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A Book Apart #6
Mobile webdesign
Het wachten op de complete, strategische gids voor mobile webdesign is voorbij. Luke Wroblewski, voormalig Yahoo!-designarchitect en mede-oprichter van Bagcheck, weet meer van de mobiele ervaring dan wie dan ook en deelt alles wat hij weet in dit praktische en onderhoudende boek. Hij benadrukt daarbij de voordelen van de mobile first-strategie. De datagestuurde strategiën en in de praktijk beproefde technieken maken een master of mobile van je en vebeteren en passant ook je niet-mobiele design!
121 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
96 people are currently reading
1789 people want to read
About the author
Luke Wroblewski
5 books86 followersLukeW is an internationally recognized digital product leader who has designed or contributed to software used by more than 700 million people worldwide.
Luke was Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Bagcheck which was acquired by Twitter Inc. just nine months after being launched publicly. Prior to this, Luke was an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Benchmark Capital and the Chief Design Architect (VP) at Yahoo! Inc. where he worked on product alignment and forward-thinking integrated customer experiences on the Web, mobile, TV, and beyond.
Luke is the author of the book Mobile First, two already popular Web design books (Web Form Design & Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability) and many articles about digital product design and strategy. He is also a consistently top-rated speaker at conferences and companies around the world, and a Co-founder and former Board member of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA).
Luke was Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Bagcheck which was acquired by Twitter Inc. just nine months after being launched publicly. Prior to this, Luke was an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Benchmark Capital and the Chief Design Architect (VP) at Yahoo! Inc. where he worked on product alignment and forward-thinking integrated customer experiences on the Web, mobile, TV, and beyond.
Luke is the author of the book Mobile First, two already popular Web design books (Web Form Design & Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability) and many articles about digital product design and strategy. He is also a consistently top-rated speaker at conferences and companies around the world, and a Co-founder and former Board member of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
November 27, 2011
As noted in the introduction, this isn't a book with code examples to work from (see Ethan Marcotte's Responsive Web Design if you want more of that). Wroblewski is looking at the big picture rather than implementation - the whys and best practices rather than the how-to.
I was already interested in developing mobile-first, but the first section of the book makes a solid case for it and provides enough statistics to help me convince other people. I found the best practices sections very useful, with good examples of what not to do and some inspiring ideas to use. I can come up with the code myself, but what I wanted and got was information about the fuzzier side of things. Wroblewski provides research on the user-experience side of things, like how people use mobile sites and what their expectations and frustrations are. When you can build any sort of site you want, knowing the type of site people would like to use helps narrow down the possibilities.
If you're not sure this book is for you, I recommend the e-book version which is a bit cheaper.
I was already interested in developing mobile-first, but the first section of the book makes a solid case for it and provides enough statistics to help me convince other people. I found the best practices sections very useful, with good examples of what not to do and some inspiring ideas to use. I can come up with the code myself, but what I wanted and got was information about the fuzzier side of things. Wroblewski provides research on the user-experience side of things, like how people use mobile sites and what their expectations and frustrations are. When you can build any sort of site you want, knowing the type of site people would like to use helps narrow down the possibilities.
If you're not sure this book is for you, I recommend the e-book version which is a bit cheaper.
January 30, 2013
Luke Wroblewsky can write well. This book is full of data and precise examples that make a clearly defined case for designing for mobile first. He considers the constraints (such as screen size, frequently lower bandwidth, a distracted audience) and capabilities (such as accelerometers, location detection, and inbuilt cameras) that make designing for mobile unique. He considers how to lay out information in a manner suited to mobile, interpret mobile-specific actions (touches), and collect inputs in a mobile-friendly manner.
The only problem, and it's quite a problem, is the book doesn't actually say anything. Yes Wroblewsky cites a lot of data about how quickly mobile's growing, but (as he himself points out) you don't need a chapter full of data to tell you that mobile's growing like mad. You just need to look around. You don't need his chapter on organization to tell you that less content's going to fit on a mobile screen and that you should consider carefully before cluttering up desktop versions with more content than appears on the mobile version. His chapter on inputs is full of examples of input forms for mobile, but unless you've been living under a rock, you've already seen helpfully-constrained input masking (such as ___-___-____ for a phone number, accepting digits only).
The concreteness of this book may help prompt new thoughts on your current design. Just don't expect to learn from it.
The only problem, and it's quite a problem, is the book doesn't actually say anything. Yes Wroblewsky cites a lot of data about how quickly mobile's growing, but (as he himself points out) you don't need a chapter full of data to tell you that mobile's growing like mad. You just need to look around. You don't need his chapter on organization to tell you that less content's going to fit on a mobile screen and that you should consider carefully before cluttering up desktop versions with more content than appears on the mobile version. His chapter on inputs is full of examples of input forms for mobile, but unless you've been living under a rock, you've already seen helpfully-constrained input masking (such as ___-___-____ for a phone number, accepting digits only).
The concreteness of this book may help prompt new thoughts on your current design. Just don't expect to learn from it.
Read
March 2, 2019كتاب حول تصميم واجهات الويب يتحدث عن أهمية الأخد بعين الاعتبار تجربة المستخدم في الهاتف والشاشات الصغيرة في المقام الأول لانتشارها الواسع
وما تقدمه من مزايا ثم التفكير في تجربة المستخدم من خلال الشاشات الكبيرة. وهي مقاربة مستعملة جدا لدى الشركات الكبرى كفيسبوك وتويتر وغيرها.
شخصيا لما أبدأ بتصميم صفحة الويب في الشاشات الصغيرة ثم أنتقل إلى الشاشة الكبيرة أجد سهولة أكثر و أبذل مجهودا أقل من البدأ بالشاشات الكبيرة
وما تقدمه من مزايا ثم التفكير في تجربة المستخدم من خلال الشاشات الكبيرة. وهي مقاربة مستعملة جدا لدى الشركات الكبرى كفيسبوك وتويتر وغيرها.
شخصيا لما أبدأ بتصميم صفحة الويب في الشاشات الصغيرة ثم أنتقل إلى الشاشة الكبيرة أجد سهولة أكثر و أبذل مجهودا أقل من البدأ بالشاشات الكبيرة
February 12, 2014
While this book makes a compelling case for mobile first development, only the first third ends up actually advocating the practice. After a couple chapters citing off statistics and defining the difference between the desktop and mobile, the rest of the book is a consideration of content organization, best practices, and layout. Unfortunately in this day and age the anyone who has used a phone and even thought about designing for it has likely realized these already and doesn't need eighty pages of a book to tell you about them.
If you've never thought about designing for mobile before or just want some groundwork I can see this book being useful; otherwise, it might not be for you.
If you've never thought about designing for mobile before or just want some groundwork I can see this book being useful; otherwise, it might not be for you.
October 23, 2011
not what I expected, which may have been my fault. this book makes the case for why your business needs to focus on mobile, contains a good discussion of how experiences will differ by device (outside of technical or physical properties), and a popular overview of mobile design patterns. what I was looking for was more a discussion of considerations for implementing responsive web design and more of what it means to start with mobile first. unfortunately, ive heard the book on responsive web design by the same publisher is also a book that could have stayed a tweet or blog post.
February 21, 2012
Interesting and very insightful, though I thought it a bit unrealistic in terms of the real world using these strategies, and wished the author had occasionally included some code.
Read
December 18, 2023Mobile devices have become incredibly important in human life for several reasons, and their significance continues to grow. Here are some key factors that highlight the importance of mobile devices in our lives:
1. Communication: Mobile phones enable instant communication with people around the world through calls, text messages, and various messaging apps. They have transformed the way we connect with friends, family, and colleagues, fostering real-time communication and reducing the limitations of physical distance.
Note: If you are living in South Africa country and want to buy a mobile then you can get the latest prices of Android all models from this website: https://priceinsouthafrica.info/
2. Information Access: Smartphones provide easy access to a vast amount of information. Users can browse the internet, check news, access educational resources, and gather information on a wide range of topics with just a few taps. This helps in staying informed and connected to the world.
3. Productivity: Mobile devices have become essential tools for work and productivity. They allow users to check and respond to emails, collaborate on documents, schedule appointments, and manage tasks on the go. The availability of various productivity apps further enhances their utility in professional settings.
4. Entertainment: Mobile devices offer a wide range of entertainment options, including streaming videos, music, games, and social media. They have become portable entertainment hubs, providing users with on-the-go access to a variety of content to keep them engaged and entertained.
5. Navigation and Maps: Mobile devices with GPS capabilities have revolutionized navigation. They help users find directions, locate places of interest, and plan routes, making travel more convenient and efficient.
6. Photography and Media Creation: The built-in cameras on mobile devices have turned everyone into potential photographers and content creators. The ability to capture photos and videos on the go, edit them instantly, and share them with others has become a significant aspect of modern communication and self-expression.
7. E-commerce: Mobile devices have transformed the way people shop. E-commerce apps allow users to browse, shop, and make transactions from the comfort of their mobile devices, contributing to the growth of online shopping.
8. Health and Fitness: Mobile devices come equipped with various health and fitness apps that help users track their physical activity, monitor their health, and access information about wellness. They contribute to the growing trend of using technology for personal health management.
9. Social Connectivity: Social media apps on mobile devices enable people to connect with others, share experiences, and stay updated on the lives of friends and family. Social connectivity has become a crucial aspect of many people's lives.
10. Emergency Situations: Mobile phones play a critical role in emergencies. They provide a means to call for help, access emergency services, and receive alerts and notifications. In some cases, mobile devices have proven to be life-saving tools.
While the importance of mobile devices is evident, it's essential to recognize that their impact varies across individuals and cultures. Some people rely heavily on mobile technology for various aspects of their lives, while others may use it more sparingly.
1. Communication: Mobile phones enable instant communication with people around the world through calls, text messages, and various messaging apps. They have transformed the way we connect with friends, family, and colleagues, fostering real-time communication and reducing the limitations of physical distance.
Note: If you are living in South Africa country and want to buy a mobile then you can get the latest prices of Android all models from this website: https://priceinsouthafrica.info/
2. Information Access: Smartphones provide easy access to a vast amount of information. Users can browse the internet, check news, access educational resources, and gather information on a wide range of topics with just a few taps. This helps in staying informed and connected to the world.
3. Productivity: Mobile devices have become essential tools for work and productivity. They allow users to check and respond to emails, collaborate on documents, schedule appointments, and manage tasks on the go. The availability of various productivity apps further enhances their utility in professional settings.
4. Entertainment: Mobile devices offer a wide range of entertainment options, including streaming videos, music, games, and social media. They have become portable entertainment hubs, providing users with on-the-go access to a variety of content to keep them engaged and entertained.
5. Navigation and Maps: Mobile devices with GPS capabilities have revolutionized navigation. They help users find directions, locate places of interest, and plan routes, making travel more convenient and efficient.
6. Photography and Media Creation: The built-in cameras on mobile devices have turned everyone into potential photographers and content creators. The ability to capture photos and videos on the go, edit them instantly, and share them with others has become a significant aspect of modern communication and self-expression.
7. E-commerce: Mobile devices have transformed the way people shop. E-commerce apps allow users to browse, shop, and make transactions from the comfort of their mobile devices, contributing to the growth of online shopping.
8. Health and Fitness: Mobile devices come equipped with various health and fitness apps that help users track their physical activity, monitor their health, and access information about wellness. They contribute to the growing trend of using technology for personal health management.
9. Social Connectivity: Social media apps on mobile devices enable people to connect with others, share experiences, and stay updated on the lives of friends and family. Social connectivity has become a crucial aspect of many people's lives.
10. Emergency Situations: Mobile phones play a critical role in emergencies. They provide a means to call for help, access emergency services, and receive alerts and notifications. In some cases, mobile devices have proven to be life-saving tools.
While the importance of mobile devices is evident, it's essential to recognize that their impact varies across individuals and cultures. Some people rely heavily on mobile technology for various aspects of their lives, while others may use it more sparingly.
October 28, 2018
I'll admit I probably should have read this book back when Luke Wroblewski wrote it, but I didn't think I needed to. I had attended one of the An Event Apart conferences where Luke presented the ideas the book is based on, and I followed him pretty closely on Twitter at the time, so most of what is in the book I'd learned through other means.
But it's been seven years, and I'm introducing a new company to mobile design for the first time, so it was time for me to take a refresher course. This book was perfect for that task.
The goal of this book is to teach you what it means to design a website or application first from the mindset of a mobile design. It came about because, before mobile, we designed everything for the computer desktop, and after mobile, that sucked pretty badly all things considered. If you don't remember the era of m-dot sites and dumbphone sites and total lack of iPhones, well, I envy you a little. (Also, go ask an old person about the Netscape browser wars.)
The book promises no code and to keep things short; it delivers on both promises. At the same time it delivers explanations of why mobile is important, how to think about mobile use cases beyond the idea that everyone is doing things "on the go" (they're not), and a light but effective introduction to how to think about design elements such as touch areas, hover states, form elements, and page layout in a mobile context.
I hope that A Book Apart commissions a second edition, because the first edition is pushing close to 10 years old, and a lot has changed in the last 10 years. I'm not honestly confident that it will make as much sense to someone who just joined the industry as it does those of us who were hand-coding our Geocities sites back in the late 1990s. But regardless of the slightly dated statistics (and screenshots) and the assumption that none of us know what this "mobile" thing is, the theories and mindsets introduced are sound. It's still a valuable read all these years later.
But it's been seven years, and I'm introducing a new company to mobile design for the first time, so it was time for me to take a refresher course. This book was perfect for that task.
The goal of this book is to teach you what it means to design a website or application first from the mindset of a mobile design. It came about because, before mobile, we designed everything for the computer desktop, and after mobile, that sucked pretty badly all things considered. If you don't remember the era of m-dot sites and dumbphone sites and total lack of iPhones, well, I envy you a little. (Also, go ask an old person about the Netscape browser wars.)
The book promises no code and to keep things short; it delivers on both promises. At the same time it delivers explanations of why mobile is important, how to think about mobile use cases beyond the idea that everyone is doing things "on the go" (they're not), and a light but effective introduction to how to think about design elements such as touch areas, hover states, form elements, and page layout in a mobile context.
I hope that A Book Apart commissions a second edition, because the first edition is pushing close to 10 years old, and a lot has changed in the last 10 years. I'm not honestly confident that it will make as much sense to someone who just joined the industry as it does those of us who were hand-coding our Geocities sites back in the late 1990s. But regardless of the slightly dated statistics (and screenshots) and the assumption that none of us know what this "mobile" thing is, the theories and mindsets introduced are sound. It's still a valuable read all these years later.
June 7, 2021
This made me think so hard I can't bother reviewing in english. I'll make an effort though.
This was a very interesting zoom on the state of web design shortly after the mobile boom. There's an abundance of data to not only justify but also understand the thoughts process behind design choices that still seem relevant. This book made me realize how much we've forsaken some of the most insolite features of the iphone's debuts in our casual browsing habits nowadays. The tilt scrolling and other accelerometer enabled curiosities stayed so. Still, in a way it is refreshing to rediscover them under this lense.
The structure of this book was lovely, I for once, took notes :P but the conclusions of each chapters are remarkably exhaustive. The writing is light and I am looking forward to a reread. I love the reflection on evolution of mobile browsing and how designers can adapt to this strenuous pace without going against the tide.
This was a very interesting zoom on the state of web design shortly after the mobile boom. There's an abundance of data to not only justify but also understand the thoughts process behind design choices that still seem relevant. This book made me realize how much we've forsaken some of the most insolite features of the iphone's debuts in our casual browsing habits nowadays. The tilt scrolling and other accelerometer enabled curiosities stayed so. Still, in a way it is refreshing to rediscover them under this lense.
The structure of this book was lovely, I for once, took notes :P but the conclusions of each chapters are remarkably exhaustive. The writing is light and I am looking forward to a reread. I love the reflection on evolution of mobile browsing and how designers can adapt to this strenuous pace without going against the tide.
September 27, 2020
На часи коли лише з'явився айфончик книжка була більш актульною. Більше 50% книжки йде мова про те, як важливо розробляти дизайн веб-сайтів для мобільних. 40% про те, як це роблять в Yahoo!, Mailchimp та інші.
10% мінімальні практичні речі, на зразок "eyeballs and thumbs" - при розробці мобільного інтерфейсу, за промовчанням враховувати, що у ко��истувача є лише один великий палець та одне око, оскільки більшість користувачів будуть використовати мобільний сайт "на ходу", займаючись іншими справами паралельно. Хто хоче коду відсилають до Ethan Marcotte - Responsive Web Design, клепати лейаут на em-ах.
10% мінімальні практичні речі, на зразок "eyeballs and thumbs" - при розробці мобільного інтерфейсу, за промовчанням враховувати, що у ко��истувача є лише один великий палець та одне око, оскільки більшість користувачів будуть використовати мобільний сайт "на ходу", займаючись іншими справами паралельно. Хто хоче коду відсилають до Ethan Marcotte - Responsive Web Design, клепати лейаут на em-ах.
August 15, 2022
This book has good tips and tricks. Useful for UI/UX designers for web. But when "mobile first" term announced limited user experience had on the web. In nowadays user experience and accessibility evolved and evolution goes on. Therefore not enough formal information contains in this book. A good book in its time of publication.
June 9, 2019
Really enjoyed some of the high level approach realignments and the foundation of this book is exceptionally solid. The only issue is that this industry is in such a growth period and changing so rapidly, it could use some updating.
August 13, 2019
Bukunya bagus mengenai bagaimana mendesain untuk di mobile. Sayangnya bentaran udah kayak ga relevan. Karena desain dari mobile sudah berkembang dengan cepat dan kayak udah basi. Tapi secara garis besar sih masih relevan. Bukunya singkat sih.
April 20, 2020
Luke Wroblewski is a good writer & speaker. I read his website & watched his videos on youtube. But I think this book contains information that are not useful in 2020. Sorry Lube but I love his UX Talk. He has a good sense of humor.
April 12, 2021
This is a must-read book for any Front-end Developer or Designer. It is well explained and easy to read and understand. I really enjoyed it. It was a reference and, still today, I usually can go back an re read concepts that are still applicable.
January 27, 2025
3.5/5. i read it bc it was mentioned by someone at work and relevant to the project i've been struggling on lmao 🥲 i found the first portion of the book to be the most helpful as the book is a bit outdated, but still a quick & easy read!
May 8, 2017
Maybe this would've been great if I had read it YEARS ago but most of these 'discoveries' are common sense. Just watch Luke's YouTube videos then you'll gain most of what he has to say and more.
August 11, 2017
The little book that started it all. Well, I suppose it may have been the article first, but this came soon after.
February 26, 2018
It's a great book but outdated now.
July 11, 2018
Довольно таки не плохая и интересная книга. Даёт понимание того, чем необходимо руководствоваться при создании веб-сайтов.
January 2, 2019
It's a little outdated, but it has really good concepts you can still use.
December 31, 2019
Principles are universal, the path is yours. Great one for main principles, also good for the mindset of how to achieve more with putting less to the screen. Thumbs up!
June 26, 2020
Pretty outdated nowadays, but it has a Gowalla screenshot, so 3 star review :)
Read
June 28, 2020read for school so no rating
June 27, 2022
Too general to be of any particular use.
June 15, 2023
The book is out of date, yet it still contains useful information.
Read
October 24, 2023Some bits still relevant but mostly deprecated and not enough in-depth.
February 20, 2018
This is a quick read. It contains all the information that you need about Mobile First design. The author is experienced in the filed and he knows what he is talking about. There are few things to be learn even if you are experienced software developer. As accessing the internet from mobile is increasing every day this is must read.
June 5, 2017
In June and July, eXtension.org had Luke Wroblewski give two presentations on mobile learning: Mobile First and Organizing Mobile Web Experiences. While I did not have the opportunity to attend the presentations, I did hear good things about his book Mobile First*.
I received Mobile First on Thursday and read it in one sitting. The book is 123 pages of useful material spread out across two parts and seven chapters. Part one focuses on why you should pursue a mobile initiative, some of the constraints, and some of the opportunities, and part two provides a number of great tips on how to make it happen from organizing content, controlling actions, input suggestions, and layout options. Read more
I received Mobile First on Thursday and read it in one sitting. The book is 123 pages of useful material spread out across two parts and seven chapters. Part one focuses on why you should pursue a mobile initiative, some of the constraints, and some of the opportunities, and part two provides a number of great tips on how to make it happen from organizing content, controlling actions, input suggestions, and layout options. Read more
April 8, 2013
Most memorable quote
"Screens are small, networks are unreliable, and people can find themselves in all kinds of situations when they pull out their mobile devices. But these constraints are not only good for business, they're good for design as well. This is especially true if you subscribe to the adage that design is the process of gradually applying constraints until an elegant solution remains."
Tweet review
LukeW articulates a mindset change in a concise, high level review that prepares a designer to begin approaching experience design from the mobile first perspective.
Full review
I bought this book after having watched LukeW's many presentations, reviewed his posted slides, and read his articles. Also, I read the book in early 2013 - long after he wrote the book (long in tech terms, anyway). For these reasons I likely approached the book from a different perspective than many other readers. I rated the book as if I hadn't yet been familiar with LukeW's work - because I would have otherwise unfairly rated it lower. By that I mean I felt the book didn't add too much more to what I already knew, since I'm familiar with his mobile work.
The core message of the book is very convincing and extremely powerful: the context of use for the web is so much more mobile, and is becoming more mobile at such an surprising rate, that it makes sense to design your digital offerings from a minimalist, reductionist, mobile first point of view.
His message was so important to me and to my work, that it actually caused me to overhaul a major mobile project I was working on. The author provides more than just an argument for why you should approach design mobile first - he also offers concrete ways for measurably improving the user experience.
You can learn more about Luke's thought leadership by visiting his site, www.lukew.com
"Screens are small, networks are unreliable, and people can find themselves in all kinds of situations when they pull out their mobile devices. But these constraints are not only good for business, they're good for design as well. This is especially true if you subscribe to the adage that design is the process of gradually applying constraints until an elegant solution remains."
Tweet review
LukeW articulates a mindset change in a concise, high level review that prepares a designer to begin approaching experience design from the mobile first perspective.
Full review
I bought this book after having watched LukeW's many presentations, reviewed his posted slides, and read his articles. Also, I read the book in early 2013 - long after he wrote the book (long in tech terms, anyway). For these reasons I likely approached the book from a different perspective than many other readers. I rated the book as if I hadn't yet been familiar with LukeW's work - because I would have otherwise unfairly rated it lower. By that I mean I felt the book didn't add too much more to what I already knew, since I'm familiar with his mobile work.
The core message of the book is very convincing and extremely powerful: the context of use for the web is so much more mobile, and is becoming more mobile at such an surprising rate, that it makes sense to design your digital offerings from a minimalist, reductionist, mobile first point of view.
His message was so important to me and to my work, that it actually caused me to overhaul a major mobile project I was working on. The author provides more than just an argument for why you should approach design mobile first - he also offers concrete ways for measurably improving the user experience.
You can learn more about Luke's thought leadership by visiting his site, www.lukew.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews