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Build Responsively: A workshop

We've been hearing a lot about responsive design and as a result we've been thinking and talking a lot about responsive design. We've even been writing about it. When we noticed that the Build Responsively workshop was coming to Cleveland, we decided that part of our team needed to head over there to check it out.

Out at Corporate College, a group of about 60(!) interested designers, developers and project managers collaborated and chatted for two days about the design, development, ups and downs and pros and cons of responsive design. We got into nitty-gritty code talk and overarching aesthetic discussions. We took away from this workshop a few very important points that we think are valuable for our readers out there::

Content Strategy

It is more important now than ever before to consider the content on your site. As sites begin to narrow for smaller devices and widen for larger, the order your content appears on the page falls into a certain, predetermined order. Are the most important elements for your users remaining near the top at all times? Do you really need all of that content anyway? Strive to make sites that are efficient in bandwidth and in content.

We have all experienced that frustration that occurs when we navigate to a site on our phone, only to find that some of the content has been hidden or stripped away. Responsive design pushes to eliminate that by providing consistent content across all devices: read the same thing on your Macbook Pro at work or your Galaxy S III while you are watching TV at home.

Collaboration

Content, design and development need to work even more closely together than they have in the past—every step of the process should involve all disciplines to create the most successful product possible. Making sure usability is consistent throughout all devices and that the integrity of the design remains intact is only possible with good communication.

The Responsive Dip

We are learning more about responsive design every day and it's such a new way of thinking that we have to be in the mindset of constantly improving our processes in order to improve our product. We need good content strategy as well as functional strategy.

Thinking critically about the way users are interacting with various devices will help us design a flexible environment that can adapt to any device. It is not important to design for every single specific size out there—we want something very future-friendly, so no matter what device comes at us, our sites will be able to handle it.

Where do we go from here?

Keep evolving and embrace the changes ahead. We'll be right there with you to learn about new advances, test lots of devices and brainstorm strategies. The Internet is full of exciting and drastic changes and we always look forward to conquering every one of them.

What are some great responsive websites you've seen out there?

About the authors::
Connie is a senior graphic designer at thunder::tech where she contributes to creative copywriting and brand messaging projects, and is also the acting fourth floor DJ. She likes riding her bike around town and music directing community theater productions. She believes her life officially started the day she got her iPhone.

Justin is a Web and multimedia developer at thunder::tech. He is also a founding member of the t::t bike club and the proud parent of a basset hound.

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