In this video I share my thoughts on building on responsive web design frameworks, things to think about.
13 CommentsLeave a Comment |
13 CommentsLeave a Comment |
Something I made about a month ago to state my frustration. ;)
Well I couldn’t link to my Instagram shot that said “Bootstrap is a frame work not a template. Customize it”
With all the stress on designing for mobile first, which is a great concept, I’m afraid some make little changes by time they make it to the full screen size of a desktop. Large buttons, plain headers etc.
A full size site can hold a lot more content than a mobile device. Many need to take advantage of the media queries to add and remove elements as the sight scales instead of having the full screen site look just like the mobile version. Button don’t all need to be 100% the size of it’s container, billboards can be more ingaging the user experience should be fuller on the desktop.
Great topic Mike. Again its goes back to understanding the ui/ux of web design along with html and css.
I personally like ‘desktop down’ or ‘desktop first’ and then remove any non essential elements as I’m scaling down.
I agree with you Mike that some of the frameworks like Bootstrap have too much code which causes the cookie cutter effect when trying to customize it. I prefer a much lighter boilerplate like Gridiculous or Goldilocks. It helps me keep my site responsive while giving me more creative freedom; which hopefully prevents the cookie cutter effect.
Hey Mike, I remember in 2012 I asked you a similar question about using WordPress frameworks. Using frameworks doesn’t let you be different, in a way and the whole workflow becomes robotic. So UX Designers are basically designing for the framework, instead of their audience. So the whole UX is pretty much out of the window.
However there a few decent framework out there that give you that freedom, but it is a very thin line between being a good UX Designer and messing everything up.
Good post, Mike,
Usman
I think a big cause of this is when people go the whole design in browser approach. As Usman said people design for the frame work. I have tried this method when I heard about it and it is slow, un-artistic, and very frustrating.
I think framework or not it’s important to create full mocks that get get reviewed numerous times before coding. Then you can edit the framework to achieve your results.
Wordpres are especially helpful when building ecommerce sites as the build is complete. If you know your html and css you can easily edit the site all the way down to the framework it’s self which many of them are being built on bootstrap today. Pros and Cons for sure but again has to do with budget and time restraints as well.
Not every customer can afford the whole experience either. You just don’t put those ones in your portfolio ;)
Thanks for the feedback guys. Its one of those things that we think this new technology (frameworks) is awesome and it is, but then we start designing for the framework, not designing based on the content. I think frameworks are great. They have enormous benefits. I like what you said Kris, design mockups, get feedback. That’s the key, when you start with your design first, you’ll have a better outcome in the end and won’t look so cookie cutter.
Totally agree. A one size fit all solution is always a cheaper option, that takes away the quality and add more quantity. If the web project is on a shoe string budget, responsive framework may suit better, otherwise just build different sites to target different devices.
I’ve been working on redesigning my website lately. One of my concerns also is ensuring it’s responsive. i saw a brief demonstration of how to go about it in Dreamweaver CC and I was sold out. Personally I hate the “templatize” word. It indeed takes one’s creativity away. i also believe creativity is not subjectivity. Now it seems am at a cross-road. Any strategy? Weldone Mike!
Hi, great post Mike, this is one of the mostly talked about topics around.
1. Responsive design is here to stay for a while i think
2. Responsive frameworks are good to use but i always design first then use bootstrap as framework but usually needs some changes and modifications which can be a headache too.
3. My main issue on my end is that clients are wanting more and more work done and willing to pay less, every time now i hear i want my website to be responsive, custom design, custom coding but budget usually doesn’t reflects lol. Designing a responsive website, a version for tablets and phones after that code is pretty long to do.
4. WordPress had the same issues as bootstrap, they all use to look the same but bootstrap, foundation etc starting to be used for custom work now and design ui/ux needs to be the first focus.
Here is an awesome talk from Luke that discusses a higher level thinking of designing for all. http://ontwik.com/web-design/luke-wroblewski-one-design-to-rule-them-all-bdconf-july-2013/
Great video, also, have you plans in doing another training program? like photoshop or dreamweaver in depth or something like that? will be awesome and im ready to pay. cheers!
Sure, responsive design isn’t a big deal for informative small business websites, but there’s also cases where I feel it’s a necessity… blogs, news sites, and things of that nature.
I read blog’s all the time on my phone and it’s very annoying when the design is not responsive. I hate having to zoom in, then scroll left and right to read a paragraph.
Like you said though, in a lot of causes it causes the site to lose their creativity and flair, some people do it well though.
As far as frameworks go I’m not a fan. Just design and code everything from scratch people! It yields much better, more unique, results. I promise.
It it better to code the responsive design and leave template, Sometimes bootstrap and wordpress are good for low budget/cheap clients only. also designers and developers should think about fluid content such as: videos,images ect sometimes only the wrapper is responsive and not the elements (that is why there is a slight difference between Adaptive and Responsive design[Device + Resolution])sometime we are careless about those.