The ubiquitous use of mobile devices has become the objective truth of 2021. Half a decade ago, using mobile phones to carry out everyday tasks was only restricted to the developed world. But after the proliferation of cheap, high-speed internet provision across the globe, mobile phone manufacturers have swept the developing world.
Not only do people have access to the internet on their smartphones, but they also prefer to browse on their phones owing to its convenience and efficiency. In such a context, websites need to revamp their design so it fits perfectly only on small screens, and this is what responsiveness in web design is all about!
The revolutionary shift of websites adjusting their visual design and text according to display size was only made possible due to responsive web design. The most sought out web designers such as those doing website development in New York do not treat responsive design as an afterthought. Rather, they embed provisions for cross-device functionality in the foundation from the very get-go and polish adaptability on the basis of feedback.
In today’s world, responsive web design can unleash a whirling torrent of traffic on your website. The question then is, is your website prepared for success?
Defining Responsive Web Design
In a nutshell, responsive web design is responsible for creating websites that are self-adjusting according to the display characteristics of the user. This means that these websites can adjust their layout, functionality, and visual characteristics so that the content can make sense regardless of the size.
There are three fundamentals to responsive web design: flexible images, fluid grids, and media queries. Flexible images can adjust according to the resolution of the screen, whereas a fluid grid can auto-fit itself to display content on a smaller screen. These parameters are powered by media queries that receive information about the size of the viewer’s display and triggers the adaptive changes.
Modern Fundamentals of Responsive Web Design
Modern web design is complex as compared to its initial counterpart. Innovation in the mobile industry has unleashed a storm of devices that can take any shape and size. This means that responsiveness needs to cater to a fluid spectrum of device sizes rather than targeting stock categories such as laptops, tablets, mobiles.
The first step is to acknowledge that every user requires convenient viewing, without compromising on content. From there on, these elements should be incorporated into the design philosophy.
Design For Every Device
Your website should be ready to adjust to any display size. As a best practice, make sure that the website design can adapt to a wide range of sizes since mobile phones come in a plethora of display sizes.
Some users also choose to swap in between the portrait and landscape modes. To ensure that they enjoy a seamless transition, consider the spread of content and visual themes. Future-proofing your website is also important, hence your design philosophy should incorporate possible sizes and proportions of upcoming devices.
Say No To Absolute Length Units
Gone are the days of the pixel. To maximize website responsiveness, you need to ensure that absolute units of length are not used in the design philosophy. With units like pixels, your design does not get the fluidity it requires to adjust according to the display size of the user.
For starters, use relative units such as the vh or vw or font relative units. Regardless of how your layout pans out, relative length units will scale changes accordingly.
Pay Attention To Layout
A good layout always maintains a flow of the eye as it scrolls through content. This can be achieved by a combination of columns, grids, negative space, and theme elements. Responsiveness can be achieved by maintaining a more vertical flow of content.
While designing your website, incorporate flexible grids with relative length units. This will enable your layout to adapt according to the size of the display while maintaining its logical structure and integrity.
Responsive Images
Websites have a weak vibe if they do not use flashy images. However, large image sizes can destroy the user experience because of long loading times. To cater to these problems, use responsive images that can scale in resolution. Images should also scale in accordance with the rest of your content. The scalability should depend on the purpose of the images: are they informative or decorative?
