 Why fluid design works
Tuesday, 27 June 2006
As part of a web redesign project, a colleague of mine wanted to redo the pages to fit 1024×768 resolution but he also wanted an alternative design to accommodate the relatively small percentage of users still stuck with 800×600 pixels. He wanted to know how to go about determening the users browser resolution, so he could present the content using the appropriate template which matches that resolution.
I asserted that, while this can be done with a combination of PHP and Javascript, screen resolution is basically useless information anyway because while it may tell you something about the users maximum window size, it tells you nothing about the users actual window size.
Personally, I always try really hard to convince clients that fluid design is the only sensible way to go. The big problem with any fixed design is that you’re making the assumption the user will size their window to accommodate your design. Content, after all, should be considered within the context of the users environment, so therefore utilising a fixed width design is always going to disadvantage a percentage of your users.
As a designer, what makes you think that just because the user has their monitor configured to show 1024×768 pixels that their browser window size is actually 1024×768 pixels? For instance, I use 1024×768 resolution but I almost never maximise my windows to “full screen” and I hate using websites which make me have to resize my window just to accommodate their inflexible design. While I may be in the minority, does that mean I should have to put up with horizontal scrolling, just to navigate their website?
In the battle between aesthetics and accessibility, aesthetics always deserves to lose. Unless, of course, the website is purely for your own personal viewing pleasure. Ultimately, questions such as this are best answered by one of the questions I’m always “guilty” of asking my own clients:
Who is the website for? You, the board of directors you think you’re trying to impress, or your clients?
As a designer, you need to remember that your role is not one of a controller, it’s one of a servant. Keep your design simple and accept that your website will never be viewed exactly the way you intended.
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