A Complete Guide to Mobile First Design

Mobile-first design is a strategy that involves starting the design process by focusing on the smallest screen size, such as mobile devices, and then progressively enhancing the design for larger screens. It is considered one of the most effective approaches for creating responsive or adaptive designs.

The mobile-first approach aligns with the principles of progressive enhancement, which emphasizes tackling the challenges of mobile design first. By addressing mobile design considerations first, the design process for other devices becomes more manageable. Essentially, this approach involves designing the core user experience with only the essential features in the smallest design, thus establishing a solid foundation.

On the contrary, graceful degradation is an alternative approach that involves initially building a design with all its complexities and then removing or simplifying elements for smaller devices. However, this approach carries the risk of blending core and supplementary elements together from the start, making it harder to differentiate and separate them. It also tends to treat mobile design as an afterthought, potentially compromising the user experience by reducing features.

Mobile First Design: Prioritizing Content and Seamless Breakpoints

Optimizing for a mobile first design not only ensures a better experience across all devices but also promotes a content-first approach. Mobile devices come with limitations like smaller screens and limited bandwidth, which compel designers to prioritize content ruthlessly.

A mobile first approach naturally leads to a design that focuses more on content and, consequently, on the user. After all, users primarily visit a website for its content — the heart of the site. However, it’s important to note that mobile users may have different content requirements compared to desktop users. Considering the context, such as the situation and environment in which the user interacts with the website, can help determine device-specific content. Creating user scenarios in advance can aid in planning for these distinctions.

Furthermore, the mobile-first approach offers the advantage of allowing breakpoints, the design transitions between different screen sizes, to align better with the content. In contrast, without this approach, attempting to fit a bloated design into a smaller framework can be problematic. By designing with a mobile-first mindset, the breakpoints naturally evolve around the content, eliminating the need for awkward adjustments.

The Process of Mobile First Design

Wireframing serves as an essential initial step for structuring the layout efficiently. During wireframing and prototyping, we leverage the responsive breakpoint menu, which allows seamless transitioning between different screen sizes, starting from the smallest.

By utilizing these preset layouts, designers can focus solely on wireframing while keeping the content in mind. Now, let’s explore the sequential approach:

1. Content Inventory: Create a spreadsheet or equivalent document that encompasses all the elements you intend to include in the design.
2. Visual Hierarchy: Prioritize the elements listed in the content inventory and determine how to prominently display the most important ones.
3. Design with the Smallest Breakpoints and Scale Up: Begin building the mobile wireframe as the initial model, and then use it as a reference for larger breakpoints. Gradually expand the screen until an excessive amount of white space appears.
4. Enlarge Touch Targets: Keep in mind that fingers are broader than pixel-precise mouse cursors, requiring larger interactive elements to facilitate tapping. Apple currently recommends touch targets to be at least 44 pixels square. Allocate sufficient space for hyperlinks and slightly enlarge buttons, ensuring ample room around all interactive elements.
5. Don’t Rely on Hovers: Hover and mouseover effects, commonly utilized in interactive designs, should not be relied upon for mobile-friendly experiences. As fingertips lack hover control, consider alternative methods to provide a smooth and engaging user experience.
6. Think “App”: Mobile users are accustomed to interactive motion and some degree of control within their experience. Consider incorporating features like off-canvas navigation, expandable widgets, AJAX calls, or other interactive elements on the screen that enable users to interact without refreshing the page.
7. Avoid Large Graphics: Landscape photos and complex graphics may not display well on small screens. Optimize images to be easily readable on handheld devices, catering to the needs of mobile users.
8. Test on Real Devices: Testing the website on actual mobile phones or tablets offers invaluable insights into its usability. Step away from your desktop or laptop computer and navigate through the product on a real device. Evaluate the ease of navigation, loading speed, and readability of text and graphics.

Determining Content Priorities for Mobile First Design

In contrast to a “desktop-first” approach where information is added as the layout gets larger, a “mobile-first approach” involves progressively enhancing the design by prioritizing and adding information to each larger layout. The goal is not to eliminate information but to categorize it into primary, secondary, and tertiary content based on importance.

For instance, let’s consider a website selling bikes with a home page. In this case, certain elements like the company’s name and links to products are essential. Including a blog post would also be beneficial. However, since not all elements can fit into the smartphone view, it becomes crucial to set priorities based on achieving the site’s primary objective: selling bikes.

To establish content priorities, the following ordered list can serve as a guide:

1. The newest model bike
2. The best-selling bike
3. “Find your perfect ride” call-to-action (CTA)
4. Company name and hero image
5. Navigation
6. Search functionality
7. The second-best-selling bike
8. Gift certificates
9. A testimonial
10. The latest blog post

By adhering to this prioritized list, designers can confidently create a design solution that effectively addresses the goal of boosting sales. The mobile-first approach ensures that the most critical elements receive prominence, while secondary and tertiary content are strategically incorporated into the larger layouts.

Smartphone View:

When designing for the smartphone view, prioritizing what’s truly important becomes crucial. Therefore, what’s important should take the center stage as they directly contribute to sales. Other items like gift certificates, less popular models, and the latest news can be reserved for inside pages. The call-to-action (CTA) is prominently displayed and easily accessible with a single tap, optimizing the user experience for conversions.

Tablet View:

Expanding to a tablet-sized view allows for the inclusion of secondary information such as additional products. The navigation can be expanded at the top of the page, providing more options for users. Additionally, content that encourages sales without leading directly to them, such as testimonials, can be incorporated. It’s important to note that determining the distinction between secondary and tertiary elements can be challenging, and the temptation to include everything should be resisted. Remember to refer to the ordered content list and keep in mind that space is still limited, even in the tablet view.

Desktop View:

In the desktop view, you have more room to accommodate a greater amount of information based on what you consider important. The home page can now support all the content you deem necessary, regardless of its size. Here, additional elements like gift certificates, customer testimonials, can be included. It’s essential to consider the overall user experience and ensure that the information presented on the desktop view remains organized, engaging, and easily accessible for users.

Final Thoughts

In summary, adopting a mobile first design approach prioritizes content, user experience, and responsiveness, resulting in intuitive and effective designs across all devices.

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