Design Elements and Functionality to Consider When Developing a Responsive Website
In the first post of our RWD series, we discussed the importance of having a responsive website. For part two of the RWD series, we will cover the items to consider when developing a responsive website, specifically design elements and website navigation.
What is a design element on a website?
A design element on a website can be a button, video, typography, graphic, or picture. We've all experienced clicking the wrong button or having to pinch-zoom our screen when browsing a non-RWD website. It's frustrating. The design elements of a website should respond to screen size. A website's design elements must change sizes based on the screen size of a device to optimize the user experience.
Therefore, it is important to consider the following when starting a new website design:
• How will the overall design translate to a small screen?
• What design elements are necessary for the pages?
• Are the image sizes easy to scale?
• How will video display on different screens?
• How will links and buttons look on the various device sizes?
• Is the typography style easy to read?
Planning the various design element aspects ahead of time will save time and frustration for everyone involved in an RWD project.
Responsive Web Design and Website Navigation
In addition to design elements in RWD, the website's navigation menu should be given major attention. Because mobile device screens are small by nature, designing the menu to be easily clicked and navigated is essential. A smaller screen user will be trying to access your information using their fingertip, so the menu design should be large enough to avoid the frustration of clicking on the wrong link item.
These four points should be considered for mobile navigation:
• Where should the navigation be positioned?
• Will it be easy to click on a smaller screen?
• How will drop-downs be accessed?
• Will forms and login screens be easy to use?
When designing website navigation, simplicity is key. We know that users won't clumsily sift through 30 different buttons to find products, services and information. Instead they will leave your website all together, search and undoubtedly end on your competitors' fully responsive website.
Stayed tuned for the final post to this series when we explore how a responsive website helps with Search Engine Optimization.
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