Illustrated by: Sari M. Richter, sarimichellerichter.com
Created & Written by: Kyle Kuchmey
It’s not enough for web designers to only consider desktop users. As smartphone users, we expect an easy and enjoyable mobile website experience on every site we visit. If the design makes us constantly zoom, scroll, and reload–chances are, we won’t be visiting that site for too long.
Mobile app development was the first movement that took the the market by storm (circa 2009, if memory serves). The app development companies who were first through the door, easily sold organizations with big tech budgets on the value of app development. They equated offering your audience an app with being innovative. They took advantage of the buzz–and who could blame them? I know when I first got my iPhone, I was downloading apps non-stop.
In hind-sight, most corporate app projects had poor ROI. Functionality was relatively low and the user experience was very lack-lustre. Oh, not to mention the fact that it needed to be designed multiple times, to accommodate the available smartphone platforms. Often the corporate app offered little more than could be accomplished on the website.
Then came responsive design. From a visual perspective and a cost-efficiency perspective, responsive design became a go-to solution for web developers. Responsive design allows websites to automatically adjust based on screen resolutions. This ensures a good user experience for smartphone users, no matter what smartphone they had. One design, multiple platforms.
In defence of app development companies–they have certainly come a long way in a short period of time. Companies that can tap into the needs of their audience and the capabilities of smartphone platforms, an app can be a unique and highly effective to a smartphone user. And there are certain complex functions of the smartphone (scanning, high data transfer, GPS, phone, etc.) that cannot yet be achieved by responsive design alone.
Here is a great infographic that can help you decide the best mobile development technique for your audience:
http://www.sparq.it/blog/mobile-app-vs-responsive-design-website
Also, here are some great local, Hamilton, Ontario companies that offer innovative mobile solutions:
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About Ones and Zeros
Ones and Zeros is a comic strip, inspired by the uniquely ironic situations that arise in digital communications. It is illustrated by Sari M. Richter and written by Kyle Kuchmey.
Ones and Zeros latest releases are available exclusively at newmotto.ca. We encourage you to share Ones and Zeros comics on your website, blog, or social media accounts. We only ask that you link back to our original blog post where you downloaded the comic.