Mobile First - from the front lines

Alan Burke, Annertech

Cloudbusting, 14th September 2012

Mobile First - from the front lines

Alan Burke, Annertech

Cloudbusting, 14th September 2012

Building websites in 2012…

For the next 3 years…

  • Mobile use will overtake desktop access
  • Mobile use will become default media access
  • Lines between mobile and desktop access blurs completely

Approaches to Mobile

  • Do nothing
  • Mobile specific website
  • Native Mobile App
  • HTML App
  • Responsive website

Our Approach

  • Responsive websites
  • Mobile first

Being responsive

  • Media Queries
  • Fluid Grid

Being truly responsive

Start low - Aim high

  • More than screen size
  • Bandwidth
  • Processing power
  • CSS support
  • JS support
  • Hardware support

Why Responsive?

  • Distribution
  • Deployment
  • Future Proof
  • Web as platform
  • Skills

Mobile First

  • Assume the worst
  • Prepare for the best
  • Progressive enhancement
  • HTML for content
  • CSS for presentation
  • JS for behaviour

Advantages

  • Contraints drive Focus
    • One eye – One thumb
    • Less screen size – no clutter
    • Less power - no frivilous animation

Advantages

  • Capabilities drive Innovation
    • Location detection
    • Touchscreen gestures
    • Hardware access

In the Real World

  • Sell the process
  • Understand the medium
  • Focus on Speed

Realities

  • Traditional Design process
  • Photoshop
  • Client expectations
  • Pixel perfection
  • Old Browsers
  • Emerging Solutions

Retrofitting Old Sites

  • Rejig CSS
  • Rethink design elements
  • Goodbye FLASH

Resources

  • http://www.lukew.com/
  • http://futurefriend.ly/
  • http://bradfrost.github.com/this-is-responsive/index.html
  • http://styletil.es/
  • http://www.quirksmode.org/