Web design has evolved significantly over the past decade. While static web pages once served as the norm, we now live in an entirely different world where responsive and adaptive design have largely replaced them in terms of popularity, if not across all websites out there today.

The latest trend in web design, however, is mobile-first web design. But how exactly does this differ from responsive and adaptive designs? Here’s everything you need to know about mobile-first web design.

Why Responsive Design Isn’t Enough

Responsive design is a design technique that makes the layout of a website change depending on the size of the screen it is being viewed on.

This means that a website can be viewed on a phone, tablet, and desktop computer simultaneously without any need for adjustment.

However, responsive design does not work well for certain tasks that require actions from either clicking or scrolling.

What Is Mobile First Web Design?

Mobile-first web design is the idea that a website should have a version that is designed for mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, before it has versions designed for desktop computers.

This approach reverses the traditional order of creating a website’s layouts, which usually starts with a desktop version first and then moves on to designing for mobile devices.

Common Elements in Mobile-First Designs

Mobile-first designs tend to have a cleaner and more streamlined interface. Smaller screen sizes mean less space for content, so it's important not to clutter the design with extraneous features.

This can be a good thing, as it forces you to prioritize the most important elements of your site.

Why Is it Important to Consider a Responsive Redesign Before Going Mobile First? In this day and age, almost everyone is using a mobile device of some sort. The most popular are smartphones and tablets. With that being said, it's important for businesses to make sure their website is fully functional on these devices.

A responsive redesign lets you create one site that automatically adjusts itself based off the size of the screen being used. This way, your website will be ready for the future and will be much more likely to have higher engagement rates with potential customers.

Case Study: Uber's transition from desktop first to mobile first redesign

Uber's mobile-first redesign was an important step in their attempt to reach more customers. With a mobile first design, Uber can provide a better user experience by utilizing the full screen real estate that is available on mobile devices and avoid cluttering the screen with unnecessary navigational elements.

This redesign also makes it easier for users to book rides from their phone when on the go.

Adaptive Websites Are Also On the Decline - Here's Why Adaptive websites are also on the decline. According to the latest research, only 19% of respondents said they planned to build an adaptive site in 2018.

The most popular reason for building a responsive site is that it's simple and faster to use.

Learnings

Mobile App Design Firms in Bangalore are a way for you to get your website designed and optimized for the smaller screen.

The new design will be more responsive and adaptive. In other words, your site will look good and function well on any device - not just mobile devices!