WSI for ALL Blog

As more and more users access web content from the wide variety of available handheld and mobile device options (smart phones, tablets, even traditional 'non-smart' phones), web-designers are being faced head-on with the challenge of having to accommodate the vastly different viewing experience offered by each individual device. Staying on top of your websites appearance across so many different platforms can be a complicated procedure, but the repercussions of not doing so involve ignoring a growing user-base and missing out on an expansive market.

Thus we have Responsive Web Design, as our knight in shining armor. With responsive design the emphasis is on compatibility, intrinsically outfitting websites with the capacity for cross-device porting, to allow for viewing on different screen sizes and at different resolutions, in standard or widescreen.

The best Responsive Design practices involve the incorporation of fluid grid layouts, which more or less equates to the ‘next generation’ of fixed-with, 'liquid layouts.' CSS Style sheets are another valuable tool, when it comes to accommodating traditional websites on new screens.

For now the most important thing to consider is which devices are actually being used to view your website. Once you know how users are accessing your website, you can prioritize for those platforms. Many browsers provide information about website visitors, allowing analytic tools to discover what devices are most frequently used to access your page.

When it comes to mobile, less really is more, and simplicity is the best approach. In most cases the capabilities of mobile devices are not that sophisticated; and the number of possible actions is quite limited, so it is best not to overwhelm users with overly complicated mobile sites.

It is equally important to always research and test new approaches. Fortunately, the process may be on the verge of becoming significantly easier, since new, smarter browsers (now often built into the devices themselves) are far superior at adapting to these types of variances than their predecessors.

As mobile web viewing continues to gain steam as an entity, the future of web design could change accordingly. Currently many websites scale down their websites for less complicated devices - but there is reason to believe that in the future the common practice may become the exact opposite, where mobile sites are designed first, then the micro version is expanded into a macro version, in which features are added to accommodate the traditional desktop crowd.

For more information on the topic of mobile design read, How to ensure your website works on any device, or inquire about Website Design and Development services.