The digital revolution has evolved the way we are living, working, and connecting in a completely new way. Yet many millions of people worldwide experience unreliable or nonexistent internet access even now. Designers have the responsibility to consider creating products that are in the design specifications for low-connectivity areas. Designing digital products for offline usage entails not just some technicality but also an empathy-driven, imaginative, and totally user need-based approach to design.
When we think of offline functionality, we are often led to think about how it will eventually be implemented technically. However, equally so, design constructs an offline experience which is seamless, intuitive, and worth-having. Understand the context of your users before you can design offline usage. People residing in areas with lower connectivity experience unique problems: such as having intermittent access to the internet, slow speeds, and sometimes exorbitant costs for using data. These constraints shape how they use any digital product. Thus, a farmer in the rural area is able to finally access either weather forecasts or market prices without a reliable connection. A student in a remote rural area might keep learning using offline educational content to study. When we understand these scenarios we can design solutions that the users can touch, see, or feel it would meet their needs.
One of the key principles of offline design is ensuring that core functionality of the product or service remains available even without an internet connection. This can mean designing the product to support the tasks that most users will need to accomplish. If it was a note-taking app, it would mean the functionality to write and save notes when the user is online, then syncing them to an online storage when the connectivity is restored. Similarly, for a navigation app, the user should be able to get access to downloaded maps even if the device is not getting internet signal.
Transparency is another fundamental aspect of offline design. Users should not need to guess what action is possible and impossible in an offline mode. Proper communication about online and offline capabilities of the product can manage the user’s expectation and prevent frustration. If an action cannot occur because it requires a connection, the product should why it is not possible and then offer an alternative. Indicators, like an offline indication or a syncing status bar, also improve understanding of the current state of the app.
Another feature that should be included when designing for low-connectivity areas would be the data efficiency aspect. Most users in this area would be using limited data plans or some pay-per-use model and thus heavy data-dependent apps will be unsuitable. As designers, we can even optimize user experience by making the consumption of as little data per action as possible. This could mean compressing images used, adopting lighter fonts, or even giving more priority to text-based content than to videos. Also, providing users with control over data usage; for example, the ability to download content only on Wi-Fi enhances experience.
Offline functionalities will, therefore, need thoughtful error handling. The network in areas of low connectivity would be highly prone to low connection signals or network intermittent problems, needing some assurance that the data would not get lost during such lapses. Designing for resilience involves planning for these disruptions and having fail-safes in place. If the user submits a form offline, the application saves the data locally and automatically retries submission once the connection is restored. Clear error messaging and ways to recover will make the user confident that the product will perform as expected, despite challenging conditions.
Testing is an essential part of designing for offline use. Simulating low-connectivity environments during the design process can tell designers what problems must be solved before truly reaching the users. Tools like network throttle can simulate speed and quality of connection, so that the product experience under real-world conditions can be observed. Such testing can yield tremendously important information and reveal cases that one might miss in the controlled environment.
Offline design is much more than a great feature; it is a necessity. As designers, we have the opportunity to bridge the digital divide and provide solutions that work for everyone. With this challenge accepted, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of millions, one offline experience at a time.
Content Credit: Moses Amama
Moses Amama is a Product Designer passionate about creating intuitive and accessible experiences. He has worked across various sectors, improving user engagement and product efficiency.
He has led design efforts at PWMI, A non profit focused on improving access to mental healthcare in low income countries and contributes to developing his local tech ecosystem through is work as a co-organizer with Google developer group Makurdi
