What is responsive web design & why is it a must-have for UX

Initially coined by Ethan Marcotte in May 2021, the term Responsive Web Design has ever since become the next "big thing" in web development. Although it seems a little bit too technical to understand at first, responsive design is a simple improvement to software development to increase consistency on different browsers and devices. Even if it seems small, responsive website design has been a giant step in the web design and development industry towards a better future.

What is responsive web design?

A down-to-earth definition: If you are still wondering "How is responsive web design defined?", then it's high time you knew: Responsive sites allow all contents and features of a website/application to fully function across all devices and browsers, with no exception. 
 

Note: It's just one source website/application that can adapt to all browsers and devices instead of 2 or more of its versions to fit different platforms (e.g. Android / iOS) like how it was done in the past 

Website and app display before and after the birth of Responsive Design

Before responsive web design: Before the birth of technologies React Native and Flutter to power responsive designs, coders had to build two different app versions for iOS and Android. This causes the User Interface to vary between the two platforms, resulting in inconsistencies and, thus, a bad experience for the users. For website: contents will fail to display when loaded in certain browsers and devices. 

After responsive web design: Developers only need to build one application, which will function flawlessly with iOS and Android. Now with responsive web pages, the contents will be coming from just one source, and it can also display probably through all devices. Problem solved! Imagine your content showed consistently everywhere! 

DropBox is a great responsive website example.

Google even recommended this phenomenal improvement. Now, if your website fails to display somewhere, or looks different when accessed on various platforms, then it's a considerable disadvantage. In 2021, responsive web design is no longer just an option. It has become a common standard. 

Why is responsive web design a must-have for UI / UX? 

Variation in screen sizes and browsers was a considerable problem in the past. It causes a website to fail to display or malfunction in some instances. Responsive design tackles all screen sizes, and thus, it is the technology of the future. 

Responsive website design is now a common standard.

Google Friendly

In 2015, Google issued an algorithm that favors websites with responsive designs. In the era of mobile phones, being mobile-friendly is an essential factor that directly affects a website's ranking on Google SERPs. So a responsive design will assure mobile-friendliness and thus, gaining a massive advantage in SEO. After all, we want a website with traffics and conversions. Ranking on Google is vital for that.

All your traffic in one place

Instead of building multiple versions of your applications and web, now with responsive website design, you can direct all your traffic to one site/app. This will increase your domain's trust in Google bot's eyes, helping you to rank higher in Google. And also, your database is now synced and easier to manage. 

User experience & Branding

When there are two versions of your app/web, chances are, they are not the same. One button might be slightly bigger than its counterpart, and so, the user experience is not always consistent. Web responsive design can solve this problem.

Your opponents might already be using it.

While you still have versions of your app or a non-responsive website, your opponents may use just one mobile responsive web, and their appearance is always consistent. To not use responsive website design is to fall behind.

How to make a responsive website

We would have written a responsive website tutorial, but responsive websites take a lot of expertise and experience to build, unlike other WordPress websites. Golden Owl is certified by Clutch as a top web developer in Singapore. We have the latest technology in the world for your responsive app/website, including React Native and Flutter. 

Contact our IT consultants for a video call to discuss how to implement responsive web design for your business here. We also have responsive website design testers to make sure your digital projects are spotless.