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Usually, the mobile app designs that are the worst are plagued with navigation confusion, UI clutter, slow performance, and not being accessible or usable by everyone. These deficiencies frustrate users and push them away.
Some of the common known bad behaviours of apps are:
1. Cads Overload – UC Browser (recent versions)
- Pop-ups and banner ads constantly crowded the experience.
- Did users feel like the app was spammy and hard to trust.
2. Interface Overload – MySpace (Mobile App)
- Attempted to pack in an excessive amount of information on each screen.
- They lacked a hierarchy, which made it hard to know where to look first.
3. Error Bad Navigation – Snapchat (for new users)
- Snapchat’s UI is still heavily criticized for not being user-friendly especially for first time users despite being widely popular.
- Many people, it quickly became clear, were used to it but didn’t understand it, features were hidden behind gestures or unexplained icons.
4. Sluggish and Bumpy – McDonald’s Application (old variants)
- Early versions received criticism for being buggy, slow to load and confusing to use.
- Unresponsiveness made even simple tasks frustrating.
5. Dark Patterns — A few free title game applications
- Fake “X” buttons, hidden cancel options or rigged in-app purchases in apps can foster mistrust.
- Such patterns are manipulative and can degrade the end-user experience.
Characteristics of a Bad App Design:
- Bad contrast or hard-to-read fonts
- No support or assistance for new users
- Unresponsiveness (slow or crashing)
- Screens that are cluttered, with inconsistent design
- Perplexing icons or secretive features
Tip: User comes first — always design with empathy.
Learn how bad UI can be turned into clean and intuitive design—Want to see examples?