How to DESIGN a Viral App in 2025 (2/5)

How to Design a Viral App

Introduction to Viral App Design

• Blake Anderson introduces himself and shares his experience of building three viral apps that generated millions in profit.

• The objective of viral app design is defined as minimizing friction from design to user acquisition, focusing on single-player utility apps that solve problems simply.

Core Principles of Viral App Design

Principle 1: Minimize Cognitive Load

• Emphasizes the importance of reducing cognitive load; every decision point should be straightforward to enhance user engagement.

• Examples include Riz GPT with two buttons and Umax with one button, illustrating that simplicity leads to better user experiences.

• Suggests launching with the essential 20% of features that deliver 80% of the value, akin to successful apps like Tinder and TikTok.

Principle 2: Do Not Reinvent the Wheel

• Highlights the challenge of initial layout design; leveraging existing conventions can ease user navigation.

• Discusses how Umax's rating system drew inspiration from established systems in gaming, reinforcing that innovation should focus on functionality rather than design.

Principle 3: Think Like Your Customer

• Warns against designing for imaginary users; understanding real customer needs is crucial for effective app development.

• Shares personal experiences with Cal and Umax, emphasizing deep market research and immersion into customer communities for insights.

Methods for Effective App Design

Method 1: Learn Figma

• Stresses the importance of mastering Figma as a primary tool for app design; it’s where ideas become tangible products.

• Recommends prioritizing user experience (UX) over aesthetics (UI), focusing on functional components first.

Method 2: Create an Idea Board

Designing a Viral App: Key Strategies

Systematic Design Approach

• The importance of systematic design is emphasized, suggesting that designers should analyze various elements from existing apps, such as onboarding processes and settings, to create a comprehensive reference library for inspiration.

• A recommended resource for design components is mob.com, which allows designers to copy and paste ideas without needing to download apps or take screenshots. This method helps maintain an organized collection of design inspirations.

Learning from Successful Designs

• The speaker references the adage "great artists steal," applying it to design by advocating for the practice of screenshotting effective designs as a learning tool.

• By studying viral content on social media, the speaker highlights how understanding popular styles can inform app design. For instance, they analyzed successful slideshow formats to integrate into their own app's screens.

Understanding Your Audience

• Emphasizing audience comprehension, the speaker notes that knowing what users want is crucial for creating engaging designs. Without this understanding, achieving virality becomes challenging.