Designing For Mobile? Consider Context

Face it, if you’re designing for the web, you’re designing for mobile. It may not be your niche, but everyday more and more people are using their mobile browsers to consume online content. Google recently predicted that this year one billion people will use a mobile device as their primary access to the Internet.

More than ever designers need to consider the conditions under which their audience will be interacting with their designs, and the only way to do that is to understand your end users and their browsing habits.

Most of us are multitasking when we’re consuming content online. In addition to everything going on in the real world, we’re constantly interrupted by email notifications, text messages, social media status updates, etc. Some of us have become so attuned to notifications that we’re experiencing Phantom Vibration Syndrome. Can the content & features of your website or application compete with everything else fighting for the attention of your audience?

Consider this scenario… you run a website that handles financial transactions, what can you do to make the process as easy as possible given your user is on board a flight with a flight attendent demanding that phones be turned off? Will your customer be able to finish their transaction?

All of these distractions are one thing, but what about situations that induce even higher levels of anxiety? I’m currently working on an application that is meant to be used at the scene of an auto accident. Highly stressful situations are bound to elevate adrenaline (shaky hands) and reduce literacy levels making even simple interactions harder to complete.

Considering the full context of your users (their state of mind, physical location, distractions, etc.) is now critical to the success of your design. Observing users in their natural environment is the best way to ensure your design will compete with the distractions.

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