The techniques that mobile app developers use to design websites vary greatly in this rapidly changing field. Some of them last longer than others, and developers should concentrate on these design techniques when creating new webpages or redesigning old ones. HubSpot describes several important design trends in mobile applications marketing for 2014 including the following:
- Responsive Web Design
- Retina Support
- Large Photograph Background
- Infinite Scrolling
- Parallax Scrolling
Responsive Web Design
RWD is one of the current design trends in web design, and it appears to be a long-term change. This design technique generally attempts to optimize the user's viewing experience across a wide range of devices, especially with regard to their viewing areas. A responsive webpage is able to adjust its size according to the viewing device's screen size. This flexibility allows users to navigate the website easily whether they're using a desktop, smartphone or tablet. Responsive websites are also easier to maintain since you don't need to accommodate a new device with a different viewing area. Developers only need to maintain a single site instead of maintaining one site for mobile device and another site for desktops.
Retina Support
A Retina display is a type of liquid crystal display made by Apple that has a higher pixel density than tradition LCDs, which generally prevents the human eye from detecting pixilation at a typical viewing distance. This type of LCD is especially beneficial for mobile devices, which tend to have a shorter viewing distance than desktops. The greater pixel density of a Retina display means that designers can create pages with more detail, which creates a range of possibilities in web design. Tear in mind that this increase in detail won't be as obvious to a user with a large viewing device.
Large Photograph Backgrounds
Web designers are also making greater use of large images in the background of their web pages. This design trend can make a strong impression on visitors and tell them what the site is all about, including the site's purpose and the company's culture. Large photographs in the background are especially beneficial since visitors tend to decide if they will remain on that site within a few seconds.
Infinite Scrolling
Infinite scrolling is a feature that allows visitors to scroll down the web page while it's still loading, which typically occurs when the page has a large number of images. This feature allows visitors to begin viewing the site immediately, even when the page has a large amount of data that the user must download. Infinite scrolling is most beneficial for mobile users since these devices tend to have slower download speeds than desktops. It allows users to stay on the same page instead of requiring them to visit different pages on the website to obtain the information they need. Infinite scrolling also improves the user's experience since a single large page generally requires less time to download than multiple smaller pages.
Parallax Scrolling
Parallax scrolling is a design technique that involves making images in the background move more slowly than the foreground images as the user scrolls down the page. This technique creates a three dimensional effect that many web designers find useful. Parallax scrolling can allow site visitors to interact with the site more closely, although it can appear gimmicky when it's overdone. Its' most common use is on sites that promote films, especially those with many visual effects. Parallax scrolling makes images more lifelike, and allows web designers to tell their story more effectively. It also allows designers to provide more information by placing text and images in different places on the page.
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