In a crowded digital marketplace, a well-designed app is more important than ever. Great design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about creating intuitive, accessible, and high-performing experiences that keep users engaged and loyal. With user expectations constantly evolving, adhering to established guidelines and learning from authoritative sources is the key to building products that succeed. This article rounds up seven essential resources that cover the core app design best practices you need to know in 2025.

Whether you're building for iOS, Android, or cross-platform environments, these references provide the foundational knowledge for creating apps that are both beautiful and functional. We will explore official platform guidelines, expert research, and comprehensive learning platforms to help you avoid common pitfalls and deliver exceptional user value. For an expanded perspective on modern design principles, explore these 9 user experience design best practices for 2025, which offer valuable insights applicable to app design.

This guide moves beyond generic advice to provide actionable insights. Each entry details a key resource, complete with direct links and screenshots, helping you quickly find the specific information needed to elevate your app development process from concept to launch.

1. Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HIG)

For anyone designing an application for the Apple ecosystem, the Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) is the definitive, non-negotiable starting point. This official resource from Apple is an exhaustive library detailing the principles, patterns, and best practices required to create intuitive, consistent, and high-quality user experiences across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and macOS. More than just a style guide, it's a deep dive into the philosophy behind Apple's design language.

The HIG stands out because it is the source of truth for Apple's platforms. It provides specific, actionable guidance on everything from navigation and layout to the nuanced implementation of components like buttons, pickers, and menus. This level of detail ensures your app feels native and familiar to users, which is a critical factor in adoption and retention.

Key Features and Practical Use

This resource is essential for both designers and developers looking to implement app design best practices for Apple devices.

• Platform-Specific Patterns: It offers detailed specifications for UI components and patterns unique to each operating system. For example, it explains the correct usage of the Dynamic Island on newer iPhones or the Digital Crown on Apple Watch.

• Accessibility First: The guidelines provide comprehensive instructions on implementing accessibility features like VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and high-contrast modes, ensuring your app is usable by everyone.

• Design Resources: Apple provides direct links to downloadable design templates (for Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD), SF Symbols, and other assets, significantly speeding up the design and prototyping workflow.

The HIG is completely free to access and does not require an account. It is a living document, continuously updated with each new OS release, making it an indispensable tool. A minor drawback is its exclusive focus on Apple's ecosystem, so it is not a guide for cross-platform design. Additionally, some content requires JavaScript, which could be an issue on networks with strict security policies.

Website: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines

2. Google Material Design

As the counterpart to Apple's HIG, Google Material Design is the essential design system for creating cohesive and functional applications for Android, the web, and other cross-platform experiences. Originally introduced in 2014, Material Design has evolved into a mature, comprehensive framework that provides designers and developers with the tools to build beautiful, usable products. It is less of a strict rulebook and more of a flexible system, promoting a consistent yet customizable user experience.

Material Design stands out for its wide industry adoption and powerful developer tooling, making it a practical choice for teams building for the Android ecosystem or for the web. It provides clear, component-based guidance that scales easily across different platforms and screen sizes, ensuring your app feels modern and intuitive. The system's emphasis on motion, interaction, and a rationalized use of space helps create a clear and engaging user interface.

Key Features and Practical Use

This resource is a cornerstone for anyone looking to master app design best practices, particularly for Android and web applications.

• Design Tokens and Theming: It provides a sophisticated system of design tokens that allows for deep customization of an application's visual style, including color, typography, and shape, while maintaining underlying consistency.

• Component Libraries: Material Design offers extensive libraries of pre-built components complete with usage guidelines, accessibility notes, and code-level implementation guidance for Android, Flutter, and the web.

• Cross-Platform System: Its principles and components are designed to be adaptable, providing a unified design language that works seamlessly across multiple platforms, saving significant design and development effort.

The entire Material Design system is free to access, including its extensive documentation, component libraries, and tools. While it is an incredibly robust resource, some of its interactive documentation requires JavaScript to function properly. Additionally, as a living design system, its documentation URLs and guidelines for specific versions can change over time, requiring users to stay updated.

Website: https://m3.material.io

3. Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g)

For designers and product teams seeking to ground their work in rigorous, evidence-based research, the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) is an indispensable authority. Founded by user experience pioneers Don Norman and Jakob Nielsen, this organization offers a wealth of articles, reports, and training focused on usability and interaction design. It moves beyond platform-specific rules to teach the fundamental, human-centered principles that make any digital product successful.

NN/g stands out because every piece of guidance is backed by decades of quantitative and qualitative user research. This research-first approach provides a credible foundation for making critical design decisions, helping teams avoid subjective debates and focus on what truly works for users. Their content covers everything from mobile usability heuristics to intricate interaction design patterns, making it a critical resource for creating effective applications.

Key Features and Practical Use

This resource is ideal for individuals and teams looking to deepen their understanding of UX fundamentals and apply proven app design best practices to their projects.

• Extensive Research Library: NN/g provides hundreds of free, in-depth articles on topics like mobile UX, information architecture, and usability testing. These articles are perfect for finding data to support design choices or learning about a specific UX challenge.

• Industry-Recognized Certifications: The group offers UX Certification (UXC) and UX Master Certification (UXMC) through paid courses. These certifications are highly respected in the industry and signal a deep, practical knowledge of user experience principles.

• Actionable Frameworks: NN/g is known for creating practical frameworks, such as Jakob Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics, which provide clear, testable guidelines for evaluating and improving an application's user interface.

While the vast library of articles is free to access, the professional training and certification courses are paid, with costs varying by event. The courses are typically scheduled events rather than on-demand, which may require planning. However, the investment is often justified by the high-quality, research-driven knowledge that is directly applicable to creating user-centric and highly functional apps.

Website: https://www.nngroup.com

4. O’Reilly Learning

For designers and developers who want to move beyond documentation and dive into structured, expert-led education, O’Reilly Learning is an invaluable resource. This subscription-based platform offers a massive digital library of books, videos, live courses, and interactive labs from over 200 respected publishers. It serves as a comprehensive educational hub for mastering everything from foundational UX principles to advanced topics like creating scalable design systems.

O’Reilly stands out by curating high-quality, up-to-date content that covers the entire product development lifecycle. Unlike platforms focused solely on video courses, it blends theory from authoritative books with practical, hands-on learning. This makes it an ideal environment for teams looking to standardize their knowledge and for individuals who want to build a deep, well-rounded understanding of modern app design best practices.

Key Features and Practical Use

This platform is a powerful tool for continuous learning and skill development in the ever-evolving field of app design.

• Multi-Format Learning: Access thousands of books, video courses, case studies, and live online training sessions. This variety allows users to learn in the format that best suits their style, whether it is reading an in-depth book on accessibility or following a hands-on coding lab.

• Curated Learning Paths: O’Reilly provides structured learning paths and playlists on specific topics like "Product Design" or "UI/UX," guiding users from novice to expert levels. Its AI-powered search also delivers personalized content recommendations.

• Team-Oriented Features: The platform is built for team learning, offering shared playlists, usage analytics, and content that helps standardize design practices across an organization. This is particularly useful for growing startups, as detailed in this guide to MVP development for startups.

Access to O'Reilly Learning requires a paid subscription, with plans available for individuals and teams. While the cost may be a barrier for casual learners, the sheer breadth and quality of the content provide significant value for dedicated professionals. A minor drawback is that some highly specialized or niche UX topics might still require sourcing information from outside the platform.

Website: https://www.oreilly.com/online-learning/pricing.html

5. Coursera

While guidelines and tools provide the "how," a strong theoretical and practical foundation provides the "why." Coursera is an exceptional online learning platform for building that foundation. It offers university and industry-led courses, specializations, and professional certificates covering the entire spectrum of UX and application design. Programs like the Google UX Design Professional Certificate provide a structured path from foundational principles to portfolio-ready projects, making it a powerful resource for both aspiring and established designers.

Coursera stands out by democratizing access to high-quality education from world-renowned institutions and companies like Google, Meta, and the University of Michigan. Unlike static documentation, its courses provide guided learning, hands-on projects, and peer feedback. This structured approach helps learners systematically master the core competencies needed to implement app design best practices in real-world scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practical application.

Key Features and Practical Use

This platform is invaluable for anyone seeking structured learning to enhance their design skills, from beginners to seasoned professionals looking to specialize.

• Guided Specializations: Coursera offers comprehensive learning paths, such as the Google UX Design certificate, that cover everything from user research and wireframing to prototyping and usability testing. These programs guide you through a complete design process.

• Flexible Pacing: Courses are designed for self-paced learning, allowing you to fit education around your existing work schedule. This flexibility makes it an accessible alternative to traditional bootcamps or university degrees.

• Affordable Access: Many courses can be audited for free, providing access to lecture materials. For full course access, including graded assignments and certificates, you can pay per course or subscribe to Coursera Plus, which often has promotions for unlimited learning.

The main advantage is earning recognized certificates from top-tier brands, which can significantly boost a professional portfolio. However, the quality and depth of content can vary between different courses and providers. Pricing can also fluctuate, so it's wise to watch for seasonal deals on Coursera Plus to get the best value.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

6. Udemy

While official guidelines provide the rules, practical application is where skills are truly honed. Udemy serves as a vast online learning marketplace offering a massive library of courses that translate theoretical app design best practices into tangible, job-ready skills. It provides on-demand access to instruction from industry professionals on nearly every facet of app design, from mastering specific tools like Figma to understanding complex UX principles and accessibility standards.

Udemy stands out due to its granular, topic-focused approach. Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, you can purchase individual courses to fill specific knowledge gaps. This makes it an incredibly cost-effective and flexible resource for designers and developers looking to upskill quickly. Whether you need a deep dive into user research methods or a quick tutorial on creating interactive prototypes, there is likely a highly-rated course available.

Key Features and Practical Use

This platform is ideal for tactical skill development, allowing users to learn specific techniques and software workflows from experienced practitioners.

• Massive Course Catalog: Offers thousands of courses covering UI design, UX research, wireframing, prototyping, accessibility, and tool-specific training for software like Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma.

• Lifetime Access: Most courses are sold individually with lifetime access, allowing you to revisit the material anytime. Subscription plans (Personal and Business) are also available for broader access.

• Practical, Project-Based Learning: Many courses are structured around building a real-world project, providing practical experience you can apply immediately and even add to your portfolio.

Udemy is well-known for its frequent sales, which make its courses highly affordable. The main drawback is the variability in course quality; it is crucial to vet courses by checking student reviews, instructor credentials, and previewing the curriculum. The fluctuating pricing can also be confusing, as list prices are rarely what customers pay.

Website: https://www.udemy.com/

7. Amazon

While online resources are invaluable, sometimes the depth and structure of a physical or digital book are irreplaceable for mastering complex topics. Amazon serves as a vast, accessible library for designers and developers, offering an extensive catalog of print and Kindle books on everything from foundational UI/UX theory to advanced design systems and accessibility standards. It is an essential resource for building a comprehensive reference library to support your professional growth.

Amazon stands out for its sheer volume and variety, providing access to both seminal works and newly published titles that cover the latest app design best practices. The platform’s robust customer review system and "Look Inside" feature allow for informed purchasing decisions, ensuring you invest in resources that genuinely meet your needs. Whether you prefer the tactile experience of a physical book or the convenience of a Kindle edition, Amazon consolidates these options into a single, reliable marketplace.

Key Features and Practical Use

This platform is the go-to destination for anyone looking to build a solid foundation of design knowledge through long-form, expert-authored content.

• Wide Selection: Find new, used, and Kindle versions of essential design books like "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug or "Designing with the Mind in Mind" by Jeff Johnson, alongside niche titles on specific tools or methodologies.

• Customer Reviews and Previews: Leverage detailed user reviews and book previews to gauge a title's quality, relevance, and writing style before committing to a purchase, which helps avoid irrelevant material.

• Fast, Reliable Delivery: For those in the US, Amazon Prime offers fast shipping, while non-Prime members can often qualify for free shipping with a minimum order amount, making it easy to get physical resources quickly.

Amazon is a free-to-access marketplace, though purchases and Prime membership have associated costs. The main drawback is the potential for inconsistent metadata on third-party marketplace listings. Additionally, the platform’s core business model may be of interest to those exploring different revenue streams. To learn more about how apps can generate income, you can find valuable insights on mobile app monetization strategies.

Website: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-free-delivery/

App Design Best Practices Comparison

Streamline Your Design and Development Workflow

Navigating the landscape of app design requires more than just creativity; it demands a strategic application of proven principles and powerful tools. Throughout this guide, we've explored the foundational pillars that separate good apps from great ones. From adhering to the detailed specifications of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Google's Material Design to absorbing the evidence-based wisdom from Nielsen Norman Group, the path to user-centric design is clear. These resources provide the essential "why" behind every design choice you make.

The journey continues with ongoing education through platforms like O’Reilly, Coursera, and Udemy, which ensure your skills remain sharp and relevant. By internalizing these app design best practices, you build a robust framework for creating interfaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also intuitive, accessible, and high-performing. The core takeaway is that exceptional design isn't a single event but a continuous process of learning, applying, and iterating based on established user-centered principles.

Turning Principles into Products

Mastering design theory is the first critical step, but its true value is realized only when a design becomes a functional, market-ready application. The transition from a static prototype to a dynamic product often introduces significant friction, involving complex coding, lengthy development cycles, and substantial financial investment. This is where modern tooling becomes a game-changer, bridging the gap between design and deployment.

To effectively implement these principles, consider how you can refine your workflow. For instance, before committing to a full development cycle, you can rapidly test and validate your core concepts. Mastering the remote design sprint is a powerful way to enhance your workflow, allowing your team to collaborate efficiently and make data-driven decisions early in the process. This agile approach, combined with the right technology, minimizes risk and accelerates progress.

Choosing the Right Tools for Your Workflow

The key to an efficient workflow is selecting tools that align with your technical skills, project scope, and long-term goals. While traditional development paths offer granular control, they are often not the most efficient route for founders, designers, or small businesses aiming to launch quickly.

Consider the following when evaluating your options:

• Speed to Market: How quickly can you go from an idea to a testable Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?

• Technical Barrier: Does the tool require extensive coding knowledge, or does it empower non-technical creators?

• Scalability: Can the platform support your app as it grows in complexity and user base?

• Integration: How well does it fit into your existing design process, incorporating feedback and allowing for rapid iteration?

By thoughtfully integrating established app design best practices with an automated, AI-powered development workflow, you create a powerful synergy. This combination allows you to maintain a high standard of quality while drastically reducing the time and resources required to bring your vision to life. Ultimately, it empowers you to focus on what matters most: delivering a valuable and delightful experience to your users.

Ready to transform your app design concepts into a fully functional product without writing a single line of code? CatDoes uses AI agents to handle the entire development process, from requirements and design to coding and deployment. Bring your ideas to life faster than ever by visiting CatDoes to start building today.