If there is one device we can’t live without today, it’s our smartphone. It is a telephone, an agenda, a calendar and, in turn, access to entertainment, news and the world around us in general. Without it, we are disconnected, even if we are surrounded by people. And that is why mobile-first design has become essential for those who don’t want to be left behind.
Mobile-first design is the natural step to responsive design. Responsive design is the one that adapts desktop designs to mobiles and tablets. So far, it is one of the most important factors when designing an application, a program or a website. It’s because more and more users have detached from their desktops to lead a more nomadic life.
But it’s not just that we’re taking work to another level. We’ve built our whole lives around these devices. And if there’s one thing we have in common as users are that we have no patience. It’s the era of now. It’s time for user experience.
When we talk about mobile-first, we put the user at the centre of everything. And the smartphone as the core. This design approach optimizes the opportunities that these devices offer us. We install applications with a tap, delete a message by dragging and call the voice assistant with a “hey”. These are already part of our routine and make it easier. There is no doubt that, by now, everyone knows how to use one. And that is the strength of mobile-first design.
The challenge is to condense all the information that previously appeared on big screens into a few inches. To do this, we play with native and tactile functions and the dynamism that this implies. In relation to its use, the mobile version is more accessible and faster than the desktop version.
In addition, with the amount of digital input we receive, catching the user’s attention in the first instant is main. That is why the content must be very visual, easy to read at a glance and friendly.
We spend hours looking at our smartphones. However, we get frustrated when we spend too much time trying to perform an action.
We have to pay special attention to the user experience (UX). And that leads us to take care of the interface with which the users interact (UI). Setting usability above all is a wise decision when designing. To ease navigation and help us to complete our goals. And being able to interact with native functions such as the camera or GPS is a plus.
If it does all this, it’s a correct mobile-first design. However, just because the mobile is the first device doesn’t mean it’s the only one. And this type of design also fits desktops and tablets. In the same way it plays with light and dark modes. In this case, with the added bonus that not only relieves eyestrain, but also saves battery life on OLED screens.
If you want advice about your website and how a mobile-first design would look like in your project, give us a call.
