Gisele Medina
CECS 5260
Assignment 4: Article 2
In A Guide on Layout Types in Web Design, Alexander Dawson explores a variety of
ways for laying out website pages. The article names 10 possible layouts: absolute, relative,
fixed, elastic, scaled, liquid, equated, fluid min-max, conditional, and hybrid. These layouts are
based on how web designers look at width and height in terms of measurement and flexibility.
Web designers decide which layout to use depending on the situation and the method of viewing
the website. For example, absolute layouts are based on absolute measurements such as inches
or centimeters. They have a limited use in web design, but they are widely used in the print
world. The measurements used in fixed layouts are pixels, and it is the least flexible method of
layout, but it is popular for designers who prefer control and predictability rather than optimized
viewing. In order to accommodate smartphone use, scaled layouts are used. In a scaled layout,
there is no measurement unit, but it allows manipulation of the device being used
(landscape/portrait). Hybrid layouts use a mixture of various layouts giving freedom for the
designer to develop an optimal creative experience.
Having the technical expertise and tools to create a website allows web designers and
developers to employ layouts according to their unique situation. As times change, new ways for
developing layouts may emerge that allow for the best results. Layouts should also fit designers
objectives of using creativity while allowing opportunities of having control over their projects.
A beginner web designer can start with the most basic layout with perhaps little flexibility but
high level of control and eventually, with practice, become more confident, and move on to a
hybrid layout, for instance.
Reference:
Dawson, A. (2010). A guide on layout types in web design. Six Revisions. Retrieved from
http://sixrevisions.com/web_design/a-guide-on-layout-types-in-web-design/