subject: Nuggets Of Wisdom For Mobile Web Design [print this page] It seems that web technology undergoes substantial changes every so often. It is one type of technology that is constantly changing practically on a daily basis. Developers and programmers always find something new to work on not only based on their keen observations and interest on still developing aspects of web technology, but largely based likewise on the feedback of users on what still needs to be developed, what needs to be changed and what needs to be trashed altogether.
The recent craze seems to be for tablet devices. Year end reports for 2011 show that tablets like the Apple IPod, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Blackberry PlayBook and Kindle Fire, among others have overtaken desktop computers, laptops and netbooks in terms of sales. This negates earlier assumptions that tablets will not be able to outsell these computer systems due to their relatively limited functionality, which further gives us a glimpse of how computer usage is actually evolving for most users who now prefer the portability and convenience of tablets over computers, laptops and netbooks. For this reason, more and more web designers should seriously consider understanding and practicing how to design a website in mobile platforms. As a web designer you need to be constantly up to date when it comes to technology, and see the demand for new learning and innovative practices as they come. This means you should be able to understand and create designs that readily adapt to the mobile platform, because most users nowadays make use of tablets and other such mobile gadgets. If your web design is not compatible with those gadgets, your website will definitely get left behind.
Note these nuggets of wisdom when designing with tablet devices in mind:
A K-I-S-S is still a K-I-S-S. For reasons evident in the nature of mobile devices, the golden rule remains: Keep it short and simple. Optimize display on mobile devices by doing away with heavy graphics and keeping only icons or lighter graphics (like logos or thumbnails) as are only necessary to make pages look attractive, without compromising content that should be the emphasis.
(Mobile) Life is Touch and Go. Optimize your navigation, dispensing with the mouse pointers. As mobile devices now only use touch technology, you should be able to build a website for mobile platforms whose buttons are not too tedious to click, or whose links are clearly visible without having to zoom in and out until you get the right size to click, which is obviously annoying for mobile web users.
Nothing beats testing. You think your mobile website already has the most awesome design and covers all the essentials as far as web content is concerned? Think again. What is awesome for you may not necessarily appear that way. Testing is the key to knowing what still needs to be done, if any. Try testing on all mobile devices starting with the most common and widely used, to make sure your design is compatible with all, or most, devices. Check if the pages are displaying correctly, if your navigation is flawless (flawless for touch, most especially) and if your most important content is viewed properly.
