Life is an endlesscircle of decisions. Every day you have to consider your options andchallenges, and find solutions. And at the end of the day, each solution is adecision you make based on knowledge and preferences. This article will discussone of the choices UI designers have to make when they create a new app. Theyneed to decide between a light or dark interface. Picking the right colourscheme is often tricky because they have to figure out if it will match theuser’s requirements.
If you want to develop an app for your brand, this decision may seem scary because it can make or break its success. Color schemes have a long-lasting impact on user experience, and many compare their effect to the one of a dating profile. When someone opens the app, they scroll through it and check its aesthetics as they would do with a dating profile. You want them to get Goosebumps and be fascinated.
So, should you jointhe dark side?
Factors that caninfluence your decision
There’s no one themethat works for all apps. Various factors influence the choice, and while somecover the market conditions, others focus on the brand’s goals and the latesttrends. Here is a list you should check before embracing one of thesides.
Legibility and readability
These factors aredirectly related to the perception of the text you add to your app. Readabilitydefines how easily users can read it, and legibility measures how quickly theycan distinguish the symbols.
For apps filled withlots of text, these characteristics are crucial. The interface affects textperception. When you insert black text on a lighter background, the usersperceive it as larger than if you put white text on a black surface. Peopleshould quickly scan data because if they struggle, they quit your app.
But it doesn’t meanthat apps with a light background are always more readable than the dark ones.The secret is to use great contrasting hues for the background and text. Anycolor scheme can be legible if the app designer researches the peculiarities oftext perception on different surfaces and experiments with font options.
Accessibility
Accessibility is yourapp’s ability to reach the public and serve needs without discrimination. Yourusers’ preferences and needs should tell you what colour scheme to use. Itwould help if you considered your audience’s age, special needs, disabilities,and preferences. Public research is an essential part of app design.
Clarity
Clarity defines theability to identify all details on a page. It focuses on the intuitiveness ofnavigation and simplicity because users should quickly scan the layout of theapp, and identify the pieces of information and elements they want to interactwith. When clarity is ignored or poorly tested, this may result in weak visualhierarchy and chaotic aesthetics. The color scheme is paramount for clarity,and it should contain contrasting hues to prevent the blur effect thatdiscourages people from reading the text.
Responsiveness
People should find theapp easy to use and functional, no matter the device they use. The visuals maylook appealing on a computer screen, but they may transform into a smudgy imageon a smartphone screen. Some color schemes don’t respond well on all screensizes. So, you must test the interface in all conditions you intend to useit.
Environment
When you research theaudience, you identify the environments in which your clients use the app. Forexample, if they use it mainly during the daytime, a dark scheme would createan effect of reflection. A dark background is perfect for dark environments.Shades, contrast, and color combinations influence your decision.
Checklist forinterface choice
An expert in app design will always recommend picking aninterface that offers your clients a top-notch experience even if your personalpreferences don’t match it. Now that you know what factors influence yourdecision check the steps you must follow in the process.
Determine the interface’s goal – the choice ofthe interface should be reasoned, so it’s wise to identify the core points ofthe UI and its problem-solving ability. For an app loaded with text, it’s bestto pick a light background because it makes the screen look more spacious, andthe user finds it easier to focus on content. But if you want to maintain thefocus on images, a dark color scheme would work better. Usually, dark colorsprovide the impression of luxury and style.
Find out what your public wants – we cannotstress enough how important this step is. Defining and analyzing your audiencehelps you determine the features your app must include. Know who your user is,what they want to get from your app, and discover how your interface canprovide it for them. Use a light color scheme for middle-aged and older usersbecause they find it more straightforward and intuitive. Dark backgrounds workbetter for young people, mainly if you include engaging elements.
Research your competitors – your app isnot the only one on the market, so you must find out what your competitorsoffer to their clients. The moment your app gets into the blue ocean called theApp Store; it will fight for users’ attention in the conditions of highcompetition. The interface is one of the factors that make it stand out on themarket and encourage interaction. It’s best to spend time exploring thecompetition before creating the app than having to spendmoney later to upgrade it.
Test it, over and over again – the tips abovealone won’t tell you what the right choice is. Research may indicate that youraudience would like a light interface, but you cannot be sure until you testit. The color of the background influences the attractiveness and usability ofthe app, so import all data and test it on different screens and UIX. Testingreveals how well the interface performs. Ask a small group of clients to checkthe app and provide feedback before launching it on the market.
If you don’t want tostick to a strict color scheme, combine them, because often a compromisesolution works best.
