49 The State of Web Design Trends: 2012
With new and inspiring responsive designs popping up on a daily
basis, there’s clearly room for a showcase gallery. Mediaqueri.es
by Eivind Uggedal fills that gap perfectly, displaying the latest in
stretchy, squashy layouts. Mediaqueri.es itself is responsive (not
being so would have been pretty unforgivable) and demonstrates
how uncomplicated RWD can be.
One thing RWD has highlighted is the focus on content. Aside from
all other factors, the content of any given website is what’s impor-
tant; the meat-and-two-veg needs to be legible, accessible, and
clear on any device. Designers are certainly taking this on board as
is evident in many of 2011’s emerging websites.
Take dolectures.com for example; even its full-screen, 960px incar-
nation is devoid of unnecessary clutter. Once you’ve considered
mobile and what’s absolutely crucial for the limitations of a smaller
device, it often puts the larger layouts into perspective. Do you
really need all those links filling up your footer? If you’ve altered the
way they’re presented for mobile, why not for desktop too?
Many of the 2011 survey respondents commented on the importance of
responsive web design. One respondent called for “Broader, meaning
more device integration, so that web is spread across multiple
platforms. As well as web design structure and layout changing as
newer technology becomes more readily available.” Another designer
summed it up simply as “Responsive, adaptive, device-agnostic.
Standardization (Finally!). More focus on people.”
Do you plan for mobile and tablet versions of your web designs?
2011 18.9% 19.1% 7.7% 35.9% 18.5%
Yes, always.
Sometimes, for popular sites.
Sometimes, only for client sites.
Sometimes, only if the client requests it.
No, it’s not a priority.
