The best apps pay attention to the smallest details. Animated microinteractions are some of those details. These tiny actions are typically associated with completing a specific task such as adding an item to a shopping cart or refreshing content. Although we usually don’t focus on microinteractions, we know they are there. Humans respond positively to them because they make the user experience feel more genuine.
Let’s look at a few examples of how you can use microinteractions to enhance your mobile app experience.
Inform Users of System Status
When people use your app, they should feel that it’s intuitive and responsive. To communicate this message, you can use microinteractions. For example, when data is loading, an animated circle with an arrow shows users that the information is processing. This prevents people from getting frustrated while waiting.
Welcome New Users
When welcoming users to your app, animations are helpful. They can be used to educate users on how to use the app, explain which features are included, and more. This helps people get more from your company app. You may also use animations to inform users of the latest updates.
Refresh Content
When users pull down on a menu, the content is refreshed. Even though this is a universal action, it’s not always clear to the user if the content is new. This is particularly the case on social media platforms when content is shown according to the algorithm, not necessarily the most recent content. A cheerful animation reassures users that they are getting the most recent information.
Provide Visual Feedback
Although the buttons on your app are behind a layer of glass, they should be made to feel tangible. Luckily, animated microinteractions can help you achieve this. For instance, when a user clicks on the button, it responds to the input. Visual feedback is important because it acknowledges the user’s actions so they feel in control.
Incorporate Transitions
Transitions are a natural part of using the internet. When you move users to different parts of your app, a microinteraction can explain the changes or keep users entertained while they wait. This is especially great for mobile apps because it can be difficult to return a lot of data on small screens.
As you can see, there are many ways that animated microactions can be used to enhance your mobile app experience. Microactions may be tiny but they are arguably one of the most powerful details that you can include on your app.
