These days, web browsing capabilities are available on dozens of devices. From tablets to smartphones, a growing number of people access the Internet with varying screen sizes.
You can even browse the Internet on an 88″ high-definition television!
The key to a successful website is accessibility. This means that your website needs to function on screens of all sizes.
To ensure maximum accessibility, use dynamic website design. Don’t let a poorly designed website decrease your conversions!
Read on to learn the top 3 best practices for responsive website design.
1. Prototype a Look and Feel First
Before getting into the script side of things, take time to map out your website. This includes:
- Colors
- Graphics and images
- Content
- Navigation
- Overall theme
When prototyping your website, always keep screen size in mind.
For your site to be functional on a mobile device, you’ll need to remember the fine details. Buttons will need to be big enough for the fingertip. Images need to be optimized for small and large sizes.
Does the idea of an intricate website interest you? While flashy websites are catchy, it’s best to keep it simple.
Having too much back-end functionality slows pages from loading. In turn, the pages load even slower on devices with less computing power.
3. Become a CSS and HTML Expert
Dynamic website design is pure CSS and HTML. This means you’ll need to know these languages inside and out.
CSS will be used for styling as well as to set rules. For example, you can create a CSS rule that shows or hides certain elements, depending on the user’s screen size. You will need rules to dictate:
- Scrollbar display
- Navigation
- Font and image size
Want to see CSS and HTML in action?
Check out the Doctor Ponic website. Make your browser smaller and you’ll see the page change its layout.
3. Ensure Cross-Browser Functionality
Your website not only needs to load on various screen sizes, it needs to work on all browsers.
Extensive user testing will be needed to ensure your site loads on all browsers. This includes:
- Internet Explorer (IE)
- Microsoft Edge
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Safari
- Opera
Another factor to consider is browser version.
Dynamic website design requires the use of CSS3 and HTML5. But, these functions aren’t supported on many older browsers, such as IE9 and later.
So how can you ensure your website loads for all users?
Use a JavaScript based solution. Solutions such as respond.js bring the power of CSS3 and HTML5 to older browsers.
Dynamic Website Design: The Backbone of Websites
You can count on users browsing your site from a variety of devices. To maximize time on page as well as conversions, your site needs to be built with a dynamic design.
Want to further boost your website design and interface knowledge?
If so, PSD Learning has all the information you need. Our expert tips will help you create a garden website that will get your success blooming!
Browse our site today to start learning!
