Responsive design

Designers and developers can achieve this by working together. Designers must design with a mobile-friendly perspective, while developers use CSS rules to allow the website to change its design based on the screen size.

Bootstrap is a commonly used framework to support this responsive design collaboration.

Why is it important?

Responsive design is important because it ensures you show your website optimally for each screen size. While most of the daily traffic on the web is on mobile devices, many people are still browsing the same web on tablets and desktops. These devices come in different shapes and sizes, making responsive design even more important.

As designers, your job is to create the best user experience for the product you're working on. This includes allowing people to enjoy the same experience no matter the device they're using. The user experience must be consistent across different touch points (devices).

In addition, Google has recently changed the way its search engine works. Now, a responsive website is essential to have a better search index and rank for your website. Google prioritizes mobile-first websites; it has become the primary way to experience the web.

What to consider when designing a mobile-friendly website

Now that you know what responsive design is, the next step is to put theory into practice. Here's an overview of what to consider when designing a responsive, mobile-friendly website.

Responsive Images

Responsive images are essential because small screen sizes mean that you have to use smaller images as well. These images have to remain readable on all screen sizes.

You can do this by using SVG images, especially for logos and icons. The resolution of this type of image will remain the same at any size.

Never use text that's essential for users to read within your images. Due to the responsive nature of the image, you can't guarantee that your users will be able to read the text on any device.

Prioritize content

Smaller screen sizes have less room for content. Therefore, designers must identify what content must always be visible and what content can be hidden below the fold.

In most cases, a summary or main call-to-action will always be on the screen. It motivates users to keep scrolling and find the rest of your content.

Useful resources

Responsive Design: Best Practices & Examples - UX Pin

Responsive design - Interaction Design Foundation

Responsive Design: Best Practices and Considerations - Toptal