Website developers, digital marketers, and business owners must create one consistent experience across various platforms to keep consumer attention in 2025.
Consumers access websites through smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop monitors, and even smart TVs. Sometimes, they even scroll on multiple devices at the same time.
After building a multi-platform strategy specific to your brand, your content should be developed to be used across devices and screen sizes.
Users expect content to work perfectly, regardless of their chosen device.
How can you ensure your website looks good and functions optimally, whether viewed on a typical smartphone or a high-resolution desktop display?
The McGuinness Media & Marketing team took a closer look at the challenges of designing for multiple devices, and why it’s important to keep in mind to ensure a user-friendly experience.
Basics of Responsive Web Design
In a modern world where consumers research a product on their smartphone, check details later on a tablet, and finish their purchase on a desktop, your website needs to deliver a consistent and functional experience every step of the way.
Developers work behind the scenes to make designs come to life.
According to a guide by Belov Digital Agency, understanding screen resolution and viewport is essential before designing layouts to use across various devices.
The guide defines screen resolution as, “the number of pixels a screen can display, often written as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080).” For designers and consumers, a viewport is, “the visible area of a web page on a device, which can vary due to browser interfaces, menus, and other elements.”
“Responsive design is a technique that uses a single version of a website that can adjust to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations,” according to a Medium report. “This means that a website designed with responsive design will have the same content and layout across all devices, but the elements will rearrange themselves to fit the screen size and resolution of the device.”
The McGuinness Media & Marketing team put together some first steps to achieve responsive design:
- Use a fluid grid layout that scales proportions (instead of fixed widths).
- Implement media queries in CSS to set specific rules for different screen sizes.
- Use scalable assets like SVG images.
Fluid grid layouts offer flexibility based on the device’s screen dimensions, maintaining relative positioning regardless of viewport changes.
A flexible navigation menu that collapses into a hamburger menu on smaller screens is a common responsive solution. Responsive design is easier than the adaptive design approach since it only requires one version of a website which would work across devices.
The adaptive design method involves multiple versions of one website designed for each specific device.
“Adaptive design is more precise in optimizing the user experience for a specific device, while responsive design is more flexible in accommodating various screen sizes and orientations,” the report says.
Developers may want to go with adaptive design when:
- You want to fully customize user experiences for specific resolutions or user demographics.
- You’re building unique interfaces specifically for mobile vs. desktop users (like e-commerce checkouts designed differently for touchscreen use).
Cross-device testing is critical
Regardless of which method is better for your company, testing how your content looks across devices should be continued practice.
Test your design physically across a variety of devices, screen sizes, and browsers. This uncovers flaws like unexpected object overlaps or usability concerns on touchscreens.
It’s best to test your site on actual devices, but you can simulate some using your browser’s inspector tools!
Challenges developers can anticipate include:
Complex maintenance
Adopting a multi-device-friendly approach requires constant updating as new devices, resolutions, and orientations emerge.
Limited Budget Constraints
Investing in tools or skilled designers may seem costly, but yields dividends in improved user experience and higher conversions.
Balancing creativity & usability
Design consistency should outweigh overly experimental layouts that confuse users.
Designing for multiple devices isn’t just about keeping up with technology; it’s about creating meaningful connections with your audience. A consistent, user-friendly experience sets you apart from competitors and leaves a lasting impression.
Mobile-First Design Approach
Mobile-first design is a must for web developers looking to attract and maintain engagement and consumer satisfaction. More than 60% of overall web traffic comes from mobile devices, according to a report by BrowserStack.
Brands always need to meet consumers where they are, and mobile devices are by far the most popular way to be online.
Start by creating layouts and features that cater to smaller screens, gradually scaling up for larger devices. This approach ensures that your most important content and functionality are accessible regardless of screen size.
It’s better to scale up than trim down. If a feature works well on mobile, scaling it for desktops is significantly easier than trying to shrink down a desktop-heavy layout.
Think about accessibility when designing navigation bars, menus, and CTAs. Keep touch-friendly elements large enough to tap easily and place essential links within reach for thumb navigation on mobile devices.
Creators should also keep in mind that there is no “hover” feature on touch screens.
Companies that have effectively implemented mobile-first design include Dropbox. According to UXPin, Dropbox successfully went from a desktop service to a mobile-friendly platform to keep up with user demands for on-the-go accessibility. Dropbox redesigned their app, creating a simplified version which served mobile users first.
Mobile-first design prompts brands to create simplified versions of existing content, making the overall user experience easier.
Minimalism Supports Responsive Design
Minimalism isn’t just a design trend; it’s a powerful tool that simplifies responsive design and enhances user experience.
Minimalist web design is about prioritizing function over form by using only the most necessary elements. It emphasizes clean layouts, clear navigation, functional white space, and limited colors, focusing users’ attention on purpose rather than cluttering their screens with unnecessary features.
Research at 3M Corporation shows that users can process visuals 60,000 times faster than text, so effective minimalist designs reduce cognitive overload and highlight essential calls to action.
Visuals “increase comprehension, recollection, and retention,” the report says. “Visual clues help us decode text and attract attention to information or direct attention increasing the likelihood that the audience will remember.”
Images also break up text, making your content easier and more visually appealing for readers.
When it comes to keeping people interested, visuals and short sentences are your friend.
Minimalist designs also exude professionalism and credibility. Business owners can use this to their advantage by creating logos, marketing materials, and websites that are polished and credible, making a lasting impression on customers.
Take for example the simplicity of Google’s homepage. By eliminating unnecessary clutter, Google ensures a seamless search experience that prioritizes functionality.
Traditional, content-heavy designs can be problematic for responsive frameworks. When a website has too many elements crammed together, developers face challenges in ensuring the layout adjusts seamlessly to every screen size.
Minimalism, by definition, involves fewer design elements. This simplicity means less CSS tweaking and easier grid formation, allowing content and layout to adapt quickly without losing structure.
Having a hero section with a strong headline, a single CTA button, and a clean background translates perfectly across screens with minimal adjustments. Compare that to a site cluttered with competing banners, sidebars, and pop-ups that require complex rearrangements for smaller devices.
Creators want to avoid designs that have too many words – depending on the form of your content, the text may look unclear to someone far away. That’s where minimalistic design makes things easier. For instance, a minimalist logo looks equally effective on a large billboard or a small app icon. This scalability is essential for businesses operating in both digital and print spaces.
Trends come and go, but minimalism ensures your designs feel modern for years to come. Overly intricate or trendy designs often grow outdated, while timeless design helps reinforce brand identity and reliability over the long term.
The Future of Responsive Web Design
Creating a seamless user experience across devices is a crucial skill for web developers, digital marketers, and business owners in 2025.
Adaptive and responsive design approaches will provide a better user experience across various devices. Identifying which works best for your company and your core message is an informed first step.
By focusing on the essential elements, minimalist designs ensure that the message or information is conveyed clearly and effectively.
Creating websites that work effortlessly across multiple devices requires planning, innovation, and a user-centric mindset. Whether you’re a web developer building a portfolio site, a digital marketer running campaigns, or a business owner growing an online presence, designing for diverse screens ensures broader reach and long-term success.
With innovations like augmented reality, virtual reality, and wearable tech on the rise, designers must anticipate future trends. AI-driven interfaces and voice-enabled designs are fast-becoming integrations worth considering.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the navigation of multi-device design principles, take it slow. Incorporate responsive frameworks, test layouts thoroughly, and approach challenges with the mindset of improvement.
Follow the McGuinness Media & Marketing team on social @mcguinnessmedia for more insights from our award-winning team making BIG waves in the smallest state!