Websites should be designed and developed in such a way that they can respond and adapt the content based on the site visitor’s screen. Without a thoughtful approach, people may be left having to pinch and zoom, or scroll right to left, in order to see all of the page content.
Around 2015, people in the US made the switch from using mobile devices more often than desktop computers to access websites, making responsive design more important than ever.
But people aren’t just accessing website from phones or tablets—they are also using smart watches, smart TVs, other devices in cars, and household appliances.
Webpages should be tested on mobile devices to ensure:
regardless of the browser used to access the site or the orientation of the device (portrait/landscape)
Responsive pages make content easier to use for everyone, including those with disabilities, making it a vital part of accessibility.
Displaying important information before page scrolling is necessary benefits site visitors with short-term memory disabilities, those with limited mobility making scrolling difficult, and people with low vision.
Design/concept
Development
Content migration
Depending on the web builder or content management system, you may want to do all 3.
This could include:
Additional design mock-ups for tablet or mobile
Additional code to help determine breakpoints and how content adapts to pixel widths
Adaptations to the page content itself in order to ensure it displays well on many screen sizes
To learn more about the relationship between responsive design and accessibility, check out our free guide The STAR Standard.
