Eight things every company should know before building an iPhone app

There are a lot of great things to be found in the iPhone App Store, but according to research we just completed at Create with Context, 50% of new iPhone users have difficulties finding and purchasing an app (outside of the Featured or Top sections) on the iPhone.

And, once they finally locate those elusive apps, many users remain confused regarding how to actually use them - especially when it comes to confusing app navigation, non-standard icons and terminology, and difficulties using the small iPhone display.

However, companies can easily overcome these obstacles by following a few simple iPhone application design rules:

Eight rules of thumb for iPhone app development

1 Take advantage of learned behaviors

2 Avoid interaction inconsistencies

3 Provide clear conceptual link across widgets

4 Put space between action widgets

5 Plan for accidental overswiping

6 Don’t rely exclusively on multi-touch

7 Provide visual feedback for taps

8 Provide interaction affordances

So how to best create a usable, enjoyable iPhone application?  Research your target market before you get started, pay attention to how other iPhone apps are designed, and follow the Eight Rules.

Take a look at the full presentation here.