I have been making a lot of responsive websites lately. I know that the term has been around for a few years, but it seems that it is just now making it into the mainstream language for most of my clients.
A New Way of Thinking
I have made about 10 responsive sites (like this one) for clients so far. Each one presents its own challenges regarding layout and content strategy. It is difficult to create a static Photoshop file for a responsive site because the layout isn’t static. It flows based on the device width. As a result, responsive design adds a layer of complexity to the project that hasn’t been there before.
The benefit is that the site’s content and layout can be optimized for any device it is viewed on, like a tablet or phone. The site has the power to display the most important content to users, even on small devices. This can be accomplished many different ways, including moving the sidebar below the content when a device shrinks to a certain width.
My Experience
The more I make responsive sites the more in favor I become of them. At first I didn’t mind zooming into a fixed width site on my mobile device and dragging around the screen until I found the content I wanted. Now I find myself frustrated if a site’s layout is not optimized for whatever device I am viewing it on.
I know this adds more time and money to a project, but it creates a better experience for the end user. In the long run, a better user experience will pay for itself way beyond the additional cost of a responsive site. If you can gain one more client because they were able to find what they needed on your site on their mobile device, then it was worth it.
Responsive Web Design Challenges
The challenge going forward is to decide what the user experience should be as screen sizes change. There are many questions to ask, including:
- How different should the site look between the desktop and mobile versions?
- What content should be displayed first on a mobile device?
- Should the site use less iamges so it loads faster on mobile?
The easy route is to do it the way its always been done. Create a fixed width site. Let users toil over zooming and dragging until they find what they need.
Or, we can deliver the best user experience no matter what device the site is viewed upon.
I’m excited that the masses are finally embracing the idea of responsive design. Let’s rise to the challenge of delivering the best user experience possible for any device, now or in the future.
