The problem with responsive design
57% of mobile device users won’t recommend businesses with poor mobile site designs, and 48% say that businesses with mobile sites that don’t function properly have the appearance of not caring. There are several problem areas that most companies run into with their responsive websites:Image placement
Past design processes have dictated that the client approves static images and screenshots before the development phase. Today, design is more focused on the rearrangement of elements for different device dimensions and much less focused on the placement of static images.Screen squeeze
Showcasing data on a small screen often makes it difficult to see or read content, especially tables of information. The W3C actually encourages brands to choose a method other than tables and tabs to present data; complicated user interfaces simply contain too much information for mobile devices to handle.Perspective shift
Above all, the problem with responsive design is simply a matter of the customers’ perspectives vs. the companies’ perspectives. Unfortunately, most businesses tend to ask themselves what they want to tell their customers rather than how their customers want to view and interact with that information. For example, while registration workflows are generally the most important aspect of web design, they’re often a low priority. That’s because businesses think more about the functionality they want customers to see than the logical point of entry and primary workflow the customers are looking for. Simply put, responsive design isn’t the ultimate solution for giving users what they need from a website; it still leaves much to be desired.Update responsive or upgrade to adaptive?
When it comes to web design, the key conversation brands need to have boils down to the concept of responsive vs. adaptive websites. The responsive approach takes the current site and fits it to varying screen sizes, while the adaptive approach actually changes content and how it functions based on the screen size. [pullquote]Responsive web design assumes that your content and functionality should be the same across all devices — but that’s not necessarily true[/pullquote] I generally advocate for more of an adaptive web design method, as opposed to simply stacking content, for one important reason: Responsive web design assumes that your content and functionality should be the same across all devices — but that’s not necessarily true. The key is to match the nature of the content with the use-case and the context in which users are looking at your website. For example, let’s say you’re designing a responsive site for a brand in the consumer packaged goods or consumer gift industries. The promotions and offers pages for these types of sites generally receive the most online traffic. People rarely look at product details, but when they do, a great way to highlight those details is to show how they compare to other items. With that in mind, you should put product visualization and educational content on product pages so you can help consumers understand how to use and engage with your product. For the consumer packaged goods industry, you want to get to know your customers and determine whether they’re pre-, in-, or post-store. You’ll need to create a different experience depending on where the customer is in the path to purchase. Here’s a short breakdown of each path:- Pre-store: People who are pre-store are probably going to get to the site through social media or an ad, and they’ll probably be looking for coupons, offers, or recipes (in the case of food).
- In-store: Once they’re in-store, they’re probably looking for coupons, reviews, or price comparisons with other sellers.
- Post-store: When they’re post-store, they’re probably looking for branded content.
Kevin Rice
Hathway CSMO Kevin Rice’s entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of the digital landscape across industries allow him to not only help brands dominate their markets in “the now,” but also prepare them to pioneer at “what’s next.” It’s this skill that has helped Kevin grow Hathway, the agency he co-founded with CEO Jesse Dundon in 2008, to 50 employees, three offices, and No. 601 on the 2014 Inc. 5000 list.
Read Next
15 Best New Fonts, July 2024
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the best fonts we’ve found online in the last four weeks. This month, there are fewer…
By Ben Moss
20 Best New Websites, July 2024
Welcome to July’s round up of websites to inspire you. This month’s collection ranges from the most stripped-back…
Top 7 WordPress Plugins for 2024: Enhance Your Site's Performance
WordPress is a hands-down favorite of website designers and developers. Renowned for its flexibility and ease of use,…
By WDD Staff
Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2024
Welcome to this July’s collection of tools, gathered from around the web over the past month. We hope you’ll find…
3 Essential Design Trends, July 2024
Add some summer sizzle to your design projects with trendy website elements. Learn what's trending and how to use these…
15 Best New Fonts, June 2024
Welcome to our roundup of the best new fonts we’ve found online in the last month. This month, there are notably fewer…
By Ben Moss
20 Best New Websites, June 2024
Arranging content in an easily accessible way is the backbone of any user-friendly website. A good website will present…
Exciting New Tools for Designers, June 2024
In this month’s roundup of the best tools for web designers and developers, we’ll explore a range of new and noteworthy…
3 Essential Design Trends, June 2024
Summer is off to a fun start with some highly dramatic website design trends showing up in projects. Let's dive in!
15 Best New Fonts, May 2024
In this month’s edition, there are lots of historically-inspired typefaces, more of the growing trend for French…
By Ben Moss
How to Reduce The Carbon Footprint of Your Website
On average, a web page produces 4.61 grams of CO2 for every page view; for whole sites, that amounts to hundreds of KG…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, May 2024
Welcome to May’s compilation of the best sites on the web. This month we’re focused on color for younger humans,…