What is mobile-first design?

Given Google’s historical approach to indexing, it’s understandable that some web developers might have a tendency to design websites primarily for desktop computers, then “downsize” web experiences in terms of scope and features until they can function on mobile devices. However, this approach runs contrary to mobile-first web design.

Instead, it’s key that we develop content primarily for mobile devices — especially now that Google is indexing content based on how they adapt to them. To embrace mobile-first web design, it’s essential to understand the tenets of responsive web design, as well as the distinguishing characteristics of the design philosophies of progressive enhancement and graceful degradation.

Understanding Responsive Web Design

Responsive web design is a method of web design that emphasizes making web content render appropriately on a wide variety of devices and browsers. It involves the use of fluid grids that can adjust to a variety of screen sizes. Responsive design incorporates flexible multimedia that can display without error on as many devices as possible.

Want to see responsive web design in action? Open the Page One Power homepage in a separate window. Try changing the size of your window. Maximize it, then squeeze it so that it fits only a small portion of your screen. Notice how the content of the page reacts to the screen size? This is responsive design, and it is now standard in web development. If you’re interested in learning more about the basics of responsive web design, you can review some responsive web design basics in an informative article from Google.

Note that there is a difference between responsive design and mobile-first design. While content with an emphasis on responsive design focuses on adapting to different screen sizes, it is not necessarily optimized for mobile devices. Mobile-first websites, however, are designed specifically to offer a stellar user experience on mobile devices. 

Mobile-first design is founded on the web design concept of “progressive enhancement.” To clarify the meaning of this term, let’s explore what it — as well as its counterpart, “graceful degradation” — means in terms of web development. 

Progressive Enhancement vs. Graceful Degradation

When designing content for a variety of different devices, you must first choose a development approach. Note that advanced website features may necessitate some compromises when working with a smaller amount of screen real estate. These are two similar, but fundamentally different, development methodologies to addressing such compromises:

• Progressive enhancement: Build a version of your site or app for mobile phones and lower-end devices and browsers first. This version will only have basic functions. More advanced iterations with additional interactions and effects can then be built for mid- and high-end devices and browsers. 
• Graceful degradation: This methodology is the complete opposite. It involves building a version of your site or app for advanced devices and browsers, then cutting features to create mid- and lower-end iterations for mobile users. In short, increased compatibility is achieved through a subtractive process rather than an additive one.

While both of these approaches are valid, progressive enhancement is a wiser choice for developers looking to prioritize mobile-first design. This is because its focus is on creating a stable, fully functional experience for mobile users — which is vital in the era of mobile-first indexing.