Designing animations for apps takes some creativity. But it’s worth the time spent because a good app would attract users and make them feel comfortable using your app. This should not be overdone, however, to avoid distracting the user from the main purpose of the app itself. Your animation should rather be able to pass across a message to the user; like one showing what the app is all about. An app developer who wants to design an app animation would first have to know the basics of animation.
Thanks to mobile app development and Android app development, in particular, a lot of these features are easy to implement. This article will show you how to create app animations.
Function Change
In an animation, there are icons that either indicates when changes take place or changes along with the content.
Orientation In Space
It is a known fact among mobile app developers that a lot of apps are too complex. This can be quite cumbersome for users. ‘Orientation In Space,’ makes navigating through an app easier. It can locate an element when the app is being used, making it possible for the user to find that element without help next time.
Prompting Visually
With animations, users are prompted on how to use apps, especially when it’s not the conventional app they are used to.
Giving Users Feedback Visually
Imagine using something, and you’re not feeling any response from it. It can be bland and perhaps frustrating. That is why it is important for apps to have animations. When there’s a visual feedback from an app, the user would know that something is actually going on. An example is clicking on an icon and watching it increase in size or change colors. Also, visual feedback is proof that you created an app that works.
Fun Looking Animations
These kinds of animations should be used with caution because they can backfire. Use something that attracts attention and is fun without being too distracting.
There are nine principles of animation designing which was put together by the famous Walt Disney. They include:
1. Timing
This is vital in animations. It would not be nice if animations move too slow or too fast. It is suggested that you use characters with curves to enable the animations to move naturally.
2. Ease In And Out
This principle is similar to timing. It says that moving objects need time to start and stop. This should be applied to animations to make them move realistically.
3. Material
The materials used for creating the animation should be visible to users.
4. Overlapping And Follow-Through
An action should not stop completely before the other begins. They should overlap each other, keeping the user glued.
Icons or elements should not move independently of one another because it would look so unnatural.
5. Focus
An animation should be able to keep a user’s attention on the particular part of the screen where it’s effect is taking place at the moment.
6. Rhythm
This means that your animation elements should move in a structured manner; they should not be disorganized.
7. Secondary Actions
They are not too different from number four. They make animations pop, but care should be taken with them as they could distract the user.
8. Movement Trajectory
The way the animations move should be straight, without flexibility, as they are not living things.
9. Anticipation
This gives the user something to wait for or look forward to. An arrow can point somewhere, hinting that something would happen if they tap it.
Melissa Crooks
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