Guidelines for Responsive Design: Best Practices for Every Website

It’s no longer a question of if your website should be responsive—mobile traffic now makes up over half of all web visits, and users expect a seamless experience on every device. Google’s push for accessibility and mobile usability means responsive design is now the gold standard for web development.

What Is Responsive Web Design?

Responsive design means your website automatically adjusts its layout, images, and navigation to look and function great on any device—whether it’s a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. You have a single set of content and code that adapts to any screen size, saving time on updates and ensuring a consistent experience for everyone.

Google’s Official Responsive Design Guidelines

Google’s recommendations have become the benchmark for responsive web design. Here are the essentials:

Content Should Be Legible on Any Screen

Your text, images, and layout should be easy to read and interact with at any screen resolution or size. Avoid tiny fonts or overcrowded content.

Single Source of Content

Maintain only one set of content and code. The same HTML is delivered to every device, with CSS controlling how things display depending on the screen size.

No Horizontal Scrollbars

Visitors should never have to scroll sideways to see your content. If a horizontal scrollbar appears at any window size, your layout needs attention.

Touch-Friendly Elements

Buttons, navigation links, and forms should be large enough to tap easily on touchscreen devices, with enough space between interactive elements to prevent accidental clicks.

Optimized Images & Media

Ensure that images and videos scale correctly and don’t slow down page load speeds on mobile connections. Use modern formats and responsive image tags.

Why Responsive Design Matters

Improved SEO: Google gives ranking priority to websites that are mobile-friendly and provide a great user experience.

Higher Conversions: A seamless experience for all users encourages more enquiries, purchases, and sign-ups.

Future-Proof: One responsive website adapts automatically to new devices, saving you time and money.

Get Started or Upgrade Your Site

At Adhesion, we’ve helped clients across New Zealand create and upgrade websites that look great and perform well on every screen. If you want advice, an audit, or a responsive redesign, contact us. We’re here to help your business grow by staying ahead of the latest web standards.