Responsive web design enables websites to render differently across different devices, offering an optimal viewing experience. Ever loaded the same website on a computer and a smartphone? The chances are that it actually looked quite different on each device, and this is due to responsive design.
However, a lot of people still don’t really understand what responsive web design is and why it should be a priority. In this article, we take a look at our top five responsive design tips, outlining some of the little things that you should be doing to ensure your site is attractive and well-designed across the board.
Our top tips for responsive web design include the following:
- Use Mobile-First Design Practices
Many novice web developers don’t understand that one of the main keys to responsive design is using mobile-first design practices. Basically, this means that you need to think about creating an attractive mobile website and then converting it to desktop, rather than vice versa.
The main reason for using mobile-first design is the simple fact that more people browse the internet from mobile devices than computers and laptops in the modern world. It’s just the logical way to do things.
- Ensure Your Navigation Options Are Attractive
Another key consideration is your navigation options and menus. Your menu bars will likely be quite different between your mobile and desktop sites, purely because of the different user experience using the different types of devices.
For example, your desktop site will likely use a standard menu across the top of the page. You might use multi-level navigation if you have a large site. Mobile sites, on the other hand, tend to use small dropdowns or “hamburger” menus, which are much more space effective and just work better on small screens.
- Design on Paper First
A lot of people jump straight into creating their website without a clear design in mind. However, it’s usually a good idea to spend a little time with a pen and paper, thinking about the main design elements you require and where they should be located. This may seem a little redundant in the modern digital world, but thinking about good site structure is never going to be a waste of time.
- Minimalistic Design Works
It can be tempting to add a lot of extra content to your website to encourage your visitors to take specific actions or to try and boost conversions. However, this doesn’t usually work. Minimalistic design has been around forever, and it continues to be one of the most effective design methods around.
- Compress Your Images
A large part of responsive web design is ensuring that your site will load fast across virtually any device. A major mistake that many people make is using full-resolution media. Large image files can slow load times significantly, which can, in turn, lead to high bounce rates and fewer conversions. It’s worth spending some time compressing images and optimizing media files.
Final Word
Responsive web design is a crucial consideration in the modern world. It enables you to create websites that are optimized for all screen sizes. Following responsive design best practices will enable you to create a fully functional and attractive site without having to put in too much time or effort.