• Read more about Mobile App Controlled Machine Folds, Organizes And Selects Outfits

ThreadRobe

The future of folding and organizing clothes is here! Matt Powell, co-founder of ThreadRobe reached out to Mobomo in hopes of turning his futuristic concept into reality. Our teams collaborated around the idea of using digital technology to control an appliance that folds and organizes clothing at the touch of a fingertip. We were able to successfully design and develop the mobile app which is a key functionality in their ThreadRobe. The purpose of the mobile app is to organize and store a user’s wardrobe, but an added bonus - it has the ability to offer outfit recommendations to the user. The app collects data from the garments such as the color, fabric, and pattern that the user adds to their inventory/wardrobe. The app can then conduct outfit recommendations by the use of matching algorithms which are based on color, fabric, pattern, etc. The app then communicates with a smart wardrobe which steams and stores all clothing items, then when the user wants an outfit they use the app which connects to the automated furniture which dispenses the clothing.

Phase One:

During phase one we started the design process, or in better terms- the look and the feel for the mobile app. The challenge we faced during the design phase was creating a custom made solution (the app) for a machine that was not yet built. We wanted to make sure that the design of the app reflected the attributes and establish the right controls and functionalities to correspond with the physical machine. We were able to work closely with the ThreadRobe team to work around the barriers to create a very sleek design that parallels the brand. Once the design phase was complete we moved to the build. We built out the front-end interface and backend server for Android only. For the mobile app, our development team worked directly with ThreadRobe’s IT team to streamline communication between the app (being built by Mobomo) and the wardrobe (being built by their engineers). We worked with their team to integrate the wardrobe API’s so that it would communicate correctly with the ThreadRobe app.

Phase Two:

Phase two consisted of enhancing the mobile app by adding new features. We updated and improved on the first version, integrated the app and its backend with the wardrobe server and designed and developed their website. The main goal of their website is to leverage it for marketing and brand awareness, so during the design phase it was important to find the right balance of fashion and clothing combined with cutting edge technology and innovation.  Even though the mobile app is not yet in the app store, we wanted to give you a quick step-by-step of what the process looks like from a user perspective.

Mobile App:

During phase one and two we used a hybrid team approach-maximizing our resources in different time zones so that their product was being worked on 24/7. Even though the app will not launch in the store until the fall, ThreadRobe’s website is live and we must say - it looks awesome!

• Read more about Tips For Your Mobile App Design

Mobile apps have become such an ubiquitous item that it seems everyone imaginable has one, literally everyone… even Barilla pasta has an ‘iPasta” mobile app. The question is what sets mobile apps apart from the OK from the GOOD from the GREAT?

Designing a great mobile app is no simple task and it’s more than just what the app “looks like”. We have compiled a small list of helpful tips to think about while you make your next mobile app. 

Execute one thing, really well

Ok so obviously.. Right? Everyone wants and needs to execute something in order to be successful. Being able to have a functionality that you can execute on really well is the foundation for all great apps. Think about Netflix, Uber or Dropbox-  they do ONE thing really, really well. They each became extremely successful by not over complicating their purpose, Netflix: watch a movie/TV show, Uber: find a ride, and Dropbox: access your files from anywhere. Each started with a single purpose and each grew to become much more than that.

To be truly successful you need to focus your energy on making sure your product does one thing perfect. Whether that’s showing people where the cleanest water fountains are in the city, or rating their favorite libation. Our suggestion would be to start small and then add features to your core application once you have established what you are and what you want to be.

Solve a user problem

If your application doesn’t solve a need that people currently have it will never be successful. The market is flooded with apps that do little to nothing at all for the people who download them. If a user doesn’t see benefit, well more times than not the user will delete the app. Users are looking for something out of your app- you need to be able to give them something in return.

People have little to no time to spare on your product, so creating something that can save them time, or give them some time back will make a huge impact. Apps like Operator, which offer on-demand “concierge” type services for buying products are on the front line of a new wave of app design. By allowing people to shop with a simple text request you can save someone hours of site browsing, allowing them to spend their time doing things that matter most to them.

Consistency

Making sure that your app has the same feel throughout does several things. It ensures that a button designed on one screen looks and acts the same on every other screen it appears on. It adds a level of polish to your finished product that makes it more professional, and it establishes an interface pattern that allows users to recognize similar elements on different screens. Without consistency in your application users will get frustrated and annoyed.

User experience

At Mobomo, we take user experience seriously. We make sure that all of our designs are user centric. You need to account for things like empty states, error pages, users who are less savvy, physical and technical limitations,etc.

The best way to make sure your application meets these requirements is to ensure that your discovery and IA phases dive deep into what your users are expecting to get out of your product. Make sure that their needs are being met, and that your business needs are aligned with their expectations. Doing things like user testing and user interviews will help you to get to a place where you can truly understand what it is that your users want.

Lastly, make sure you’re listening to the people using your product. Take their feedback seriously, listen to what they’re saying and refactor your application to meet their needs.

Pleasing visual design

While visual design is far from the only part of your application, it still ranks as one the most important. An aesthetically pleasing product is like having a well manicured lawn in front of your house, it’s the first thing people see and can either drive them to explore further, or turn them away entirely. Recently the Nielsen Norman Group released an article stating that users are actually more tolerant of minor usability issues if the application or product is visually appealing.

Fast and reliable

Last on the list is the optimization of your application. Make sure that your code is written as concisely as possible, fixing any bugs that arise as soon as possible, and making sure any bitmap assets are as compressed as possible will help to keep your product running fast and smooth.

Now it will take a little more than just this list to create a well designed mobile app, but this is a pretty solid foundation, and one we follow here at Mobomo on our projects. We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts on the subject too, what steps you take and any tips you might have.

• Read more about Mobile Strategy: Website Or Application?

Every company should have a mobile strategy but first you need to decide what's right for your business - a mobile application or a responsive website? Sometimes companies have one or the other or they may have both. This is all depending on the company and how they reach their users.

Some businesses have to choose between a mobile website or a mobile app based on their budget, let's discuss the pros and cons so that you can make the most educated decision whenever you're deciding on your mobile strategy. 

Mobile Website

Reach: Probably the biggest  benefit the mobile website has over a mobile app is the amount of reach you have; you’re able to access a much larger audience because of its discoverability and marketing potential, and it has low barriers to entry.

Content Sharing: If your primary goal is content consumption, a mobile website will usually suffice. While apps have the ability to make content sharing easy with a great design, a website can do these things with less overhead.

Ships Fast: Generally, obtaining an model view presenter (MVP) for a website requires less resources than launching a mobile app.

Marketing: Marketing a mobile website is easier and more effective than marketing a mobile application. Two tactics in particular work very well with website: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC).

Some disadvantages are:

Functionality: Products with singular functions are generally better delivered via a mobile application than a mobile website. If you think of calendars or email, Uber or Instagram, you'll likely agree that these functions are more effectively delivered through mobile applications than a mobile website.

Mobile Application

User Experience: The biggest benefit of a mobile app is the rich experience it delivers. Think of the UX on Facebook, Spotify, and some of your other favorite apps. Chances are the experience on the mobile application version is much more satisfying than their website versions.

Stand alone services: Applications are ideal for products that offer stand alone services. Weather, health, and banking apps all provide singular services to the user.

Re-engagement: While marketing an application via App Store Optimization is not very effective, apps offer push notifications. Push notifications are a great way to call the user to act even when they’re not actively engaged with your brand or product.

Some of the disadvantages are:

Storage: There is a limited amount of space on a user’s phone and your app is taking up some of that valuable real estate, I think we can all say we’ve seen the message “Storage Full”. When a user gets that message, they are then forced to decide whether or not to keep the app. Generally, apps get deleted before photos, emails, or other personalized storage.                                                                                                                                                                            

Best of Both Worlds

If you’re unsure which route to take (and you don’t have the budget for two builds), then Progressive Web Apps are a great alternative.

By combining the best of the web and the best of app, Progressive Web Apps maintain a website’s far reach and an app’s exceptional UX. Some of the benefits:

If you have questions about which mobile strategy is right for you, feel free to reach out to us! If you’d like to learn more about some of the mobile strategies we’ve put into place, check out the mobile apps and responsive websites we’ve developed.

• Read more about Part 1: Top Questions to Ask Website and Mobile App Developers

Ever heard of the expression you get what you pay for? I think we all have, right? Sure sometimes when you invest in something you have a great experience but sometimes... You don't. And we can't help but think about that experience when you paid for something and it didn't turn out to be what you thought it would. The same goes true in the tech industry, and if you aren't careful you may not ask the right questions in the contract process which could lead you down a shaky path resulting in a negative experience. In order to avoid this mistake all together it is important to ask your potential website or app developer the right questions before you sign the dotted line.

Here are a few questions to get you started when you're hiring a web or mobile application development company. And remember, if you aren't getting the loaded answers you are wanting to hear, then you should probably keep looking for another company that may better fit your needs. 

What does your company portfolio look like, or who have you worked with in the past? Can you give describe some of the products your company has created in the past? 

The WHO is always important to ask. If a company can't tell you who they have worked with in the past, RUN! Once you have an understanding of their past clients you can do a little homework on your own.

We have worked with a wide array of clients ranging from the government, consumer and startup companies launching hundreds of products over the past few years. We value our experience working with clients in all sectors as well as the opportunity to take on a new challenge. Head over to our portfolio to see our web & app development work.

How do you communicate with your clients?

Communication is very important in all aspects of life but in our case it is vital to have solid communication when a client is working with their project manager. Once a new client comes on board they talk through their needs and based off their needs we decide which tool is best to use to maintain fluid and consistent communication. We are very flexible with communication tools, if one client wants to use something other than what we suggest- we are all ears! We love trying new things. A few tools that we use the most are Confluence and Basecamp.

Confluence:

• You have full visibility as to what's going on in a project from beginning to end
• It is a place where you can save all steps of project as well as any notes 
• Has a lot of broad features which can help clients achieve any goal
• Allows you to create reports, pages, spaces and more

Basecamp:

• Very lean UI, very simple to use and it is very self explanatory 
• Helps you keep track of files and messages between you and your project manager
• Mainly used for document management, note filing etc.

There are always disadvantages to any tool you use for communicating but these are just a few of our favorites. Which tool do you like to use?