through motion design, the colors used in the UI elements, and, of course, the performance of the app.
In Fitbit, you get all three of those design elements right when you open the app. A circle chart is smoothly spinning into place to show your cardio activity for the week. The app quickly syncs the latest data from your smartwatch before you would even think to do so manually, shown by an animated loading bar at the top of the screen. Simple shapes at the top of the screen show the most important fitness data, each filled with a tastefully chosen color. Text size is carefully selected to give hierarchy and clarity to the most important information. All of this is presented right when you open the app, with no lag to slow you down.
Stephen Headrick / Android Authority Today view animations, slowed down
When you begin to scroll, the floating action button at the bottom right of the screen — a common design element in Android apps — animates with a bouncy snap from its extended state to its smaller state so that it doesn’t get in the way of the information you’re viewing. This button isn’t always so smooth in other apps I use, so it’s noticeable in this app. Just one more small detail that adds to the experience.
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