Mobile devices became humans’ new best friends after they evolved into all-in-one machines that can fit into a pocket. The first versions of mobile phones were designed to be used for mere communication, such as sending and receiving messages and phone calls. Today, they are so functional in our lives that they impact almost everything, including web design.
History of Responsive Web Design
In 2010, Ethan Marcotte coined the term “responsive web design,” recognizing the need for a seamless browsing experience on mobile devices. His idea paved the way for a website with a single URL that automatically identifies whether the user is on a phone, a tablet, or a desktop.
By 2012, every web design and development company saw the trend of responsive web design and the value of enabling the fast-growing mobile internet user base to access their websites easily. And in 2015, Google introduced a new ranking algorithm to their search engine that considers mobile-friendliness when presenting results to a user.
Mobile Devices and Their Continuous Impact on Web Design
A website must be able to engage and convert traffic into business on mobile devices to gain traction and compete in the market.
Using mobile devices to browse and complete a purchase will always be around for a while. With more than half of all online searches happening on mobile devices, availing affordable website development services to implement mobile device trends is vital.
Responsive Design
Responsive design is a web design and development approach aiming to create a website that can adapt layouts and content to fit any device’s screen size. When mobile devices first came out, companies had to make two websites: one for desktop and one for mobile. While this was viable, it was expensive and hard to manage and, in most cases, would strip images and other content.
A responsive design allows the creation of one website, propagating changes to a desktop and mobile device, and allowing seamless transition on screens of varying sizes.
Simplified Design
The smaller screen size of mobile devices means that designers must be more prudent in using space and content. This has led to more straightforward, streamlined designs prioritizing the most critical content and eliminating extraneous elements.
Touch-Based Interfaces
Mobile devices are primarily operated through touch-based interfaces, which require different design considerations than traditional mouse-based interfaces. When designing the website, touch targets, gestural interfaces, and haptic feedback must be considered.
Faster Load Times
Websites must be optimized for quicker load times since mobile devices typically have slower internet connections than laptops or desktops. As a result, techniques like image compression, caching, and lazy loading are emphasized.
Mobile devices have forced web design and development companies to rethink traditional approaches to web design, leading to more streamlined, responsive, and user-friendly websites that work well across various devices and screen sizes.
Have Your Websites Built with Technodream
Technodream has a diverse team of web designers and developers that can build you the website of your dreams at affordable rates. We have created websites for small and medium businesses that adhere to our website creation practices. Call us now at (702) 983-8828 for free estimates or visit our website to learn more about our work.