What is responsive design and why it is important

In the digital age, websites are the face of your business. It is often the first point of contact for potential customers and is a platform where you can showcase your products, services and values. But in a world where people increasingly access the internet from a variety of devices, it's not enough to have a website that looks good on a desktop computer. Your website must be responsive, which means it should provide an optimal viewing experience on a range of devices - from desktops to tablets to smartphones.

Responsive design demo

Let's first look at an example of responsive design for displaying a product on a hypothetical e-shop website.

In the first picture, we can see that if we display something on a wide monitor like a computer or laptop, we have enough space to display things side by side. But if we switch to a mobile phone, this no longer applies. Users often hold the mobile phone vertically. (for simplicity, we omit the possibility of flipping the mobile horizontally here)

If we tried to display the same thing to the user on a mobile phone, you can imagine that he would not be happy about it and would probably leave the website after a few seconds of suffering. Therefore, it is advisable to adjust the design so that the display is automatically adjusted on a smaller screen.

This is one of the many problems that responsive web and mobile app design addresses.

The use of mobile devices is on the rise

Mobile internet usage has surpassed desktop usage and continues to grow. People are increasingly using their smartphones to browse the web, shop online and interact with businesses. If your website doesn't perform well on mobile devices, you're missing out on a significant portion of potential customers.

In the images below, we can see the ratios of the types of devices used to access the Internet from 2009 to the end of 2023. The first image is for the Czech Republic, the second for Europe and the last for the whole world. The increase in the number of mobile phones to access the Internet over the years is evident from them.

Improved User Experience

A responsive website provides a better user experience. Whether a visitor is accessing your website from a desktop computer or smartphone, they should be able to easily navigate your website and find the information they are looking for without having to zoom or scroll horizontally.

Improved visibility in search engines (SEO)

Search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results. A responsive website can help improve your website's search engine rankings and make it easier for potential customers to find you. So more people will discover you on search engines without paying for advertising.

Future-Proofing

As new devices come to market, a responsive website will be able to adapt to new screen sizes and resolutions. In conclusion, a responsive website is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. It offers a range of benefits, from a better user experience to better search engine rankings, and is a key part of any successful digital strategy. So if you want your business to thrive in the desktop and mobile world, invest in responsive website design.

All my projects are responsive

If you are interested in creating a responsive website, do not hesitate to contact me and arrange a free consultation with me.