This year is probably the hot year as far as mobile devices and mobile web systems are concerned. Although it is true, mobile devices have hit the scene in the past few years; the year 2011 has definitely marked the turning point as far as web development for these devices is concerned.
This year’s internet browsing from mobile devices has been on a fast paced increase, with over 53 million users per month in Japan only. This mind dazzling figures are there to prove just how popular mobile devices are, and that there are now just as many users who access the Internet from a PC or laptop as there are who use mobile devices to browse the web.
This unavoidable evidence, has led web developers to admit that a lot of their work is now versed towards designing mobile website projects, as more and more companies are requesting them. Web designer therefore have to start specializing in the design for narrower screens that can be seen on smartphones or other similar devices, rendering web design quite different from what it used to be.
The development phases of designing for mobile browsing are very different and involve five different phases. First of all the web designer needs to analyze the situation then understand what the users need. Once these two issues are clear the next step is to take those elements that are a priority for the users and finally design the website, using a minimalistic approach. The web designer’s job is not finished yet, as next comes the testing and then the tuning and refinement of the website.
These five phases recur on each project and you may find that after only a few months from when the website goes online, you have to renew the process once more. This happens in classic web design, when the websites need to be updated and renewed, however for mobile design this is more evident, as not only does the website need to be updated, so will the design for the evolving screen sizes and new generations of mobile devices.
Before you start designing a mobile website, as mentioned above, it is essential to analyze the situation carefully. First of all ask yourself if you really need a mobile website this very moment. You may think it is a superfluous question, but it is not. If your audience does not use mobile devices as a rule, what is the use of designing a website for these in the first place?
Most companies never even stop to consider this point, as they assume everyone’s browsing the web with their smartphones. However, it is essential you research the company’s industry to find out whether or not the audience uses mobile devices as a rule. Sometimes it may not be worth having a website designed for mobile devices, as it takes a lot of time and energy to keep the design up to date, or it will become ineffective a few months after its launch.
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