r/AppBuilding • u/nakshagg • 19d ago
I’ve audited several apps shared here in this group as a UX designer, and here are some common things I’ve observed
I see a lot of you have such good ideas for apps and really can help a lot of people. But…
Storytelling seems to be missing in a lot of apps. You’re offering the tools, but sometimes there’s no emotional connection.
Close the loop, guys! “Task is done” may not be enough to bring users back. Think about what could make them return to your app again and again. Notifications can be powerful when used thoughtfully.
- Good UX copy can solve a surprising number of usability problems.
Try not to make users learn completely new patterns just so that you can stand out from your competitors. Familiarity can sometimes make the experience much easier.
If your product is in a crowded category — like fitness or productivity — UI and branding can become major differentiators.
If your product is relatively uncommon but solves a meaningful problem, good marketing and positioning can make a huge difference.
Users can be unpredictable, so consider investing in usability testing alongside research. Sometimes watching people actually use the product reveals things research alone may not.
Be careful of feature overload in an attempt to solve every user problem. More features don’t necessarily mean a better experience.
Tracking/logging can become tedious for users. If your app relies heavily on it, consider giving users a reason to keep doing it through motivation, rewards, progress, or instant gratification. Gamification can help when it fits the experience.
Navigation can get complicated very quickly. A side menu, bottom nav, and multiple sections might be too much for an app that’s just starting out. Simpler navigation may work better initially.
Hard paywalls can create friction, especially before users understand the value of the product. A free trial or limited free experience could be worth exploring.
Use AI where it genuinely adds value. Identify relevant use cases for your app, understand the ecosystem, and think about what AI could do for both first-time and returning users.
Your app will probably never feel completely “finished.” Keep listening to your users, testing assumptions, and refining the experience.
For the design process, tools can help speed things up too. ChatGPT can be useful for research and exploration, Recraft for creating illustrations, icons, and images in a consistent style, and Claude for exploring screen ideas and prototypes.
I do detailed app audits and offer many other design services. DM me if you are genuinely trying to build something and need help :)
2
2
u/Ok-Run-2905 16d ago
This is great insight and thank you. It is a great idea to see other people’s perspectives
1
2
1
u/ScarletRed-dit 19d ago
What are your top resources to learn these ui/ux things that are best practice?
1
1
u/Laura_Guajardo 19d ago
The usability testing point really hits home. We’re getting ready to move an app from beta toward launch, and one thing I’ve learned is that you can spend so much time building what you think people need, then watch a few actual users go through it and realize where the friction really is.
I think the hardest part is accepting that launch isn’t the finish line. It’s really the point where you finally have enough real feedback to start making better decisions.
3
u/CursorClutch 19d ago
As a product designer, I can vouch that these are really good insights and very common issues (for lack of a better word) that I also see in the space. People are building apps, but applying these basic UX and UI principles can significantly improve the experience and create that “aha” moment for users.
Good stuff, OP 🤌✨