Design and Functionality: Symbiosis Required

Something we all need to get with online and mobile applications, is that without a great user interface (UI) and great functionality the application (app) just won’t make it as big as you would like.

It might sound obvious, but very often the UI can be influenced by the underlying code, in relation to how a process flow will have to work or in regards to what the restrictions of the app will allow.

This is where (mainly) developers, who do not work with or on the UI, need to be aware of this symbiotic relationship. It’s simple – the app won’t work without both. I have been in many meetings where you hear, and in truth often backed up with sound reasons, that design has to take a back seat to functionality because “the code will work better that way” or “technically that is the correct way to do it”. Maybe so – but tell that to the clients who are put off by a sub standard user UI.

How to solve this?

I think the issue at heart is that Developers don’t often see the need themselves for a great UI. They are happy with plain functionality over design. This is where the Marketing channel in your office (if you have one) has an important role to play – they should sell the initial concept and goals of the product right from the beginning. This way everyone involved in creating it will have a end goal vision of what they are creating.

In summary, it’s all about Marketing – the app (eventual product) – has to sound great, look great, and offer great functionality. Without all those ingredients it just won’t work.