In 2013, the use of smartphones, tablets, and touch devices for web browsing increased like never before, making responsive web design an essential requirement. Responsive web design focuses on using scalable images and adjustable layouts to make mobile web access easy and hassle-free.

This is a trend that is here to stay. Websites with dynamic and responsive designs are easily accessible across all mobile devices, significantly expanding the reach of your business. In a responsive setup, fluid images are replaced with context-aware versions that adapt to different resolutions, ranging from large desktop monitors to small smartphone screens.

Essential Tools for Responsive Web Design

1. Adobe Device Central CS5.5

This software simplifies the production of innovative and engaging content for mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. It allows designers to plan, preview, and test experiences across practically any mobile platform. Unique features include an online library of device profiles, advanced input emulation, and HTML5 support.

2. Golden Grid System

Web designers who build responsive sites are likely aware of this beneficial tool. It allows the designer to split the screen into 18 even columns. These can be "folded" into 8 columns for tablet-sized screens and 4 columns for mobile sizes. It also features elastic gutters and a zoomable baseline grid.

3. FitText

FitText is a jQuery plugin used for inflating web type within fluid layouts to achieve scalable headlines. This tool makes font sizes flexible, ensuring they fill the width of a parent element regardless of the screen size.

4. Gridless

For hassle-free responsive design, Gridless is a handy open-source option that works on all modern browsers. As an HTML5 and CSS3 boilerplate, it facilitates cross-browser compatibility with beautiful, responsive typography.

5. Skeleton

Skeleton is a boilerplate for responsive, mobile-friendly development. It consists of a small collection of CSS and JS files that help developers create beautiful designs for everything from 17-inch laptops to iPhones. Its core principles include a responsive grid, style-agnostic elements, and a fast starting point for new projects.

If you are interested in redesigning your website with a modern responsive design, contact Syaf to get started.