A Tampa Web designer and several others in the web development business have all jumped at the opportunity created by the mass demand for responsive websites. But what exactly are they? Only about a year old, it’s been spurred by the recent innovations in technology (smart phones and tablets). Though many companies are gearing up to have a piece of the trend, many web designers are still confused as to how it should be correctly implemented.
A Simpler Definition
Many online resources would present various explanations regarding this topic, but the simplest definition would be: a responsive website is one that has the flexibility to adapt to every user no matter the platform. A fluid grid foundation allows the person to switch from PC to iPhone (and beyond) without worrying about the text fonts being unreadable or the images getting pixilated. It will seem as if the site is responding to the needs of the user. It used to be that only desktop computers have the ability of web browsers, which we all know to be untrue today. Smart phones, tablets, and even some gaming consoles now have the capacity to let users surf the web. Because of this, businesses are scrambling to redesign their websites to fit this insatiable market of mobile customers. Even freelance web designers have a hard time keeping up with the requirements of this new fad.
A Simpler Definition
Many online resources would present various explanations regarding this topic, but the simplest definition would be: a responsive website is one that has the flexibility to adapt to every user no matter the platform. A fluid grid foundation allows the person to switch from PC to iPhone (and beyond) without worrying about the text fonts being unreadable or the images getting pixilated. It will seem as if the site is responding to the needs of the user. It used to be that only desktop computers have the ability of web browsers, which we all know to be untrue today. Smart phones, tablets, and even some gaming consoles now have the capacity to let users surf the web. Because of this, businesses are scrambling to redesign their websites to fit this insatiable market of mobile customers. Even freelance web designers have a hard time keeping up with the requirements of this new fad.
Key Characteristics of a Responsive Website
To name a few obvious traits of a responsive site, take a look at the following:
A responsive website design will not only look good in a mobile setup, but will adjust itself automatically whenever a person changes the screen dimensions (making the web browser smaller or larger). Try opening a site and slowly make it thinner or wider. If the contents adjust itself comfortably, then it has a fluid design.
Images on the page should stay defined although switching from one platform to another. This is a challenge when it comes to thumbnails and/or gallery sites. To work around better on this problem, always check the content of the site first before worrying about measurements. Use the latest in coding and markup practices (check for online tutorials and/or attend seminars) to get optimized results.
Gamification means ‘turning everything into a game’. This is what most design companies do to make client sites appear fun and attract traffic. Creating an intelligent app or a fluid page isn’t enough if no one will visit it. Most users like sites that are bold and have menus/options which react quickly to requests or commands. Study the client’s needs and see if there’s room for a bit of quirkiness. Just because something is fun though, doesn’t mean that it should be present when it’s not wanted.
Last Words
Keep customers in mind when trying to design or redesign a website. Align the company’s requirements to that of their target market while being up-to-date with the trends. A good graphic designer knows the web has no limits; and that unlike most mediums, it’s as limitless as a person’s imagination.
To name a few obvious traits of a responsive site, take a look at the following:
- Screen dimensions
- Image resolution
- Gamification
A responsive website design will not only look good in a mobile setup, but will adjust itself automatically whenever a person changes the screen dimensions (making the web browser smaller or larger). Try opening a site and slowly make it thinner or wider. If the contents adjust itself comfortably, then it has a fluid design.
Images on the page should stay defined although switching from one platform to another. This is a challenge when it comes to thumbnails and/or gallery sites. To work around better on this problem, always check the content of the site first before worrying about measurements. Use the latest in coding and markup practices (check for online tutorials and/or attend seminars) to get optimized results.
Gamification means ‘turning everything into a game’. This is what most design companies do to make client sites appear fun and attract traffic. Creating an intelligent app or a fluid page isn’t enough if no one will visit it. Most users like sites that are bold and have menus/options which react quickly to requests or commands. Study the client’s needs and see if there’s room for a bit of quirkiness. Just because something is fun though, doesn’t mean that it should be present when it’s not wanted.
Last Words
Keep customers in mind when trying to design or redesign a website. Align the company’s requirements to that of their target market while being up-to-date with the trends. A good graphic designer knows the web has no limits; and that unlike most mediums, it’s as limitless as a person’s imagination.