Just like one year we're all rocking out to Pharrell Williams, and the next Taylor Swift has become the queen of everything, trends and tastes in design evolve constantly.
One of the most important aspects of design is color, and as the tendency toward minimalist flat designs has held strong for years now, changes in the choice and application of color are often the most noticeable trends to emerge.
In app design, color does not only play a huge role in aesthetics, it's also a key UX tool. Color draws attention to certain design elements, such as highlighting action buttons and instinctive navigation through an app.
Another design consideration with apps is that staring at a light-emitting screen is a strain on the eyes. In order for the user to not get fatigued, colors should be used with a good balance; and toned down. Muted colors can help prevent discomfort. This is why usually apps have fairly simple color schemes with soft contrast.
These rules of thumb don't mean app design needs to be bland though. Below we've rounded up some of our favorite design examples for apps with a range of functions and goals.
You'll notice they're all unique, and apply the rules of color usage for a positive UX in the most creative ways.
This surprisingly challenging game is juxtaposed with a beautiful, minimalist design that only ever uses two colors at a time.
Using flat design and muted background colors allows the typography of this cocktail recipe app to stand out, creating a beautiful harmony. Also, the muted colors match their cocktail recipes.
This app is meant for kids, but that doesn't mean its design is childish. Using muted pastel colors for the background to contrast with the strong and hand-drawn illustrations, this game is so stunning you'll want to play it yourself.
Every designer (and writer, and any other person using notebooks) knows the great holy brand Moleskine – It's like prestige note-taking. Now it's an app. Just like the classic notebook, the Timepage app is exquisite. Its elegance also extends to its colors – using just one color per event makes this app look crisp and fancy.
This stunning game is really something quite remarkable, in terms of design. Through meticulous 3D design, optical illusions and the use of complementary gradients of colors, each level of this game is really impactful. No wonder it won Apple Design Award in 2014.
Another game, but you'll have to admit these illustrations of all the cats you're trying to feed are too cute not to share. The use of subtle colors makes the game much more user friendly and quite beautiful. No wonder it recently caused quite a stir, with non-Japanese users getting obsessed all over the world
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This app is beautifully designed, as the bluish-grey background allows the typography and diagrams to really stand out. Having the turquoise color for certain text makes the app also look calm and beautiful. For a topic that is usually perceived as quite bland and even ugly, this is a sterling job.
Rise is a different kind of alarm clock where the UI and design are minimal, but stands out through the beautiful hues of the gradient background. It's just what you need in the mornings – calm, simple and soothing to look at. All that's left is to build in the coffee smell.
Sky. is like a digital mood ring for – you guessed it – the sky. This beautiful app has a background with a slight gradient that changes its hue based on the temperature. This is in contrast with the white vectors and typography, making the app UX friendly and very appealing.
This is an app that makes to-do lists beautiful and exciting. Stop laughing, we're serious. It uses monochromatic colors for typography and illustrations, while the background colors are muted, but still bring the list to life.
Want More?
DesignCrowd insights are the perfect way to learn more about design principles and hone your skills. Maybe these articles are of interest:
10 of the Best Productivity Apps for Designers
5 Key Web Design Trends in 2015
Getting Psychological About Brand Color
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Written by Divya Abe on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Divya Abe is an expert graphic designer ready to share her knowledge with the crowd. Besides spending quality time on the internet she enjoys anything to do with cats. Get in touch via Google+.
