How to Make Your iOS App Feel 10x Better Than the Default Experience: 5 Pro Design Tips

If you’ve ever wondered how some apps just feel more polished, fun, and engaging than the default iOS apps, you’re not alone. Chris, a productivity app developer, recently shared his advanced design techniques that elevate his apps well beyond the standard Apple experience. In this blog post, we’ll break down his top five practical tips to help you create an app that users love to interact with.

1. Add Life with Interactions & Animations

Most default iOS apps feel static—when you switch tabs, pages just appear instantly without any animation. Chris suggests adding subtle, meaningful animations to bring dimension and delight to your app.

• Example: In his budgeting app Luna, page transitions slide smoothly instead of appearing instantly.
• Advanced Interaction: In his AI assistant app Ellie, Chris designed a custom animation sequence where the send button rotates into a check mark, the background expands from the microphone, and text fades with a spring effect.
• Pro Tip: Don’t expect AI tools to generate complex animations in one go. Break down the animation into components (e.g., rotate arrow, expand background, fade text) and tackle each part separately using tools like Claude Code.
• Why it matters: Hundreds of small animations add up to a premium, engaging experience that feels more tactile and fun.

2. Use Custom Illustrations, Especially for Empty States

Empty states are often overlooked and filled with bland text messages like “No tasks today.” Chris recommends going beyond that by adding custom illustrations or even animations.

• How to do it: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate variations of a base mascot or illustration. Chris’s meeting app Lily features a ghost mascot that appears in different poses depending on the app state (searching, taking notes, sleeping, etc.).
• Get original: If possible, commission an artist to create base illustrations. Chris’s girlfriend Cecilia helped him with this, enabling him to create infinite mascot variations.
• Next level: Animate these illustrations using tools like Rive for even more personality.
• Why it matters: Custom artwork makes your app stand out and feels more original and memorable.

3. Enhance Feedback with Haptic Responses

Haptic feedback is a subtle vibration that physically signals user actions, making interactions feel more satisfying.

• Contrast with Apple: Surprisingly, many Apple default apps use very little haptic feedback, likely due to considerations like battery life and accessibility.
• Chris’s approach: His app Luna uses haptics on almost every button, with varying intensities—lighter for frequent taps (like inputting transactions) and stronger for significant actions (like switching tabs).
• Why it matters: Properly applied haptics add a tactile layer that makes tapping addictive and fun, encouraging users to engage more.

4. Choose the Right Icons and Stay Consistent

Icons are small but mighty design elements that can make or break the feel of your app.

• Common mistake: Using generic SF Symbols or mixing different icon styles, which leads to an inconsistent and less polished look.
• Chris’s favorite: The thin version of Hero Icons for a clean, minimal aesthetic in Luna.
• Key insights:
• Icon style affects app tone—thin lines feel modern and light, thick or filled icons feel bold, and complex icons can be distracting.
• Consistency is crucial. Mixing icon weights or styles disrupts cohesion.
• Use different icon styles to indicate states (e.g., thin icons for inactive tabs and bold/filled icons for active tabs) to add subtle depth.
• Why it matters: Thoughtfully selected and consistent icons create a more refined and intuitive interface that outshines basic default styles.

5. Constantly Elevate Your Design Taste

Great design is a skill that develops over time through exposure and practice.

• Where to find inspiration:
• Twitter: Follow talented designers and bookmark designs you like.
• Mobbin: A curated design resource with thousands of app screenshots. Use it to browse layouts, icons, tab bars, and more.
• How to use Mobbin effectively:
• Scroll regularly to subconsciously absorb design patterns.
• Search for specific questions (e.g., “tab bar”) to see how top apps handle those elements.
• Why it matters: Regular exposure to high-quality design sharpens your eye, helps you discover what resonates, and naturally elevates your design decisions.

Final Thoughts

Creating an app that feels better than the default iOS experience isn’t about one magic trick—it's a combination of many small, thoughtful touches. From animations and custom illustrations to haptics, icon choices, and ongoing design inspiration, these details compound into a polished, delightful user experience.

If a finance app like Luna can be fun and engaging, so can yours! Start incorporating these tips today and watch your app’s feel transform.

Want to learn more?

Chris has also shared his general app design process, including mood boarding and wireframing, which you can find linked in his video description. For more productivity app-building tips, follow him on Instagram and TikTok, and don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoyed this content.

Happy designing!