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Design Thinking
Website Optimization
CSS3
HTML5
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ARTICLE #56
How to make a responsive web design? A detailed guide
Design Thinking
Website Optimization
CSS3
HTML5
Web Development
Design Thinking
Website Optimization
CSS3
HTML5
Web Development
Written by:
12 min read
Updated on: July 12, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Smartphones, tablets—even smart TVs—have made one thing crystal clear: if your site only looks decent on a desktop, it’s probably sending visitors away in frustration. In 2023 alone, handheld devices generated 58.67% of global website traffic, according to Statista—proof that designing for multiple screens is no longer optional. And honestly, who wants to pinch and zoom just to read a product description?
That’s where responsive web design comes in. It simply ensures your pages adapt beautifully across everything from tiny mobile screens to large desktop monitors. As a result, you get a smoother experience for users, higher conversion rates, and more growth for your business.
Smartphones, tablets—even smart TVs—have made one thing crystal clear: if your site only looks decent on a desktop, it’s probably sending visitors away in frustration. In 2023 alone, handheld devices generated 58.67% of global website traffic, according to Statista—proof that designing for multiple screens is no longer optional. And honestly, who wants to pinch and zoom just to read a product description?
That’s where responsive web design comes in. It simply ensures your pages adapt beautifully across everything from tiny mobile screens to large desktop monitors. As a result, you get a smoother experience for users, higher conversion rates, and more growth for your business.
What is responsive web design?
What is responsive web design?
Responsive web design is a modern approach to web design that allows web pages to accurately display and render the same experience across all screen sizes and devices.
Imagine you are on your widescreen desktop at home, reading a two-column layout with big, bold visuals. Later, you switch to your phone. Without a responsive design, those two columns might shrink down to tiny, unreadable boxes or stack awkwardly, forcing you to zoom and scroll in all sorts of weird ways. With responsive design, the website rearranges or scales automatically, keeping everything easy on the eyes.
Responsive web design is a modern approach to web design that allows web pages to accurately display and render the same experience across all screen sizes and devices.
Imagine you are on your widescreen desktop at home, reading a two-column layout with big, bold visuals. Later, you switch to your phone. Without a responsive design, those two columns might shrink down to tiny, unreadable boxes or stack awkwardly, forcing you to zoom and scroll in all sorts of weird ways. With responsive design, the website rearranges or scales automatically, keeping everything easy on the eyes.
Benefits of responsive web design
You might think, “Is it really worth the effort?” In short: absolutely. For more convincing, here’s a quick look at the key benefits.
1. Improves user experience
A responsive web design ensures visitors can easily read and interact with your site—whether they are on a massive TV screen or a phone that fits in one hand.
2. Taps into mobile traffic
Since handheld devices generate the majority of web traffic, providing a fluid, well-optimised layout can help you capture and retain that audience.
3. Avoids duplicate content penalties
Running separate desktop and mobile versions can sometimes create duplicate content. Google’s not a fan of that. A single responsive site helps keep your content in one place.
4. Boosts conversions
A site that’s easy to read and lightning-fast to load is far more likely to convert casual browsers into paying customers.
5. Helps your SEO
Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites, which can improve your visibility on search results. Responsive design directly supports that.
6. Works offline
Smartphones and tablets can display certain elements even without an internet connection, especially if you are using HTML5. That helps people engage with your brand’s essential content offline.
7. Adopts mobile-first indexing
As Google primarily indexes mobile versions of sites, being responsive ramps up your chances of ranking higher.
8. Speeds up loading times
Responsive designs often use fluid grids and properly optimised images. The faster your site loads, the less likely visitors will jump ship.
According to Google's research, 53% of mobile website visitors leave if a webpage doesn't load within three seconds.
9. Cuts down on redirects
If you create separate designs for each device and rely on redirects, you add an extra step for the user. A responsive approach merges everything into one design, speeding up the experience.
Ultimately, a single, well-crafted design that scales is far less hassle than juggling multiple versions of your site.
You might think, “Is it really worth the effort?” In short: absolutely. For more convincing, here’s a quick look at the key benefits.
1. Improves user experience
A responsive web design ensures visitors can easily read and interact with your site—whether they are on a massive TV screen or a phone that fits in one hand.
2. Taps into mobile traffic
Since handheld devices generate the majority of web traffic, providing a fluid, well-optimised layout can help you capture and retain that audience.
3. Avoids duplicate content penalties
Running separate desktop and mobile versions can sometimes create duplicate content. Google’s not a fan of that. A single responsive site helps keep your content in one place.
4. Boosts conversions
A site that’s easy to read and lightning-fast to load is far more likely to convert casual browsers into paying customers.
5. Helps your SEO
Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites, which can improve your visibility on search results. Responsive design directly supports that.
6. Works offline
Smartphones and tablets can display certain elements even without an internet connection, especially if you are using HTML5. That helps people engage with your brand’s essential content offline.
7. Adopts mobile-first indexing
As Google primarily indexes mobile versions of sites, being responsive ramps up your chances of ranking higher.
8. Speeds up loading times
Responsive designs often use fluid grids and properly optimised images. The faster your site loads, the less likely visitors will jump ship.
According to Google's research, 53% of mobile website visitors leave if a webpage doesn't load within three seconds.
9. Cuts down on redirects
If you create separate designs for each device and rely on redirects, you add an extra step for the user. A responsive approach merges everything into one design, speeding up the experience.
Ultimately, a single, well-crafted design that scales is far less hassle than juggling multiple versions of your site.
Foundations of responsive web design
So, how do you make all this happen? Let’s talk foundations.
1. CSS and HTML
HTML handles the basic structure and content, while CSS styles and arranges that content in the browser. Where older sites might have used fixed widths in HTML itself, modern practice is to lean on CSS for flexible sizing.
2. Media Queries
A media query works a bit like an “if statement” in programming. It checks a device’s width (or other features) and applies the right CSS based on the result. This way, your site can shift layouts for small phones, large screens, or anything in between.
3. Fluid Layouts
Instead of telling your container to be a rigid 600px wide, you might say, “Make this container 80% of whatever screen you are on.” This scaling approach is the core idea behind fluid layouts.
4. Flexbox Layout
Flexbox is a powerful CSS module that arranges items, so they adapt to available space—even if you are not sure how much content you’ll have. This offers more control than a simple fluid layout.
5. Fluid Images
Images should adapt smoothly without forcing side-scrolling. Using CSS to set max width to 100%, for instance, ensures images shrink on smaller displays rather than bleeding off the screen.
6. Speed
Loading speed is crucial. A few seconds’ delay can send users packing. Optimise images, enable caching and minimise CSS/JavaScript to keep load times swift.
So, how do you make all this happen? Let’s talk foundations.
1. CSS and HTML
HTML handles the basic structure and content, while CSS styles and arranges that content in the browser. Where older sites might have used fixed widths in HTML itself, modern practice is to lean on CSS for flexible sizing.
2. Media Queries
A media query works a bit like an “if statement” in programming. It checks a device’s width (or other features) and applies the right CSS based on the result. This way, your site can shift layouts for small phones, large screens, or anything in between.
3. Fluid Layouts
Instead of telling your container to be a rigid 600px wide, you might say, “Make this container 80% of whatever screen you are on.” This scaling approach is the core idea behind fluid layouts.
4. Flexbox Layout
Flexbox is a powerful CSS module that arranges items, so they adapt to available space—even if you are not sure how much content you’ll have. This offers more control than a simple fluid layout.
5. Fluid Images
Images should adapt smoothly without forcing side-scrolling. Using CSS to set max width to 100%, for instance, ensures images shrink on smaller displays rather than bleeding off the screen.
6. Speed
Loading speed is crucial. A few seconds’ delay can send users packing. Optimise images, enable caching and minimise CSS/JavaScript to keep load times swift.
How to make a responsive web design?
Whether you are a designer or a web creator who is ready to start on a new responsive project, you will need to adjust sizes and proportions instead of just focusing on a fixed layout. Responsive websites adjust according to their dimensions.
Below are some practical steps to get you started.
1. Start with wireframes
Lay out the essentials with a simple sketch or digital wireframe. Focus on where key elements go and how users will interact. Try a few ideas and get feedback early—don’t worry about perfecting the visual design right away.
Tip: People often browse on phones, tablets, and laptops. Draft wireframes for each to see if your structure adapts well.
2. Identify breakpoints
Breakpoints are points at which your design changes to suit a new screen size. For instance, you might define one for typical phone widths and another for average tablet widths. The fewer you use, the simpler your code maintenance becomes.
Tip: Don’t hide essential content at smaller breakpoints—try using a compact menu icon for sub-pages instead of leaving visitors stranded.
3. Design for the smallest screens first
A mobile-first approach makes you think about crucial content first, preventing clutter. Once your layout works well on a phone, you can expand upward for larger devices.
4. Keep content front and centre
On a phone screen, space is precious. Decide which elements truly matter—like your headline or call-to-action—and make them easy to see. Anything non-essential should be reconsidered or shifted to secondary screens.
5. Test on actual devices
Something that looks fantastic on your desktop might be awkward when tapped on a real phone or tablet. Grab a mobile, open your site, and pretend you are a first-time visitor. Are the buttons easy to press? Is the text legible?
6. Construct a fuid grid
A grid made of rows and columns helps place your UI components consistently. You can:
Fix the size of rows/columns in pixels (less common nowadays).
Use fluid settings (percentages or fractions) so the grid adapts neatly to changing viewports.
7. Optimise images
High-quality images can wow visitors—unless they bring your site to a crawl. Consider compressing or resizing them, so they load faster. Also, using vector formats (like SVG) helps images remain crisp at different sizes.
8. Choose responsive typography
Avoid having to pinch and zoom. Select fonts that remain sharp on various devices and ensure your text scales naturally so nobody’s straining their eyes.
9. Final checks
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: This is a quick way to see if your site meets mobile standards.
Chrome DevTools (or something similar): It lets you preview your site at different breakpoints.
Keep an eye on columns, text size, and any overlap among elements.
Whether you are a designer or a web creator who is ready to start on a new responsive project, you will need to adjust sizes and proportions instead of just focusing on a fixed layout. Responsive websites adjust according to their dimensions.
Below are some practical steps to get you started.
1. Start with wireframes
Lay out the essentials with a simple sketch or digital wireframe. Focus on where key elements go and how users will interact. Try a few ideas and get feedback early—don’t worry about perfecting the visual design right away.
Tip: People often browse on phones, tablets, and laptops. Draft wireframes for each to see if your structure adapts well.
2. Identify breakpoints
Breakpoints are points at which your design changes to suit a new screen size. For instance, you might define one for typical phone widths and another for average tablet widths. The fewer you use, the simpler your code maintenance becomes.
Tip: Don’t hide essential content at smaller breakpoints—try using a compact menu icon for sub-pages instead of leaving visitors stranded.
3. Design for the smallest screens first
A mobile-first approach makes you think about crucial content first, preventing clutter. Once your layout works well on a phone, you can expand upward for larger devices.
4. Keep content front and centre
On a phone screen, space is precious. Decide which elements truly matter—like your headline or call-to-action—and make them easy to see. Anything non-essential should be reconsidered or shifted to secondary screens.
5. Test on actual devices
Something that looks fantastic on your desktop might be awkward when tapped on a real phone or tablet. Grab a mobile, open your site, and pretend you are a first-time visitor. Are the buttons easy to press? Is the text legible?
6. Construct a fuid grid
A grid made of rows and columns helps place your UI components consistently. You can:
Fix the size of rows/columns in pixels (less common nowadays).
Use fluid settings (percentages or fractions) so the grid adapts neatly to changing viewports.
7. Optimise images
High-quality images can wow visitors—unless they bring your site to a crawl. Consider compressing or resizing them, so they load faster. Also, using vector formats (like SVG) helps images remain crisp at different sizes.
8. Choose responsive typography
Avoid having to pinch and zoom. Select fonts that remain sharp on various devices and ensure your text scales naturally so nobody’s straining their eyes.
9. Final checks
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: This is a quick way to see if your site meets mobile standards.
Chrome DevTools (or something similar): It lets you preview your site at different breakpoints.
Keep an eye on columns, text size, and any overlap among elements.
Responsive web design examples
Responsive web design examples highlight the best practices in modern web design, including, flexible layouts, adaptive images, and intuitive navigation. Plenty of big brands do this right. Let’s spotlight a few.
Apple
Desktop: Large, vivid product images in columns. A fixed-top menu offers easy links to different product categories.
Smartphone: That top menu becomes a small, sticky icon to save screen space, and images scale down gracefully.
Amazon
Tablet: Shows more content while still keeping the screen uncluttered. A scrollable row of icons helps people explore product categories.
Smartphone: Condenses to a single column, putting important items—like recently viewed products—front and centre.
Dropbox
Desktop: Displays key offerings immediately, with a handy menu bar pinned at the top for quick sign-ins or sign-ups.
Smartphone: Retains the core visual theme but collapses the top menu into an icon. The sign-in page is just a tap away, and images scale so they’re never cut off.
These examples prove that a well-planned responsive layout can offer the same sense of polish on any device.
Responsive web design examples highlight the best practices in modern web design, including, flexible layouts, adaptive images, and intuitive navigation. Plenty of big brands do this right. Let’s spotlight a few.
Apple
Desktop: Large, vivid product images in columns. A fixed-top menu offers easy links to different product categories.
Smartphone: That top menu becomes a small, sticky icon to save screen space, and images scale down gracefully.
Amazon
Tablet: Shows more content while still keeping the screen uncluttered. A scrollable row of icons helps people explore product categories.
Smartphone: Condenses to a single column, putting important items—like recently viewed products—front and centre.
Dropbox
Desktop: Displays key offerings immediately, with a handy menu bar pinned at the top for quick sign-ins or sign-ups.
Smartphone: Retains the core visual theme but collapses the top menu into an icon. The sign-in page is just a tap away, and images scale so they’re never cut off.
These examples prove that a well-planned responsive layout can offer the same sense of polish on any device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a web design responsive?
A site that adapts its layout and images for different screen sizes using flexible grids, media queries, and responsive images. It ensures a smooth experience regardless of the device.
What if my site isn’t responsive?
Visitors on smartphones or tablets may find your content nearly impossible to browse, leading them to exit—and possibly never return.
Final Thoughts
A responsive website isn’t just about appearances—it’s about ensuring all users can easily interact with your brand, no matter what device they hold. By mastering the fundamentals—fluid grids, adaptable images, media queries, and genuine speed optimisations—you can create an online presence that feels inviting and modern.
If that sounds too tricky to handle by yourself, consider hiring a professional developer or using a theme that’s already configured for responsiveness. The key is to keep everything smooth, accessible, and user-friendly. After all, in our era of constant scrolling and lightning-quick browsing decisions, you want your site to say “Hello, we’ve got you covered,” not “Oops, try resizing your screen!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a web design responsive?
A site that adapts its layout and images for different screen sizes using flexible grids, media queries, and responsive images. It ensures a smooth experience regardless of the device.
What if my site isn’t responsive?
Visitors on smartphones or tablets may find your content nearly impossible to browse, leading them to exit—and possibly never return.
Final Thoughts
A responsive website isn’t just about appearances—it’s about ensuring all users can easily interact with your brand, no matter what device they hold. By mastering the fundamentals—fluid grids, adaptable images, media queries, and genuine speed optimisations—you can create an online presence that feels inviting and modern.
If that sounds too tricky to handle by yourself, consider hiring a professional developer or using a theme that’s already configured for responsiveness. The key is to keep everything smooth, accessible, and user-friendly. After all, in our era of constant scrolling and lightning-quick browsing decisions, you want your site to say “Hello, we’ve got you covered,” not “Oops, try resizing your screen!”
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Work with us
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We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
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Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
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Click to copy
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®