Responsive web design (or RWD) is an approach that allows you to create a design that appropriately adjusts to any device’s screen, whether that be a 27-inch Mac desktop or an Android phone.
More than half of all website traffic comes from a mobile device (source: Google). There is no longer an excuse for having mobile sites that make you cringe.
We like to say that in every website project. We actually design three sites: one for desktop, one for mobile and one for search engine optimization (SEO). By focusing on mobile-first experiences, our developer can then use responsive web design to create sites that work on desktops and are SEO-optimized.
How Does Responsive Website Design Work?
Essentially, your website template or developer ensures the Cascading Sheets Styles (better known as CSS) are working properly. More than just working well on any device, though, RWD aims to optimize your site for every device: no redirects or long load times, element sizes and placements provide the same quality on all screens and you have the ability to update one code instead of two.
How to Incorporate Responsive Website Design
According to Ethan Marcotte, the brain behind RWD, a truly responsive website has three things:
- A flexible grid (made of layouts using percentages not pixels to dictate size on the screen)
- Flexible images (that scale, move, or disappear according the the size of the browser)
- Media queries (to change the view of the content depending on the size of the browser)
Check Your Site for Mobile Responsiveness
- Visit your website in the browser on your phone or tablet. Scroll and click around to see if there are any issues.
- Use a free online tool, like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, to find problems.
Learn about what full-service website design and development looks like by visiting our Services page.
