Hi,

 

I noticed that responsive design, whether it's applied to a website after completion or during development, can be quite time-consuming. Sometimes, a certain page requires a very different layout for lower resolution. And sometimes, I re-build a certain features (a menu for instance) in a different way just for mobile devices, that I set on display:none for desktop screens and display:block for mobile screens. In all cases, it can take from one day of work to several.

 

And since responsive design, this time-consuming thing, is or will soon become standard stuff, it seems to me that web design process should take more time on average and hence cost more.

 

Or am I missing something ? Second opinions welcome.

There are already topics on this...

 

http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/topic/58812-responsive-design-the-next-pricing-hurdle/?hl=responsive

CMS theme designers are already taking the legwork out of creating resposive sites by creating themes which are responsive by default. Most of the newer Joomla themes (2.5+) are already responsive out the box so in that instance there shouldn't really be any extra charge I suppose.

 

But web designers are in business to make money and any service you can use to add value to your proposition could earn you a few quid more. Or it could be used as a closing lever. 'Sign up today and we will 'waive' our resposive website premium' or summat like that.

 

Thinking aloud.

All that assumes you only use themes - hope you;re not calling yourself a designer.

 

The OP is clearly referring to someone who takes the time to design a site from scratch, to the clients needs. IF that is the case, then making them responsive does add on time. However, that time can be cut down by using a good base grid like zurb foundation or bootstrap.

 

As above really. I have a customised version of Zurb's Foundation, coupled with a heavily customised WordPress framework, so the 'basics' of responsiveness are already implemented on every site. However, not every site is the same, and therefore you cannot simply just reuse responsive elements.

 

Getting a responsive site right takes time, it has to flow and actually be usuable on mobiles rather than just all the elements stacked on top of each other.

 

So, the answer to the question, yes we should charge more. Whetrher it is extra time at the design stage, or the development stage, it is still extra time and shouldnt be overlooked at the pricing stage.