App development can feel like climbing Everest without a map. Between strategy, design, coding, testing, and deployment, there are tens of thousands of tasks, dependencies, and decisions to make! Without a clear process, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way.
At Uplancer, we simplify the chaos of app development into a clear, manageable process that keeps your project moving forward smoothly. Whether you’re building your first mobile app or scaling an existing one, our approach to app design and app development ensures clarity, creativity, and tangible results.
We break the process into five clear phases:
Let’s dive into each step so you know exactly what to expect when building your next Uplancer app.
Phase 1: App Discovery – Laying the Foundation for Successful App Development
Discovery is, without question, the most critical step in app development. It helps us align with your strategies and goals, uncover user needs, and identify potential roadblocks before a single line of code is written.
During this phase, we get to know your business deeply:
- What does your app need to achieve?
- Who are your users?
- What are your monetization goals?
- Are there technical preferences like specific frameworks or platforms?
- What’s your timeline and budget?
- What KPIs do you want to track?
If you’re local (hello, Columbus!), we love hosting in-person whiteboarding sessions. These workshops allow us to map out user journeys, brainstorm features, and get everyone on the same page. If remote, no problem—virtual sticky notes and collaborative tools work just as well.
The outcome?
A detailed Functional Requirements Document (FRD). This document acts as the north star for your app design and app development process. It outlines features, workflows, and technical expectations, ensuring there are no surprises down the road.
With your approval, we move on to the exciting part: app design.
Phase 2: App Design – Crafting the Blueprint of Your App
App design is where your idea starts to come alive visually. It’s not just about making things look pretty—it’s about creating an intuitive, engaging user experience (UX) backed by thoughtful design choices. During this phase, we use Figma extensively to design out all parts of your app.
Here’s what our app design process includes:
1. App Branding Package
Your app needs its own identity. While you may have existing branding for your website or marketing materials, app branding often requires a fresh approach. Mobile apps, in particular, need icons, color palettes, and typography optimized for smaller screens and touch interactions.
For example, if your current logo isn’t app-friendly (we’ll let you know why that is), we’ll design an app-specific icon that’s an extension of your current brand, and looks great in app stores and on home screens.
2. Wireframing
Wireframes are the skeletal framework of your app. Think of them as the architectural plans before construction begins. Wireframes outline each screen’s layout and show how users will flow from one step to the next.
This is where we identify essential components like:
- Navigation menus
- Button placements
- Screen transitions
- Content hierarchy
Wireframing ensures our app development team fully understands the app’s functional flow before moving to detailed design. It also gives us a chance to align on issues.
3. UI/UX Design
With wireframes approved, we move into full-fledged UI/UX design. Here, your app’s visual identity comes to life. We focus on creating seamless interactions that feel natural and engaging for your users.
We use agile design cycles—sharing batches of screens frequently for your feedback. This collaborative approach ensures we’re aligned with your vision at every stage and prevents costly revisions later.
4. Prototyping
Before writing a single line of code, we create an interactive prototype using Figma (our go-to design tool). Prototypes simulate how the final app will behave, giving you a tangible way to experience the flow and interactions.
Prototypes are invaluable because:
- You can demo the app to stakeholders or investors.
- We catch UX issues early, before they turn into coding headaches.
- Everyone gains clarity on what’s being built.
Once you give the green light on the design, we’re ready to bring it to life with development.
Phase 3: App Development – Turning Designs into a Working App
Now, the heavy lifting begins. The app development phase is where our engineers bring the designs and requirements to life.
Before we dive into coding, we confirm the tech stack. Not all stacks suit every app design or feature set. For example, a beautifully complex UI might require a more native experience with robust backend or specialized frameworks. If changes are needed, we’ll discuss scope adjustments transparently to stay ahead of surprises.
To be effective, we develop apps using agile methodologies. Development happens in sprints—focused work cycles that deliver specific features incrementally. After each sprint, we provide a staging environment for you to review and test.
What’s a staging environment?
It’s a safe space (usually accessible by a URL) where we release the app-in-progress so you can interact with it without affecting the live version. For example, As soon as features like login or user onboarding are ready to test, you can access the staging URL to test them hands-on.
This iterative feedback loop prevents misalignment, reduces rework, and ensures you see tangible progress every step of the way.
By the end of development, you’ll have a fully functional app in staging, ready for final testing and, ultimately, launch.
Phase 4: Launch – Releasing Your App to the World
Here’s where things get exciting! With your app built and tested, it’s time to share it with your users.
Depending on your audience, we’ll package your app for the appropriate platforms:
- iOS: Submitted to the App Store for Apple users.
- Android: Packaged and submitted to the Google Play Store.
- Web Apps: Deployed across PC and Mac browsers.
But launching isn’t just about submitting to app stores. We meticulously test the production version to ensure it mirrors the staging environment.
Why?
Because production environments can introduce unforeseen variables. Our promise is simple: if it worked in staging, it works in production.
Once live, your app is officially in users’ hands. But the journey doesn’t stop there.
Phase 5: Maintenance & Beyond – Keeping Your App Running Smoothly
After launch, app development transitions into long-term maintenance. Too many businesses neglect this step, only to face frustrated users and high churn rates.
Your users expect a reliable, up-to-date app experience. That means staying on top of:
- Bug fixes: Squashing errors before they impact user trust.
- Cloud and library updates: Keeping your backend and frameworks compatible with your cloud providers.
- Device and OS patches: Ensuring compatibility with unforseen new iOS, Android, and browser updates.
- Enhancements and change requests: Evolving the app based on user feedback and in-app analytics.
- Support tickets: Promptly addressing user-reported issues.
Ongoing app maintenance isn’t optional—it’s essential for long-term success. You’ll also want to track performance metrics like churn rate, retention, and user engagement to understand how well your app is meeting expectations.
By consistently investing in maintenance, you’ll not only retain users but also create opportunities for future growth and feature expansions.
Final Thoughts: Build Smarter with Uplancer’s App Design & App Development Approach
Whether you’re based in Columbus, Ohio, or anywhere else in the world, Uplancer is your trusted partner for common sense app design and app development. We’ve built apps across industries, from fintech and healthcare to logistics and entertainment.
Our approach is simple and effective:
By following this clear roadmap, you’ll avoid common pitfalls, keep your project on track, and build an app your users will love.
Ready to bring your app idea to life? Let’s chat! Contact Uplancer today to get started with your next app development project!
