Hostelworld
We supported their full product strategy, created a clear design system to remove guesswork, defined all design rules and redesigned their entire ecosystem: from mobile and web apps to their website.
HO
Small screens, big impact
Mobile app design
On mobile you get one thumb, a small screen and a few seconds of attention. We design apps that work inside those limits — the ones people keep on the first page instead of deleting after a week.
What we know
What makesa great mobile app?
A good mobile app respects the context it is used in: standing on a train, one hand busy, signal dropping. That means the important action sits within thumb reach, the app tells you what is happening while it loads, and nothing important hides behind a gesture nobody discovers. Get that wrong and people do not file a complaint — they just leave a one-star review and uninstall.
Mobile app design
clarity map
Signal 01
People abandon it
Needs claritySignal 02
Ratings drop
Needs clarityImprove the flow
When a mobile app frustrates people, it shows up fast:
People abandon it
Onboarding asks too much before showing any value, and the install never becomes a user.
Ratings drop
Frustration goes public in the store, where it deters everyone who reads before downloading.
Retention fades
The app gets opened a few times, never becomes a habit, and quietly stops being used.
Rivals win
Switching costs on mobile are one tap, and a smoother competitor takes the user for good.
How we buildan app people keep
01
Discovery
We get to know the people who will use this — how they think, what they need, and where the app fits into an ordinary day.
- Key user scenarios
- User personas
- Market research
- Competitive analysis
- User journeys
- Feature prioritisation
02
Design
We design touch-first interfaces where targets are easy to hit, motion explains what just happened, and each screen has one clear job.
- User flows
- Information architecture
- Wireframes
- Art direction
- High-fidelity screens
- Design system
03
Validation
We put it on real devices in real hands, watch where thumbs hesitate, and refine until it holds up at every tap.
- Interactive prototype
- Usability review
- Documentation
- Developer handoff
Main deliverable
Mobile app design
Complimentary deliverables & services
- Mobile app strategy and feature definition
- User personas
- User journey mapping
- Information architecture
- App navigation structure
- iOS app design
- Android app design
- Micro-interaction specifications
- Push notification strategy and design
- Accessibility review (WCAG considerations)
- Design system
- Developer handoff documentation
- Usability testing plan
- App Store and Google Play screenshots
- Design QA during development
View our case study
46Labs
We've created three distinct dashboard app solutions and developed the strategy for the pitch and investor decks, produced an explainer video and developed marketing materials for social media use.
46
EV Spot
We reimagined the mobile experience to make finding and scheduling EV charging or parking spots more intuitive, while improving reviews and supporting station activity through a unified dashboard.
EV
Key metrics
Our work speaksthrough numbers
+50
Completed projects all around the world.
$17.5M
Capital raised by our startup partners.
+10M
Users reached with products designed by us.
+12Y
Over a decade of experience in delivering impactful digital solutions.
Creative services forevery type of design work
FAQ
Do you have questions?We have answers
Do you design for iOS and Android separately?
We design one product with the platform conventions each side expects — navigation, system components and gestures follow the platform rather than fighting it. Where the two genuinely differ, you get both; where they do not, we keep it shared so the system stays small.
How long does a mobile app project take?
A focused app usually runs six to ten weeks: a couple of weeks of discovery, four to six weeks of design, and a stretch for testing and hand-off. Apps with several user types or an accompanying dashboard take longer, and we scope that before starting.
Can you redesign an app that is already live?
Yes. We start with what the store reviews and your analytics already tell you, map where people drop off, and stage the redesign so your team can ship it in releases rather than one risky rewrite.
Do you help with the App Store listing?
Store screenshots and the visual side of the listing are part of the deliverables. It is the first screen anyone sees, and it decides whether the rest of the work gets a chance.
Got a mobile app in mind?
Tell me what your users need to do on the move, and I'll reply with the next steps within one business day.