Traditional fixed canvas websites are quickly being replaced with sites that adapt to all screens and devices. No, you’re not dreaming, and no, this is not some kind of design sorcery. This, my friends, is Responsive Web Design (RWD).
Remember the days when surfing your favorite site on your mobile phone was like having a tooth pulled? Navigation was terrible, you needed a microscope to read text and visuals were all over the place. You never knew what was coming.
The evolution of mobile devices like tablets and smart phones has created a ripple effect in the world of website design. RWD is one of the most powerful advancements in the interactive design world. It’s real, and it’s here to stay. The days when designers have to create separate websites for mobile and desktop users are quickly fading into oblivion.
So now our jobs are simple, right? All a designer has to do is create one jam-packed, all-encompassing juggernaut of a website. Well, not exactly.
RWD requires a lot of blood, sweat and occasionally tears to bring it all home. Designers have to constantly consider how the user experience of a site will transform from large display monitors down to 4.5” smart phones. What looks amazing on your iMac might not look so hot on your iPhone. This is where the User Experience (UX) phase is critical. UX designers have seen a tremendous uptick in demand for their skills with the explosion of RWD. Why, you ask? They are the glue that brings the entire site together, bridging the gap between design and development. They’re the ones responsible for diagramming, planning and strategizing every aspect of this fluid website.
The convenience of this single site is an empowering tool for our clients. It allows them to devote fewer resources to site maintenance, while speeding up the process. All the client has to do is update their site through a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress. A few keystrokes and clicks later, they’re updated and ready to go.
RWD has forever changed the web design landscape for clients and studios, for the better. With mobile devices already accounting for nearly a third of all web traffic and growing rapidly, RWD sites lead to more traffic and can quickly translate into more results for a business.
So what are your thoughts on RWD? Has your site already made the conversion? Is your company currently debating the plunge into RWD? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
For those of you that need help assessing your current website or looking for a responsive website solution, we’re here to discuss your project.