“UX is the game.”

Christos has led the development of countless apps, and his philosophy is simple: if the user experience isn’t rock solid, the app doesn’t stand a chance.

An exceptional app, according to Christos, is one where users immediately understand what they can do and how to do it. The possible actions should be clear the moment they open the screen, no guesswork, no hidden functions, no friction. Every button should be right where you'd expect it, behaving exactly how you think it will. And if something does go wrong? The app should let you know quickly and clearly, without leaving you hanging.

This isn’t just Christos’ opinion, it’s backed by data. According to a report, a well-designed user interface could raise your app’s conversion rate by up to 200%, and a better UX design could yield conversion rates up to 400%.

More importantly, a great app doesn’t just work; it helps. It either solves a problem or dramatically simplifies a task that would otherwise be a pain. Whether that’s booking travel, reporting an issue, or managing a schedule, the app should be a shortcut to getting something done, not an obstacle in the way.

And of course, performance can’t be an afterthought. Fast load times are non-negotiable. In fact, research shows that 53% of users will abandon a mobile site if it takes longer than three seconds to load. Crashes aren’t just bugs, they’re dealbreakers. Christos and the dev team focus on keeping apps stable under pressure, because a brilliant idea means nothing if it’s constantly buffering.

“Keep it clear, keep it simple.”

For Nawaf, exceptional apps are the ones that respect the user’s time. Every tap, swipe or action should feel deliberate and intuitive, not like you’re hacking your way through a maze of menus.

Clarity is everything. If a user has to stop and think about what to do next, something’s gone wrong. Nawaf prioritises workflows that let people complete tasks in as few steps as possible but never at the expense of understanding. It’s a balancing act between simplicity and functionality, and it’s one our devs spend a lot of time getting right.

This approach aligns with the Hick-Hyman Law in UX design, which states that the more choices a user has, the longer it takes them to make a decision. An exceptional app development agency builds around that knowledge, streamlining paths without stripping out useful features.

Whether it’s a two-step login or a multi-part booking process, Nawaf ensures that every interaction feels natural and clean. Because at the end of the day, people don't remember how many screens they tapped through, they remember how easy it felt.

“If it doesn’t solve a problem, why would anyone use it?”

Seb cuts straight to the point: exceptional apps need a reason to exist. It doesn’t matter how sleek the design is or how smooth the animations are. If it doesn’t actually do something useful or solve a problem, people won’t open it. And they definitely won’t come back.

For Seb, usability is the baseline. Users should be able to pick up the app and instinctively know how to use it. The layout, navigation and flow all need to feel obvious, like second nature. There’s no room for confusion.

But just as important as functionality is reliability. If your app crashes every few uses or has bugs that drive people mad, it’s going to kill engagement. And if it’s a work-related app? That frustration builds into resentment fast.

App retention is brutal. Studies show that 77% of users abandon the average app within just three days of installation. That means you’ve got one shot to earn trust, and if your app is glitchy or unreliable, it won’t recover.

Seb knows that every technical hiccup erodes trust, and trust is something you don’t get back easily. So his focus is on building apps that are rock-solid from day one, so users can rely on them without hesitation.

Exceptional apps aren’t built by accident. They’re crafted by app developers who know what to look for, what to avoid, and what really matters to users. At The Distance, our app development process is grounded in one belief: great technology is invisible when it works well.

Our tech team isn’t just writing code, they’re fixated on making every tap faster, every flow clearer, and every bug vanish before you even know it was there. It’s why businesses come to us when they need an app development agency they can actually trust.

Curious how our tech team brings this thinking into real projects? Take a look at what goes into building apps that users genuinely rate.