What are the most effective techniques and/or tools in 2024 to ensure websites are fully responsive on all devices? Here is what 9 thought leaders have to say.
- Embrace Mobile-First and Flexible Grids
- Leverage BrowserStack and Breakpoint Generators
- Use Tailwind CSS and BrowserStack for Testing
- Plan with Figma and Utilize Front-End Builders
- Implement Mobile-First Design and Test Thoroughly
- Combine Mobile-First Design with User Feedback
- Optimize Mobile Layouts and Use Webflow
- Combine Modern CSS Techniques with Thorough Testing
- Follow Mobile-First Rules for WordPress and Shopify
Embrace Mobile-First and Flexible Grids
A mobile-first design approach is one of the most effective techniques to ensure websites are fully responsive on all devices. This means designing your website with mobile users in mind first, then gradually scaling up for larger screens like tablets and desktops. By starting with mobile, you ensure the site works well on smaller screens, which is essential since most people browse the web on their phones.
Additionally, flexible grid systems like CSS Grid or Flexbox help create layouts that automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test are also helpful because they let you see how your website performs on various devices and identify any issues. Combining these techniques ensures that your website looks great and functions smoothly, regardless of your audience’s device.
Shane McEvoy, MD, Flycast Media
Leverage BrowserStack and Breakpoint Generators
In 2024, some of the most effective techniques for ensuring websites are fully responsive include mobile-first design, flexible-grid layouts, and the use of fluid typography and images. Tools like BrowserStack are invaluable for testing a website’s responsiveness across different browsers and devices. Additionally, media-query tools such as Breakpoint Generator can assist in creating responsive designs by tailoring content to various screen sizes.
Mei Ping Mak, Director of SEO and Web, Website Design Asia
Use Tailwind CSS and BrowserStack for Testing
In 2024, using fluid typography and responsive containers is crucial for crafting sites that adapt perfectly across devices. We’ve embraced tools like Tailwind CSS, which allows for fine-tuned responsiveness without the bloat. Paired with real-time testing through BrowserStack, we ensure every pixel adjusts gracefully, whether on a smartphone or a widescreen display. These techniques have drastically reduced post-launch adjustments.
Dan Ponomarenko, CEO, Webvizio
Plan with Figma and Utilize Front-End Builders
A responsive site design starts with proper planning. This stage requires creating a wire frame and a prototype. Figma is an industry favourite when it comes to planning out a site design.
During this stage, it’s important to think about how the layout will translate to a mobile design—without any major layout shifts. If you plan this properly, most site builders you use will auto-translate the design to fit tablet-sized and mobile-sized screens. Of course, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to text and image sizes to make it more user-friendly.
Current industry favourites when it comes to building a site utilizing a front-end builder include: Webflow, Divi Builder, Elementor, and Framer.
If you’re developing the site (full-stack), be sure to use modern languages such as Bootstrap to ensure your site is responsive, and don’t code out width and height restrictions with pixel units; instead, utilize view width, view height, or percentages.
If you are looking to test a site design after you’ve completed the build, Responsinator is a great tool that places your site design in varying mobile screen sizes: iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Small Desktop, Large Desktop, etc.
All of these points are, of course, moot if you didn’t plan your website prior to developing it. Take the time to plan and take advantage of Figma.
Abigail Mercer, UX/UI Designer, AMUX Designs
Implement Mobile-First Design and Test Thoroughly
I rely heavily on responsive web design to ensure optimal user experiences across devices. Some of the most effective techniques we use include:
Using a mobile-first approach. We design for smaller screens first, then scale up components as needed for larger devices. This helps avoid the need to strip away unnecessary elements for mobile.
Keeping layouts flexible and simplifying navigation. A clean, minimal design with a straightforward nav translates well to any screen size.
Employing fluid grids, images, and videos. These scales proportionately to the viewport width and provide a consistent experience regardless of the device.
Testing on multiple devices. There’s no substitute for seeing how a site actually displays on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. We test on both real devices and emulators to catch any responsiveness issues.
Using a CMS with built-in responsive frameworks. Platforms like WordPress, coupled with themes featuring Bootstrap or Foundation, eliminate the need to code responsiveness from scratch.
Josh Cremer, CEO, and Creative Director, Redfox Visual
Combine Mobile-First Design with User Feedback
If you’re looking to make your website fully responsive across devices in 2024, I’d recommend being creative and practical with your approach. Start by using a mobile-first design. Today, more than 90% of users browse websites on their mobile devices; thus, offering a great mobile experience is non-negotiable. Hence, start by designing for small screens, focusing on important content and features, and from there, start adding complexities as you move to larger devices like tablets and desktops.
Other than this, what I’d recommend is leveraging flexible grid layouts. When you create grids that adjust to different screen sizes, you can ensure that the elements align properly, no matter what device is being used. This strategy makes your website more visually appealing while enhancing the user experience.
You can even use real-time testing tools like BrowserStack. With the help of this tool, you can analyze how your website will look on different devices and operating systems, so you can fix the issues beforehand. Also, make sure you schedule regular checks to find any bugs and fix them immediately.
Last, but very important, seek user feedback. Ask your users to leave feedback about your website. This will not only help you identify any issues but also improve the overall experience.
Raviraj Hegde, SVP of Growth & Sales, Donorbox
Optimize Mobile Layouts and Use Webflow
Responsive design is at the core of my approach. I rely on techniques like mobile-first design, responsive images, and fluid grids to ensure seamless user experiences across devices.
For example, when redesigning a client’s e-commerce site, we started by optimizing the layout and checkout for mobile shoppers, who drove over 50% of the revenue. We then scaled key elements for tablets and desktops while keeping the minimal, uncluttered style. The site’s conversions rose 35% year over year.
Another client saw sessions jump 30% after we redesigned their blog. We focused on faster load times by compressing images and simplifying navigation. Readers can now easily scan headlines and share on mobiles, then read in-depth on any device.
For tools, I recommend Webflow, which enables building responsive sites without code. Their design ecosystem, CMS, and e-commerce features are ideal for responsiveness. But a mobile-first mindset is most critical. By optimizing for small screens, you ensure an amazing experience for all users.
Alexander Palmiere, Founder & CEO, Refresh Digital Strategy
Combine Modern CSS Techniques with Thorough Testing
To ensure websites are fully responsive on all devices in 2024, I’d use a combination of modern techniques and tools to ensure that you are building a seamless user experience across a range of devices. Here are some of the most effective methods and tools to achieve this:
- Use modern CSS layout tools such as CSS Grid, media and container queries, responsive images, clamp, and viewport units.
- Utilize a service such as BrowserStack or Sauce Labs to test your website across a variety of real devices and browsers, particularly those that you don’t have physical access to.
- Get used to continually using responsive design mode in your browser’s developer tools to instantly simulate different screen sizes and devices.
- Utilize the automated testing within Google Lighthouse, which not only helps with responsive design but also performance, accessibility, and best practices.
In 2024, ensuring that websites are fully responsive requires a strategic combination of modern CSS techniques, thorough testing, and the implementation of cutting-edge tools. By leveraging tools like BrowserStack and incorporating best practices in responsive design, you can create websites that offer an optimal experience across all devices.
Darren Fisher, Creative Director, Pivale
Follow Mobile-First Rules for WordPress and Shopify
Here’s the real deal for making sure your WordPress and Shopify sites are fully responsive across all devices. These aren’t just tips; I’ve put together the go-to rules for creating a killer user experience and keeping your site’s performance on point.
- Start with Mobile-First Design: Think small first. Design for mobile screens before worrying about desktops. If it looks good on a phone, you’re already winning.
- Test on Real Devices: Don’t just rely on emulators—get your hands on actual devices and see how your site performs in the real world. This is where the rubber meets the road.
- Use Responsive Frameworks: Bootstrap, Foundation—use them. These frameworks give you a quick, reliable way to create designs that look good everywhere, without reinventing the wheel.
- Optimize Images: Your site doesn’t need to load a high-res image on a tiny screen. Use responsive image techniques to make sure your visuals are just right for the device. Faster load times, better experience, happy users.
Best tools to use for WordPress:
- WPtouch: Automatically turns your site into a mobile-friendly version with just a few clicks. Simple, no fuss.
- Smush: This plugin crushes your images down to size, so your site loads fast and looks sharp, even on mobile.
- Elementor: A drag-and-drop builder with mobile-responsive settings baked in. Perfect for creating layouts that look slick on any device.
Best tools to use for Shopify:
- Responsive Shopify Themes: Pick a theme that adapts to any screen size. Shopify’s got you covered here—just choose and go.
- Image Optimizer: Compresses your images for quicker loading times, which is clutch for keeping mobile users happy.
- Shopify Sections: Drag-and-drop sections that let you create flexible layouts. Your content, your way, on any device.
Stick to these rules and tools, and your WordPress or Shopify site won’t just be responsive; it’ll be ready to crush it.
Taha Shawar, Content + Branding Strategist, Novus Home Mortgage
