Learn how to think beyond the desktop, and craft designs that respond to your users’ needs. In the second edition of Responsive Web Design, Ethan Marcotte expands on the still-relevant design principles behind fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries. Through new examples and updated facts and figures, you'll learn how to deliver a quality experience, no matter how large or small the display.
Ethan Marcotte is a veteran web designer, speaker, and author. He’s perhaps best known for responsive web design, helping the industry discover a new way of designing for the ever-changing Web.
A very short book; I think it took me an hour or so to read all the way through. BUT...it brings together all the threads of the Responsive Web Design concept in a clear and useful way. (He's self-deprecating about it, but the math for calculating a flexible grid's proportions based on a pixel grid is easy and just what I needed.) I ended the book fired up to do design this way from now on, and to go back and update sites I already have out there. Great color screenshots, easy-to-read code. And I like the quirky friendly voice.
A notable thing, from my POV as someone who's been making websites for well over a decade (!), is his references in the acknowledgements to "A Dao of Web Design" - that article marked a critical moment in my growth as a web designer. It was written back when IE5 was the new hotness, IIRC, but it's the same philosophy undergirding this book, and that's a damn good thing.
Silly comment reader, don't read this comment when you could be reading the book this comment is about. It's awesome and might change web development for the better for the rest of humanity and you are just wasting time reading a review that has little to nothing to do with it.
Seriously, go read the book. You could have already read the first page by now.
Ugh. This book was uselessly beginnerish. I can't imagine that anyone who'd pick this book up would be less than an intermediate Web designer. Beginners are way too focused on the functionality of their products to really think much of design beyond the basics. This book is targeted toward them and they're not going to read it.
Is it too soon to call this book seminal? A decade ago, Jeffrey Zeldman's Designing WIth Web Standards certainly fit that description, convincing many of us to drop our table-based layouts in favour of accessible, standards-compliant CSS layouts. By my estimation Ethan Marcotte's 'Responsive Web Design' looks set to become just as formative by calling for another new approach to designing websites - this time, one better suited to the ever-increasing number of devices and browsers that people use to access the internet. This is an easygoing introduction to a new way of working - brief, clear and softened with Ethan's I-know-what-you're-thinking wit - a welcome ingredient, incidentally, given all the ingrained habits that may have to be unlearned.
If you're anything like me, you'll have resisted fluid layouts for as long as possible, feeling that a great-looking site only really looks best at one resolution: the one it was designed for. After all, the alternative - page elements lost in a sea of whitespace and line lengths too wide to be comfortably read, or content constricted into squashed-up columns, images cropped awkwardly or poking out where they shouldn't - well let's just say these have never been happy places for the designer pathological about presentation. Fortunately such concerns need no longer hold us back, thanks to that devastatingly useful W3C construct, the CSS media query. Layout approaching breaking point? No problem - set a break point. Adjust. And you're done.
This is a great little book, but it's worth stressing that Ethan makes the case for fully responsive websites using relative font sizes, fluid grids and flexible images, and also encourages a mobile-first approach to web design and agile development processes - things that may require a new mindset as much as a new workflow. There is, however, an opposing school of thought that says much of this is unnecessary and that adaptive layouts - ie. targeting specific devices or resolutions, perhaps using media queries to set break points for different fixed width layouts - is perfectly adequate. Although fine for some websites, I don't happen to think this is a particularly viable approach in the long term - nevertheless it would have been nice to have read a bit more about this in the book.
That said, even if you're more of an adaptive than a responsive person, this is still absolutely worth the read as it covers the nuts and bolts of what you'll need to know. It takes no more than a couple of hours, and it might convince you that going fully responsive isn't so drastic after all.
Finally a book written by a designer who can actually write. Ethan Marcotte has a lively style, supporting his statements with vibrant anecdotes, analogies, jokes, and concrete examples. He grounds the book in traditional architecture and art history just enough to give it depth without detracting from its focus of responsive web design.
My favorite quotation from the book is:
Pretend for a moment that you're working as a front-end developer. (If you're already a front-end developer, well, pretend you're also wearing a pirate hat.)
...which probably gives a fairly good sense of the author's style.
One thing that bothered me was that images of different sizes were displayed next to each other at the same size in the book, even though the points being discussed were directly caused by the difference in size.
I've just finished going through the book and it's examples. It's quite handy in that it's collected several techniques for building a 'responsive' layout design. However, only look to this book for theory and history. This is NOT a step-by-step guide in building a responsive site from scratch. Previous experience in HTML, CSS, and Javascript is highly recommended.
See, this book has been written like many of the web development (html/css/js/php) tutorials you can find online by simply performing a Google search. And this book, like those tutorials, sometimes rushes through topics and skips over details, becoming nothing more than code snippets surrounded by hastily written paragraphs.
Where this book sets itself apart, is in it's EXCELLENT job of referencing many of those ground-breaking tutorials (articles) that have helped Ethan Marcotte give content to this book. Links are provided and you're encouraged to go back and read these articles, where you can return to the book with a better understanding of the groundwork laid before this publication.
Unfortunately, like those online tutorials it's also loaded with inconsistencies and gaping holes that will have you backtracking several paragraphs (and pages) to soon realize that the author is simply referring to points that he never actually made. And this is all without a comment section to contact the author for clarification and article refinement.
And at $18.00 + Shipping & Handling, with only 150 pages (including appendix, reference list and a page about the author), I find this book to have been over priced. I expected more. a LOT more. I may question my purchase, but I don't regret it. At the very least, someone may read this review and consider doing what I should've done from the get-go and simply Google "Responsive Web Design -book +article". I've purchased the other books in the series (I got them all at once) and I suspect I will have similar disapointed feelings about them as well. Meh...
If you're looking for something ground-breaking, thorough, well-written and worth your dirty dollars, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a convenient reference of information freely available on the internet because you're too busy to Google it yourself, then I suppose you've found your book.
Like all the previous items from A Book Apart, this is concise, useful and finds room for a little humour too. This one is about making websites that will cope with the multitude of different browser sizes and contexts web developers have to deal with these days.
I've read almost all the articles Marcotte references, and had started using some of the principles before beginning this book. But Marcotte brings them altogether in a way that has thoroughly convinced me to give up on merely elastic layouts when I can have truly responsive ones instead. The book explains the 3 basic components of a responsive site, then in the final chapter explains the changes in habit and mindset that will be needed to know when to deploy each technique. Bye-bye pixel-based dimensions...
It's going to be a drag to have to pay $80+ for a doorstop/text-book after reading these little gems. I might as well put in a permanent order with A Book Apart - send me one of everything you publish! Even if I don't use it, it'll look so pretty sitting next to the others.
This book makes you fully understand responsive design. Easy to read, humorous and full of valuable information. It's perfect for anyone who wants to build a new responsive website.
Good overview of responsive design approach. I had been reading on the topic for a little while (including some of the articles referenced in this book), but it seemed to me very advanced, arcane even, and I was hesitant to plunge into it (general designing with web standards given the constraints of the popular CM systems is difficult enough). After reading this book, however, I see that it is not as dark as I had painted it.
Mr. Marcotte starts out by making the case for responsive web design as an economical and future-proof way to ensure accessibility of the content in an ever increasing pool of devices and resolutions. He argues for flexible grid, flexible media, and media queries to accomplish the responsiveness.
Chapter two explains the idea of typographic grid, and its application on the web. He also introduces the simple formula target ÷ context = result, which is very helpful to understanding how dimensions work in CSS in relation to the context of the element. I have to admit, fundamental though this idea is, I had a lot of issues with some advanced nested CSS before, but this clears up a lot of things (I am too lazy to read the specs, but who does that anyway?). Using this formula on typography example, Ethan then shows how it can be applied to the fluid percentage-based design.
Regardless of responsiveness, this is a great approach to flexible design in general. At the same time, responsive design does not necessarily mean that the grid cannot still be fixed-width (with different widths served at different break points via media queries, like Framless Grid, for instance), or a combination of both. It is just that Ethan likes it that flexible way.
In subsequent chapters author talks about intricacies of flexible (resizeable) images, and the media queries that round up the concept of responsive design. Media queries turned out to be simple and straightforward tool, and I was avoiding them for no good reason (term sounded too technical to me).
In the end, Marcotte discusses finer points of this topic. He gives more insight into problems of browser compatibility, and into improving accessibility and effectiveness of implementation. He explains how workflow can be changed to streamline the development using this approach. He talks about “mobile first” mantra, citing Luke Wroblewski (who later found his place in this series of books with his Mobile First). He also gives voice to opposition who say that mobile content should be distinctly different from desktop version. To that author responds that it really depends on the needs of the project and its users. As much as it can be true at times, we cannot also make assumptions about our users (such as available bandwidth or actual mobility of “mobile”) solely based on their screen size, and rigidly stick to one dogma.
Book contains a lot of references in-line, and many resources in the end to guide further exploration of the topic as is traditional in this series. Out of the four books apart I had read so far, this one was most valuable and practical for me so far, and, along with CSS3 For Web Designers, was most handy reference. Were I not be able to borrow these books from the library, I could justify purchasing them and have them on my desk at all times.
Responsive web design is the idea that, when creating a web page, it should work seamlessly and correctly on all screen sizes and devices, from an iPhone or Android phone up through a widescreen desktop computer. But with so many computing devices available today (and many more coming in the future), you can't hope to customize the experience for each device.
Instead, the page's HTML, CSS, and Javascript should adapt to the device's reported capabilities. This book uses an example site to demonstrate: http://responsivewebdesign.com/robot/ Try resizing your browser window (assuming you're on a desktop computer) on this site and watch how it responsively adapts, moving navigation elements, changing fonts, and scaling images.
The technical approach to fulfilling the responsive design philosophy boils down to three things:
* CSS media queries to test the user's viewport size; * ems instead of pixels for all sizes; and * a responsive grid (see http://www.getskeleton.com/ for a grid framework example).
I liked how this book combines high-minded principles (e.g., design for the future) with nitty-gritty technical details (e.g. lots of code samples). I did not like how this book was not available on Kindle, and has to be purchased through a A List Apart as a PDF.
I found the whole book particularly interesting and believe anyone web-business-related can benefit from reading it.
Why I find it interesting? Because:
1. The book is technical enough for dev people not to get bored when reading, but covers all the fundaments: fluid coding (em, %), media-queries, progressive enhancement rather than degradation. (Chapters II - IV)
2. The book is not technical to much for designers - going through 'technical' part of the book gives design-heads an idea of what dev is going through when implementing "oh, so creative designs", which in turn may (and I am sure will) change the way all further projects are approached. What more 5th chapter talks about progressive enhancement approach for responsive design. (Chapters I-V)
3. The book describes the whole approach to responsive web projects, showing how "waterfall" turns into iterative design-development cooperation and overall gives loads of things to chew on plus some "selling material" for Accounts. (Chapters I and V)
Web design is a field that's always progressing with time. And as a web designer it might seem intimidating. Because new standards are brought into play every 3 years, of even sooner. So it's a field that in which reinventing your self is is not an option. This book goes over the new creative method for designing websites that's sustainable for creating pages for all different devices. I would say if your feeling alarmed about approaching this new coding method. Don't be. Ethan Marcotte makes his book short and concise. He does flex the lexical muscle sometimes. But it's nothing a short google search can't fix
Hezký průvodce v tvorbě responsivních webů. Knížka není moc dlouhá a má plno zajímavých podnětů k přemýšlení. Hezky zapadá do koncepce ostatních knih z A Book Apart. Jen bych očekával u druhého aktualizovanáho vydání, že ta aktualizace bude trochu rozsáhlejší, občas jsou některé věci dost out of date. Např. v knize není ani jednou zmíněn prohlížeč Chrome. Nadruhou stranu je to celkem fuk, protože zmíněné postupy fungují.
(3.5) Finally finished this book again! When I had read this the first time, I didn't notice the bit regarding working with engineering collaboratively, but I appreciated the recommendation to get to a live prototype in code and iterate the design with engineering, rather than spinning your wheels in a design tool.
This was a good updated primer for RWD, but I think the Responsible Responsive book has more tactical knowledge for engineers looking to implement responsive designs.
This is one of the best books to start learning about responsive web design. What makes it great is that it's not just a technical book on how to apply HTML and CSS to create responsive websites, it discuss the history, the principles and motivation behind the RWD movement, as well as providing numerous links to other excellent articles about this topic.
After finishing this book I feel much more motivated to dig deeper and research about this topic.
Highly recommended. Along with HTML5 For Web Designers, it is easily the best of "A Book Apart" offerings. It's a quick read with concrete examples – you can start using what you learn here immediately. It is well written and even funny at times.
Excelente libro introduccion al responsive web design. Lo que me gustó es que es muy conceptual y los ejemplos técnicos de como implementarlo son bastante puntuales y ejemplificadores. Me imagino que a la hora de realizar una aplicación completa es necesario saber mucho más que eso, pero lo bueno de este libro es el enfoque desde el punto de vista del diseño y no solo del código.
A really well written and thoroughly illustrated conceptualization of responsive web design. This is a book for coders and non-coders alike that provides ammunition for the fight to redevelop organizational websites that can be accessed device nonspecifically. A very good read if you're in the throes of working on a new website and would like it to function universally.
I don't normally buy books like this, but this is a great tutorial into proper responsive web design; very well written and simple to understand. I've not finished it - because halfway through everything kind of "clicked" and I could do the job I wanted to do. I'd recommended it.
There are some important principles contained in this book as it relates to responsive web design, but ultimately, a lot of what it taught were things I inherently understood anyway. As technology has evolved, this book has become slightly out of date.
Great book, It helps to understand why Responsive web design is important now a days, and gives some code that helps understand the concept and implementing the idea.
A good overview of responsive design; however, when you got to the end and the issue of mobile-first design arose, it felt a little as if the rest of the book took you to a partial dead end.
Ah, Responsive Web Design (Paperback)—this book brings back some memories! I still remember the day I first stumbled upon it during a time when the concept of "responsive design" was just beginning to gain traction. It felt like unlocking a new dimension in web development, where the lines between desktop and mobile experiences started to blur into a seamless journey for users.
Back then, I was working on a project for a small local business. They wanted a website that could engage customers on any device, but the challenge was enormous. Every time I adjusted one part of the design for mobile, another part on the desktop would go awry. It was like a never-ending game of digital whack-a-mole!
That's when I found this book. It was like discovering a secret treasure map that guided me through the complexities of fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries. The more I read, the more I realized that responsive web design wasn't just a technique—it was a philosophy that prioritized user experience across all devices.
With the knowledge from the book, I crafted a site that not only looked great on any screen but also functioned smoothly. Seeing the client’s satisfaction and their users’ positive feedback made all those late nights worth it. I felt a deep sense of accomplishment, knowing I had created something that truly connected with people regardless of how they accessed the site.
Fast forward to today, responsive web design is no longer a novelty—it's an essential part of creating websites that people love to use. However, the landscape of web design has evolved tremendously, with new tools and technologies making the process even more exciting.
For those of you who are either beginning your journey into responsive design or looking to enhance your skills, I can't recommend teaming up with experts who live and breathe this philosophy every day. One such agency that excels in this field is Redspider Web & Art Design. Based in Dubai, they are known for their advanced approach to Web design Dubai, creating websites that are not only visually stunning but also flawlessly responsive. Whether you’re looking to build a new site from scratch or revamp an existing one, they have the expertise to bring your vision to life.
A Must-Read for Modern Web Developers and Designers
Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte is more than just a book—it’s a turning point in how we understand and approach building for the web. As the originator of the concept of responsive design, Marcotte doesn’t just outline principles; he redefines how developers and designers think about the web as a flexible, fluid medium.
The writing is clean, accessible, and practical. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer looking to update your toolkit, this book delivers tremendous value. Marcotte walks you through the foundational elements of responsive design—fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries—while also highlighting why these principles matter in an increasingly device-diverse world.
As someone working professionally as a Dubai Web Designer, I can say that this book helped me refine how I approach cross-device experiences and mobile-first thinking. It’s not just about layouts—it’s about mindset.
What makes this book stand out is its clarity and real-world applicability. The examples are easy to follow, and the philosophy behind the design choices is solidly explained. It’s not overloaded with code or buzzwords. Instead, it guides you toward thinking responsively—developing with scalability, accessibility, and user experience in mind.
Even years after its first publication, Responsive Web Design remains relevant. It’s a concise, thoughtful, and impactful read that every web professional should have on their shelf.
Вообще это не та книга, на которые пишут рецензии, но она на удивление оказалась настолько хорошей, что я просто обязана замолвить за нее слово.
Дала мне ее почитать коллега на работе. Я не просила, она просто пришла и принесла. Возможно решила, что мне может быть полезно, т.к. я сейчас занимаюсь адаптивной версткой. К техническим книгам я всегда относилась скептически. Тем более книги в которой должны объясняться коды, скрипты и вещи, которые проще тестировать прямо на компьютере, а не считывать с листа бумаги и анализировать в голове. Я даже стойко пыталась прочитать одну, но не осилила. Страница за страницей странного непонятого текста с кучей сложной терминологии - это было слишком. Я ничего не поняла, хоть и старалась понять. Но тут оказалась всё иначе. Книга читается настолько легко, что сравнима с художественной литературой. Автор общается с читателем и на протяжении всей книги он словно терпеливый учитель толково и внятно объясняет материал. К тому же автор подходит ко всему с юмором, поэтому не чувствуется напряжения и ощущения, что ты читаешь о чем-то сложном. И самое главное он объяснил многие вещи, которые я на протяжении долгого времени не могла понять, читая всякие разные мануалы в интернете. А он в такой игривой манере четко и доходчиво разложил всё по полочкам, что захотелось выкрикнуть "Эврика!". В рекордные сроки прочитала книгу от корки до корки и осталась дико довольна после прочтения. Хочется пользоваться ей как справочником, открывать и возвращаться именно к его объяснениям, если вдруг ненароком они забудутся.
Не зря эту книгу назвали лучшей об адаптивном веб-дизайне. Она заслуживает этого звания. Правда до нас доходит всё с опозданием, ведь она написала пару лет назад, когда адаптивный дизайн только появлялся, а у нас книгу перевели и издали только в этом году. Но тем не менее она не потеряла своей актуальности. Передаю ее на чтение другому коллеге, которого она заинтересовала.
Amazing designs.. Blogs are more important as there is a higher level of interaction involved. Liked Hugs for Monsters, Morphix, I am Garth, Kevadamason and Decor 8.
"Ethan Marcotte’s Responsive Web Design is a must-read for anyone looking to craft user-friendly, adaptable digital experiences. The way he breaks down fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries makes complex concepts feel approachable. It’s fascinating to see how responsive design has evolved into an industry standard since this book was first published.
Reading this reminded me of how crucial it is to create seamless, device-friendly designs—something I’ve seen executed brilliantly at Lollypop Design Studio. Their approach to UI/UX and responsive web design perfectly aligns with Marcotte’s principles, ensuring intuitive and visually engaging experiences across all screen sizes. If you're passionate about user-centric design, it's worth exploring how they bring these ideas to life!