On Responsive Web Design and Graphic Design Integration

Hello, dear reader,

As I continue to build my portfolio, which I am always refining in one way or another, I find myself looking at the current trends of the world of graphic design. Graphic design has significantly evolved from generations prior; it has always been viewed as something of an all-encompassing trade wherein a lot of disciplines or specialties fall upon or converge.

One of the most interesting aspects of graphic design is its evolution from a solely traditional specialty to one that incorporates elements typically associated with coding. Today, a the expectation for graphic designers is that they can handle HTML, CSS, and some degree of JavaScript, in addition to traditional roles involving print production and asset manipulation or creation.

The reality is that many designers who are proficient in traditional practices struggle with responsive web design due to an over-reliance on tools designed to bridge the gap between specialties and general use; this reliance often leads to bloated code, causing websites to load significantly less efficiently than if they were hand-written. These designs typically showcase a 'mobile design first' look, stemming from modern web practices that prioritize mobile design as the starting point.

My approach is a more global one: I always apply a case by case basis to all my projects, as I am fairly proficient at coding and can handle it by hand (provided I have a specific library to work the more specific pieces of code; I am not a coder after all, just proficient in the practice). I believe it’s incorrect to start from mobile design first; it’s a more beneficial approach to view both desktop and mobile design as co-existing and coding each separately.

The resulting website may take slightly longer to develop, but it will be better maintained over the long term. Cleaner code simplifies future maintenance, making it easier to add libraries or update existing code when switching to a new developer. Ultimately, this approach benefits users (and clients) by ensuring that websites load faster.