Web page design best-practices used to dictate designer for a monitor of 640 x 480 pixels, then 800 x 600 pixels, and at a recent meeting I heard one of our schools lead web designers say they’re new minimum is the 11xx screen width. Which with browser windows, toolbars, etc. give an effective width of something like 960 pixels. But want to be sure? Take a quick tour around the Google browser sizer .
And as far as width across the screen 960 will match the screen size of 90% of the audience — not too bad. But look how quickly the dimensions down the page drop off. More than 500 pixels down and you risk putting content ‘below the fold’. Common wisdom says the users won’t scroll, and content lower on the page will be missed. In fact the Google browser sizer page makes this point in its default view. But for appropriate content is seems users are willing and quite able to scroll. Just make sure there is some indication that something is down there — i.e. cut off text. Or check out why The Fold Doesn’t Matter.
This doesn’t address the needs of mobile browsers. On our server they are still a small percentage of the visitors, but expect that number to grow quickly over the next year.
http://browsersize.googlelabs.com/
Google Browser Size is a visualization of browser window sizes for people who visit Google. For example, the “90%” contour means that 90% of people visiting Google have their browser window open to at least this size or larger.
Blasting the Myth of Below the Fold
Stop worrying about the fold. Don’t throw your best practices out the window, but stop cramming stuff above a certain pixel point. You’re not helping anyone. Open up your designs and give your users some visual breathing room. If your content is compelling enough your users will read it to the end.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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