How Does Progressive Enhancement Affect Website Design?

The overarching goal of "Progressive Enhancement" in web design is to make the content of a website visible irrespective of the browser, operating system, and display size and to guarantee barrier-free operability. User experience plays a subordinate role in this approach; such measures are supplemented step by step, depending on the technical possibilities, but only retrospectively. First and foremost is the device-independent accessibility of the website. The starting point of any Progressive Enhancement campaign is high accessibility and low user experience.

How progressive enhancement approaches the ideal website

Should companies put user experience first? Unlike Progressive Enhancement, "Gradual Degradation" is standard on modern browsers. All technically available features are used, regardless of whether the appearance of the site in older browsers could be affected or prevented altogether.

Only in subsequent steps are fallbacks added. These fallbacks are ones that optimize the presentation for older browser versions or make them possible in the first place. These considerations affect many HTML and CSS elements used in responsive web design, which older browsers have yet to recognize and interpret correctly.

Depending on the result of this query, previously defined design rules are applied to the content of the website. To explain these rules, website owners must summarize in the CSS code of the website things like size ranges and then assign each of them the appropriate layout settings. A responsive website brightens the page if adequately presented on different devices.

Increasing sales and conversion rates

Another advantage of responsive web design is that the user has an improved website experience, as there is no need to redirect to a mobile page. The use of standardized style sheets (CSS) on all devices and a consistent design approach also results in a cohesive look. As studies show, consistent user experience has a positive impact on your conversion rates because if people are already familiar with navigation or system usage, they can find their way around on different devices. Responsive web design eliminates search engine barriers and creates a consistent presentation regarding functionality, performance, and appearance.

And why do businesses need a Responsive Website Design?

Internet-enabled devices vary greatly in their dimensions: On one hand, mobile devices are getting smaller, but stationary screens, on the other hand, are getting bigger. The Apple Watch, for example, has a screen diagonal of 38 millimeters, modern TVs reach a diagonal of over three feet. What they all have in common is that they can display websites.