Android

One of my first projects at Mutual Mobile was an Android app. This was in 2010, and Android was largely the wild west. There very few standards to follow, which one the surface sounds great! In reality, Android was extraordinarily hard to design for. From inconsistent ui elements, to a laborious and mysterious assets process to the spine chilling world of infinite resolutions and devices sizes.

My first project was an absolute disaster, one that led to weeks of sleepless nights while I tried to figure out what I was doing wrong. Why the developers were having such a hard time implementing my design. So I decided to investigate and compile a design guideline, mostly for myself.

When I was done, the powers that be at MM recognized that my documentation could be of use to the rest of the design team, who had begun feeling the same trauma that I faced. They assigned me with create a manifesto for our company that we could follow to design android apps, and later to be our solitary and somewhat abused UX Android evangelist.

While these guidelines and subsequent blog were rendered outdated by the introduction of Material design, they are a charming glimpse into research and standardization in a more wild and chaotic time.

I hope you enjoy.

Mutual Mobile Android Design Guidelines

The Golden Age of Android - 11/12/12