Traditionally, web design is a onetime affair – once you have launched your site you forget about it. That’s how things used to be before the arrival of Mobiles and Tablets. Now if your site is static, you might as well shut shop. What needs to be done to keep up with the times?
Lean and Mean Web Design
Not long ago, web design meant inserting beautiful images on your main page. Images mean big fat web pages which take a long time to load. The web pages were meant to be downloaded on a large computer screen. There was almost no limit to how much you could fit into a single web page. The scenario has changed now. Your web page could well be viewed on a tiny mobile screen or a slightly larger tablet. Keeping your original web design intact would result in failed downloads on most devices. This leads us to lean and mean web design paradigm. Your web pages should now contain information which is critical to convey your message. Feel good factors must be done away with post haste.
It’s not that lean web design has been discovered only recently. Smart designers already knew the importance of clean web sites and how to focus on the essential. But now the need for a simple design with focus on the primary message has become critical. Mobile users don’t have time to look and appreciate cool images. They just want to get information.
Responsive web design
This is another important change in our web design paradigm. You can no longer afford to sit back and relax once your design is done. You now have to constantly change and chop with every little feedback you receive. This will lead to design optimization, in which you will get better response and hits than earlier. Many a times, users cannot even find the ‘buy’ button on their Mobile screens and therefore exit without consummation of their wishes. Web design has to now focus on delivery than looks. This can happen only when you respond to subtle hints than a barrage of feedback. You must use tools like Google Analytics to understand user behavior and act accordingly. There is a need to get closer to the user than ever before.
It’s only about your message
Images can speak better than words. Yes, but the world must be able to hear. In this clutter where there are a thousand images buffeting your mind, you might as well try to get through with plain-speak. Mobile users are different from a web client. There is less time and less space to convey your message. Getting used to these changed circumstances is critical.
Conclusion
Web design paradigm has changed with the introduction of mobiles and tablets. You now have to look at lean web pages which contain nothing but the message. Your website can no longer afford to be static. Responding to users and adapting your web design to suit their requirements is the only way forward.
Victor takes keen interest in web design and follows latest trends in this field. He recommends www.nextdayflyers.com for some excellent ideas on the subject.