Mobile-First Web Design: What It Is, Pros and Cons

Are you looking to create a website for your business and trying to decide whether a mobile-first approach is right for you? Before we list some of the pros and cons of mobile-first web design, let’s summarize what it is exactly.

What is Mobile-First Design?

When web design companies take a mobile-first design approach, it means the designers are designing the mobile version of a website before designing for desktop. In other words, consideration for the mobile user experience is prioritized.

The Pros

Here are some advantages of mobile-first design:

1. It’s a mobile world. As mobile usage and internet traffic only continues to increase, it’s easy to see why many web design companies would suggest a mobile-first website. According to the November 2021 Ericsson Mobility Report, mobile network data traffic grew by 42% from 2020 to 2021. Ericsson found this traffic growth to be driven by increases in overall smart phone subscriptions and consumption of video content.

2. Less code, less bugs. Websites built for mobile are much simpler than websites designed for desktop. This translates into simpler and less code and as a result, less chances of bugs.

3. Focused (and less) content. You are limited to the amount of content that you can include with a mobile-first design and this forces you to be more selective and intentional. This is a good thing! The limited space helps you to eliminate the “fluff”, producing a cleaner design with more concise content. Less content can also translate into faster loading time, which can help with SEO.

The Cons

Here are some disadvantages of mobile-first design:

1. You may feel limited on creativity. With less space to work with, it may feel like you have less room for creativity. You may not be able to include certain creative elements that perhaps work great on desktop.

2. Requires designer / team with mobile-first expertise. As this is a specific approach to website design, you’ll need to work with an agency that has the knowledge and capabilities to design and develop a mobile-first website. As mobile-first websites are quite popular, there are many web design companies with expertise in this type of approach – including our team of designers here at Creative Faze Inc. ;)

TIP: If you’re thinking of working with a digital creative agency, a great starting place is DesignRush. Describe what you need and receive proposals from web design companies to get matched with the right agency for your project.

3. Adjustment to a newer approach. In terms of the design process, most people are used to seeing a website on desktop first. But for the mobile-first approach, you wouldn’t be able to see a demo or any frames of the desktop version until later in the process (as the mobile version is designed first).

Thinking about working with a digital creative agency to create a website? Please get in touch! As one of the Top Web Design Companies and Top Web Development Companies on DesignRush, you’ll know that you’re working with some of the best web experts in the industry.