Responsive websites might be the trend of the industry in the present age, but it is certainly not devoid of challenges. A number of designers often face trouble while designing fully responsive websites. Though the trend has been quite visible in the industry for around two years or more, the concept is still somewhat not fully developed. Owing to such a situation, designers often have to face adapting to the ever-changing device landscape, scripts, and code frameworks. Add to this the need of working with each client in a new way throughout the process of responsive website design and the problems tend to get bigger.
Seem to be wondering about the problems and the probable solutions? Here is the list of the most common problems of responsive web design and the ways to avoid the same:
1. Making RWD Easily Understandable to Clients
The conventional website design process largely focused on a linear approach that was easily understandable by the clients. However, with the change of time, more and more clients are designers are facing the problem of making their clients understanding the ability of responsive web design. Responsive design is undoubtedly a fluid process featuring powerful tools like sketching, wire framing, and prototyping.
Demonstrating the supremacy of responsive design stands as a classic solution to the problem. It is always advisable to highlight the working aspects of responsive design. Informing the clients just about media queries, multi-device functionality, and breakpoint won’t help you convince them towards the approach. Therefore, you must always consider having an access to a tablet, Smartphone, and laptop during a client meeting as it would help you offer a live demo of responsive website and the way it behaves in diverse platforms.
2. Non-Availability of Static Design Stage
The change that is required to bring in the conventional design approach for extracting the maximum benefits of responsive design is another major problem that designers have to face in the process. As against to developing static screenshots, designers tend to rely more on wire framing, quick sketches, making CSS prototypes and HTML.
To avoid the odds, you must rely upon designing more elements and little layouts. However, designers must remember that the workflow and the process can vary largely. You must always stick to the process that works in favor of you and your client. Additionally, it is also advisable for you to design in the browser and follow up with the HTML work, as soon as possible. You can make use of Photoshop
When it comes to big projects, you might struggle to wireframe all elements. A probable solution is to create wireframe widgets that are easily movable. This offers you great flexibility and allows clients to offer valuable inputs.
3. Make Navigation Easier
The conventional design approach largely focused on horizontal navigation. However, navigation has become an important issue in the present age. It has become essential to integrate proper navigation approach in your website design.
Well, the solution lies in making good use of consistent design. Navigation choice is a far-reaching decision that must be based on the content of your site, design considerations, and information architecture. It is always wiser to evaluate the working approach, the function of the same in site development, and its purpose. Additionally, you must also conduct a test of the navigation in multiple devices.
4. Proper Integration of Images
Responsive website design often offers multiple options that are largely fragmented for dealing with images. Therefore, designers are mostly left to the choice of the extensive script range to offer a back-up for this functionality and deliver proper device assets. Moreover, designers also need to take into account devices like Macbook Pro and iPad. For example, images, icons, and code must be kept flexible ensuring a non-blurry look of graphics on such devices.
Though there has been no such definite solution for responsive images, some tends to work wonderfully and offer positive result without the use of diverse code workarounds.
These are some of the challenges that trouble designers looking forward to creating responsive websites. However, appropriate integration of the solutions during the design process can offer favorable results.
Summary – Responsive website design though has become a trend in the present age design solutions, it is not free of challenges or difficulties. Often, designers working on the approach face lots of trouble in impressing the clients regarding the same or offer a good result at the end of the design. However, knowing the probable solutions and incorporating them properly during the process can save you from the pain.
Author Bio: Taking up the challenge of creating complete responsive design is not an easy task, as it tends to throw up multiple challenges for the designers during the process. To battle the odds, you can always consider taking a cue from the article of Saurya Ghosal focusing on responsive website design – the challenges and the probable solutions.