Is Responsive Web Design Practical?

We asked the community in a recent #UXPinChat their thoughts on applying responsive web design (RWD) to real projects, when it makes sense, and when it’s overkill.

At first glance the question is an obvious “yes, it’s important.” After all, the premise of RWD is to have one website or app design work on multiple screen sizes automatically. On the other hand, RWD takes more work up front, requiring designers to think about the same design in multiple configurations.

RWD isn’t new in web years — it’s six years old as of last week. But some designers are still adapting from old processes, like building comps straight in Photoshop, to more content-centric and prototype-driven approaches.

Here’s what people had to say:

Yes. In this age of mobile devices, #RWD is a must. #uxpinchat https://t.co/dSdFHjYYO6

— Ryan Thomas Riddle (@ryantriddle) May 27, 2016

A1) @uxpin Speaking from a marketing standpoint, YES. Customers visit via mobile & desktop all the time. That alone demands #RWD #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 27, 2016

A1 Definitely. I feel it 100% here, where mobile app distrib is even tougher than what I saw in London #uxpinchat https://t.co/mcToXdJsaT

— Steve Amara (@amarast) May 27, 2016

A1 ) Certainly helps, if done well. We should cater for a large range of devices and screen resolutions. #UXPinChat https://t.co/bz7fo7cUqp

— teodora (@teodora76279859) May 27, 2016

@uxpin A1) Your website goals can only be reached if your website is properly accessible! So yes, #RWD is always a must! #UXPinChat

— Michiel (@vandeveire) May 27, 2016

A2 ) There shouldn't be a set number of break points, these should be dictated by the content. #UXPinChat https://t.co/vHnVOIGtbu

— teodora (@teodora76279859) May 27, 2016

A2) @uxpin For customer interaction on websites, have 2 focuses: Common desktop res & mobile res. KISS where possible. #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 27, 2016

A2 Content of the site. And to some extent, how users interact with it… #uxpinchat https://t.co/Zjs8vIwWCV

— Steve Amara (@amarast) May 27, 2016

A3) @uxpin iphone 5 is a good minimum for me. Smaller size. Can't expect everyone to have larger phones. Expand from there. #UXPinChat #RWD

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 27, 2016

A3 ) To me both mobile or desktop first concepts are obsolete now,I find #ITCSS + BEMIT a better approach #UXPinChat https://t.co/UlkuWTOrgZ

— teodora (@teodora76279859) May 27, 2016

A3 Here, many smartphones have Nokia-3310-like screen size. Designing for these is a humbling exercise #uxpinchat https://t.co/PeRvQBJvrA

— Steve Amara (@amarast) May 27, 2016

iphone 5 for us. @uxpin #uxpinchat

— Ranae Guiles (@ynoepteews) May 27, 2016

@uxpin @uxpin it is less about designing the perfecting layout, rather designing systems for content to flow within. #uxpinchat

— Matthew Standage (@mstandage) May 27, 2016

@uxpin yep, and honestly it's a steep one. That's why we always try to do thorough research before designing anything.

— Steve Amara (@amarast) May 27, 2016

A4 Blocs alignment both vertically and horizontally with an easy-to-get logic. Quite handy when coding #uxpinchat https://t.co/mkNuCfdh86

— Steve Amara (@amarast) May 27, 2016

A4 ) As @IselianGaming pointed out, much easier and more logical way of structuring layout. #UXPinChat https://t.co/GkmQFoQ00D

— teodora (@teodora76279859) May 27, 2016

A5 ) I think this will be of interest – https://t.co/QxX68YwKfe #UXPinChat https://t.co/thB3h7uCjk

— teodora (@teodora76279859) May 27, 2016

A5) @uxpin @brad_frost Principle just makes sense. Start with basic mobile/desktop sizes. Build up from there. #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 27, 2016

Join us next Friday for another #UXPinChat!

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