Design for thumbs, not cursors
Over 75% of mobile interactions happen with one thumb. Place primary actions within the natural thumb zone — the bottom-center and bottom-right of the screen. Keep navigation accessible but out of the way of content. Bottom tab bars consistently outperform hamburger menus for core navigation.
Reduce cognitive load with progressive disclosure
Mobile screens have limited real estate. Show users only what they need at each step. Use collapsible sections, step-by-step flows, and contextual actions instead of overwhelming single-page forms. Every additional field or option increases abandonment risk.
Micro-interactions build trust
Subtle animations — a button press feedback, a loading skeleton, a success checkmark — communicate that the app is responsive and reliable. These details feel small in isolation but collectively shape whether users perceive your product as polished or frustrating.