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Effects of the aesthetic design of icons on app downloads: evidence from an android market

Author

Listed:
  • Mengyue Wang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Xin Li

    (City University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

With the rapid development of the mobile app market, understanding the determinants of mobile app success has become vital to researchers and mobile app developers. Extant research on mobile applications primarily focused on the numerical and textual attributes of apps. Minimal attention has been provided to how the visual attributes of apps affect the download behavior of users. Among the features of app “appearance”, this study focuses on the effects of app icon on demand. With aesthetic product and interface design theories, we analyze icons from three aspects, namely, color, complexity, and symmetry, through image processing. Using a dataset collected from one of the largest Chinese Android websites, we find that icon appearance influences the download behavior of users. Particularly, apps with icons featuring higher colorfulness, proper complexity, and slight asymmetry lead to more downloads. These findings can help developers design their apps.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengyue Wang & Xin Li, 2017. "Effects of the aesthetic design of icons on app downloads: evidence from an android market," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 83-102, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elcore:v:17:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10660-016-9245-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10660-016-9245-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Iranmanesh, Mohammad & Min, Connie Low & Senali, Madugoda Gunaratnege & Nikbin, Davoud & Foroughi, Behzad, 2022. "Determinants of switching intention from web-based stores to retail apps: Habit as a moderator," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Mengyue Wang & Xin Li & Patrick Y. K. Chau, 2021. "Leveraging Image-Processing Techniques for Empirical Research: Feasibility and Reliability in Online Shopping Context," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 607-626, June.
    3. Chien-Huang Lin & Ming Chen, 2019. "The icon matters: how design instability affects download intention of mobile apps under prevention and promotion motivations," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 211-229, March.

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