With mobile usage in South Africa increasing at a rapid rate. (According to World Wide Worx, 90% of regular internet users access the web on their smartphones ) It is becoming increasingly important to create a mobile and tablet friendly site especially for content based industries (such as news websites) where users are more likely to browse the websites on the go several times per day.

This fluid design method uses the screen-width to determine the type of device being used and then shows or hides elements on the website layout to render a more readable version for the device.

Responsive Website Design for SAStudy.co.za (click to expand)

Responsive websites also require images to be more flexible and to adapt to mobile download speed constraints. This means selecting smaller image sizes to ensure the website loads quickly on a 3G or slower connection. Complex and bloated website programming is also discarded to speed up download time and increase accessibility.

For a tablet device such as the iPad, responsive webdesign can also detect the whether the device is being held in a portrait or landscape orientation and adapt the layout accordingly similar to a native app that is loaded on the device.

With .net Magazine choosing responsive webdesign as #2 on it’s top web design trends of 2012, we feel this technique is an excellent method of delivering your website to mobile and tablet devices. Take a look at one of our recent websites for SAStudy.co.za for a practical look at using responsive website design for a student-centric content website.

Friend or foe

We are a label aimed at creating pop/cute kitsch style clothing that acts as social commentary within the cape town creative circles. “cool clothes for friend or foes.”

Dominique and James knit really cool woolen chain-linked scarves

See their other work here.

Thing King

Lyall & Marc run Thingking, a designer-maker consultancy. We work in things and ideas of expression and problem solving. Our aim is to create work that increasingly reflects a deeper sense of place and understanding.

See more of their work here.

Our web designer Chris managed various suppliers before designing the surfboard of his dreams. Happy surfing Chris – you deserve it!