Journal
Design · 18 Sept 2026 · 5 min read
Most of my clients' customers will only ever see their product on a phone held in one hand. Here is how that changes every decision.
Most of the products I design will be used on a phone, in one hand, on a crowded train. That single fact quietly decides more than any brand guideline.
Start at the bottom
The top of a modern phone screen is the hardest place to reach. I put primary actions in the bottom third and use the top for status and reading.
Bigger targets, fewer of them
A 44 point target is the minimum, not the goal. If a screen needs more than five tappable things, it usually needs to be two screens.
Test it on the bus
I ask clients to try every prototype standing up, one-handed, holding a coffee. It is a silly test that catches real problems.
Keep reading
