Is the process for responsive web solutions different than traditional development?

If you’ve spent any time researching web design, you’ve likely heard of responsive web solutions. When a website is responsive, it is adaptable and easily viewable across any number of devices, including smartphones, desktops, and tablets. And effective responsive design utilizes a DevOps process that is much different than a website that is being designed for a particular platform or user.

Let’s outline the method that we use to ensure our client’s sites are not only accessible across all devices, but user-friendly and aligned with strategic goals.

Primary differences with the responsive web design process

Before developers can begin to write the first line of code or designers can pick a color palette, it’s important to ensure that everyone involved understands the strategy and functionality of the intended site, and the entire design process. There are several ideals that are essential when developing a responsive web site:

Collaboration

Collaboration may be an overused buzz word in business circles these days, but it really is the key to a seamless responsive development project. Not only does there need to be significant collaboration between developers, designers, project managers, and other team members, but with the client as well. In addition to simply setting design and functionality goals, or approving creative, a client should consider and articulate the strategic purpose for the site – outlining the specific business goals that it will serve to accomplish.

Communication

It’s easier than ever to have seamless communication between team members and clients during a project with the host of ready to use Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tools. Platforms such as Slack, Skype, and Basecamp are great for both the informal communication and formal documentation that keeps a project moving in the right direction.

Prioritize with mobile in mind

Screen sizes continue to shrink, and so do our options when prioritizing web design. With smaller screens, there is only so much you can do with details like the length or position of a headline, or the size of an image.

It’s best to think about how web design will look on mobile devices first, since it’s easier to start small and scale up when by adding new elements that can be supported across larger devices.

Adapt to new technologies

A responsive web design company must constantly adapt to the latest technology to ensure their client’s projects will continue to behave properly, regardless of device. This requires focusing intently on UX design and cross-device compatibility to cater to the largest cross section of users possible.

Interested in learning more about the responsive web design process?

We hope this primer has introduced you to a few of the basics of effective responsive design. One quote that we think rings true is from Samantha Warren: “Your process should be as responsive as the products you are designing.”

This mantra is essential to our process of implementing responsive projects for our clients. We create solutions that integrate with every step of your business and the strategic goals that drive it. For more information about our services, reach out to us today through our online contact form.

A website that is truly responsive needs to be designed from the bottom up

Since there are now more mobile internet users than desktop internet users, it’s more important than ever that your website is responsive across all types of devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Responsive web design is a term that’s been around for a number of years – but what does it really mean for your website? How can you ensure that your next site redesign is not only responsive, but also creates a user experience that will be effective for your target audience?

At Creative Technology Partners, responsive technology is our specialty. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind when redesigning your website to be device agnostic and fully optimized:

Completely rethink the entire web design process

Updating your workflow for responsive web design starts with rethinking the design process itself. In the past, designers might quickly create mockups that were largely geared towards overall design elements and/or desktop users. They would then present these to a client who would make edits and push the project forward. With responsive web design, this process doesn’t work because it doesn’t effectively map out the user experience from the ground up, on different devices.

How can a company come up with a better web design process that’s focused on responsiveness?

The answer is simple: think mobile! A mobile-first approach to web design is much different, because instead of starting out with desktop mockups, with ample space for all sorts of graphics and text, you’re forced to start small, which ensures you decide exactly which content and design elements are the most critical.

Once you’ve determined exactly what is required in a mobile-first design – with a focus on the user experience and functionality – you can then scale up and create an experience that doesn’t degrade on any type of device.

Use a responsive-friendly CMS

If your web site is especially ancient, it may be built from static HTML, and not on any type of (content management system) CMS. A standard CMS offers a host of benefits, one of which is that they tend to be mobile-friendly. Many developers can create custom themes for CMS platforms that are responsive across devices, yet still allow companies to perform many of the basic editing functions like updating text and adding blog posts and images without any development experience.

A few of the most popular CMS platforms include:

• WordPress

• Joomla

• Drupal

WordPress is the most popular platform, with more than 74 million sites powered by it as of 2014.

Partner with a company that understands responsive design

When the need arises to create a responsive website for your company, you want to find a design firm that understands the latest technologies to ensure you’re not throwing money at a website that will be obsolete in a matter of months. And you also want a partner who thinks of your responsive design from the ground up, integrating it with your overall business and web strategies, and the user experience that will accomplish them.

Creative Technology Partners is a strategic Internet company that takes a mobile-first approach to each project that we tackle. We would be happy to talk through your current web needs and design a solution that will accelerate your business. Reach out to us today for a consultation.