After enjoying more than a decade of relative stability in designing for the 'desktop' web, smartphones had to come along and throw a wrench in the works. It seemed that in an instant, everything changed and nothing was certain any more. The truth is, though, nothing was ever certain.
One of the web’s major strengths is its ability to adapt, to travel anywhere and everywhere in service of its users. All those years we were the ones restraining it with our desire to create a single monolithic experience. But experience is not monolithic. Every person is different, and we all bring our unique perspectives, experiences, and capabilities to the table. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely fits anyone well. When we embrace that, our designs, products, and experiences will be all the better for it.
3. Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
640 × 480
In the beginning…
4.
5.
6. 800 × 600
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Ok, we can go a little larger
7.
8.
9. Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
1024 × 768
Ok, a bit larger, but that’s it
10. Created by Vectors Mark
from the Noun Project
1366 × 7681024 × 600
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
1280 × 800
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
800 × 600
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Of course laptops…
11. 1024 × 768
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
The web’s “happy place”
12. 640 × 200
Created by Douglas Santos
from the Noun Project
Created by creative outlet
from the Noun Project
240 × 240
We were ignoring mobile…
13. 3840 × 2160320 × 480
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Until this happened
21. In the second quarter of 2008
we detected 71 different
screen resolutions among our
visitors. In the first quarter of
2014 we detected
— Jason Samuels
IT Manager,
National Council on Family Relations
“
1062
One year after the iPhone
5 years ago!
Source
22. In 2008, 27 screen
resolutions showed up with
more than 10 visits, in 2014
that number was
— Jason Samuels
IT Manager,
National Council on Family Relations
“ 200
Source
26. Your content can and will go
anywhere that’s connected
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
wearables smart tvs IoT assistants
27. Meaning users will need to
interact in different ways
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
touch Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mouse
Created by bezier master
from the Noun Project
T9
Created by Christopher Holm-Hansen
from the Noun Project
eye tracking
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
remote
Created by Setyo Ari Wibowo
from the Noun Project
pen
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
keyboard
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
audio
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
gamepad
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
printCreated by Adriano Emerick
from the Noun Projectbraille
28. Over varied networks and
in changing conditions
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
hardline
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
wifi
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mobile
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
homes Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
buildings
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
cars
Created by Vectors Market
buses Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
trains Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
airplanes
74. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
1. Focus on what matters.
80
The essential nugget
75. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
2. Write it out, then read it back.
82
How does this photo make you feel?
Embarrassing
Upsetting
Saddening
Bad Photo
Other it’s embarrassing•
76. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
2. Write it out, then read it back.
83
Please describe the photo
It’s embarrassing
It’s a bad photo of me
It makes me sad
77. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
3. Look for semantics that support 1 & 2.
Step by step
84
heading
a
paragraph
a
img
a
78. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
3. Look for semantics that support 1 & 2.
85
heading (also .p-name)a (also .u-url)
paragraph
a
(also .p-author
& .h-card)
.h-entry (feed)
img (also .u-photo)
a (also rel-tag)
79. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
4. Think about how design can improve comprehension.
86
visually the mostimportant text
distinct from the
content & diminished
in importance
Less important &
distinct from content
80. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
5. Consider how your design choices impact the reading experience.
87
Can’t tell what theepisode is called
81. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
5. Consider how your design choices impact the reading experience.
88
Floated images crush the
text on small screens
Ouch
82. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
89
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
touch Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mouse
Created by bezier master
from the Noun Project
T9
Created by Christopher Holm-Hansen
from the Noun Project
eye tracking Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
remote
Created by Setyo Ari Wibowo
from the Noun Project
pen
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
keyboard
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
gamepadCreated by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
printCreated by Adriano Emerick
from the Noun Projectbraille
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
audio
83. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
90
touch Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mouse
Created by Christopher Holm-Hansen
from the Noun Project
eye tracking
Hover?
84. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
91
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
touch Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mouse
Created by bezier master
from the Noun Project
T9
Created by Christopher Holm-Hansen
from the Noun Project
eye tracking Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
remote
Created by Setyo Ari Wibowo
from the Noun Project
pen
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
keyboard
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
gamepad
Focus & target?
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
audio
85. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
92
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
touch Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
mouse
Created by Setyo Ari Wibowo
from the Noun Project
pen
Gestures?
86. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
93
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
printCreated by Adriano Emerick
from the Noun Projectbraille
Text expansions?
Created by Vectors Market
from the Noun Project
audio
87. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
7. Map the potential experiences.
94
Path A
Experience 1Start
Path B
Experience 2
Notes
Decision point Change
88. INTRO TO ADAPTIVE WEB DESIGN
Step by step
1. Focus on what matters.
2. Write it out, then read it back.
3. Look for semantics that support 1 & 2.
4. Think about how design can improve comprehension.
5. Consider how your design choices impact the reading experience.
6. Think about the many different ways folks might interact.
7. Map the potential experiences.
8. Iterate.
96