An inaccurate history of website design

Website design is not new.  Many people in today’s workforce were not even born when we first began to recognise the potential of the internet. Things have evolved somewhat since then…

The early years: desktop all the way

In the early days, all website access was performed via desktop and laptop PCs. Often via a dial up modem. Website design was in its infancy, and very basic.

2000s – the growth of broadband

The growth of broadband throughout the 2000s gave developers more freedom to explore and be creative, but the real change was on its way…

2010 – the mobile revolution begins

A significant change occurred when Apple (other manufacturers exist too) introduced the world to smartphones and tablets. These mobile touchscreen-based devices changed the way in which we browsed websites… which then necessitated a BIG change in website design. Designers had to get used to the fact that their lovely websites were increasingly being viewed on screens measuring no more than few inches.

Changing browsing habits drive design change

In the olden days there was a philosophy that all the key information should be clearly visible on the opening screen of a website. Mobile devices, with their small screens and easy scrolling changed all that.

Plus, how much website traffic really comes via the home page nowadays? Probably no more than 20% for a well-optimised and digitally marketed website.

The “two-websites” stage

For a while web peeps would effectively create two sites, a desktop and a mobile one, and hope that the site would detect and display the right site for the device.  Often though, the mobile site was basic and missed a lot of content as web peeps struggled to cram all of their awesomeness into a 3.5” screen.

This could never last… two rigid website formats to cater for the myriad of devices, browsers and screen sizes out there?  Furthermore, mobile browsing was starting to eclipse desktop traffic, particularly for consumer-oriented websites. The next revolution in website design was soon on its way.

The responsive “all-things-to-all-devices” stage

Enter responsive design, a clever way to create a “fluid” website that would dynamically alter its shape and layout to deliver the best user experience, no matter what device they were on. This way a website can support all manner of mobile devices while maintaining full desktop compatibility.

Responsive website design is only as good as the team that creates it – for example, lovely copywriters, how long should paragraph, title or subheading be to look well-balanced on a page?

Photography…. that gorgeous full-width image on a desktop that turns into a tiny little letterbox shape on a mobile?

It’s tough trying to be all-things-to-all-devices, and carefully thought-out compromises have to be made.

Where it’s (currently) at – mobile first design

The days of devoting days and weeks to crafting a stunning desktop site, to then “mobilise” it afterwards are largely out of touch with today’s world, particularly in consumer markets.

Modern website design considers the mobile user from the outset, as evidence by some clear cues… such as use of the now-familiar three-lined burger menu (even on the desktop site), lower aspect-ratio imagery, and text broken into bite-size chunks, illustrated with graphics and and imagery to create a more mobile-oriented scrolling experience.

Some rules don’t change…

Despite all these changes, the core principle remains the same – to create something engaging, appealing and tailored to the interests of your target audience.