Should We Design for Desktop First or Mobile First?
One of the most common mistakes UX/UI designers make is taking the same approach with every project - only designing for desktop first or only for mobile first.
The reality is, the right approach is not one-size-fits-all. It should be guided by data, user behaviour, and the goals of the business as well as the users.
Let’s break it down.
Mobile-First vs Desktop-First: What’s the Difference?
Mobile-first design starts with designing for the smallest screen (usually a smartphone) and progressively enhances the experience for larger screens like tablets and desktops. This approach is minimal, prioritised, and often performance-driven.
Desktop-first design begins with the full-feature version on a larger screen and adapts or simplifies the experience for mobile devices later (often by removing or condensing features).
What the Data Says
According to StatCounter (2025), over 58% of global web traffic now comes from mobile devices, compared to around 39% from desktops and 3% from tablets.
However, conversion rates are often higher on desktop, particularly for complex tasks like B2B transactions, SaaS tools, or high-value purchases.
Google’s algorithm is mobile-first in indexing and ranking, meaning your mobile experience significantly impacts your SEO.
So while mobile usage dominates, desktop remains key in many industries and user journeys.
So… Which Should You Design First?
At Four UX Studio, our answer is always:
Design for the device your users are most likely to use first.
Here’s how we approach it:
1. User & Data First
Before jumping into screens, we look at:
Analytics from your current platform (if available)
Audience demographics and behaviors
Use cases, environments, and device contexts
Conversion paths and friction points across devices
This helps us understand whether users are more likely to discover, browse, or transact on mobile or desktop. Then we design accordingly.
2. Purpose-Driven Design
A landing page for a consumer product? Probably mobile-first. An admin dashboard for internal teams? Likely desktop-first. A SaaS platform with mobile activity but desktop purchases? We'll optimise for both but prioritise screens based on each step of the user journey.
3. Responsive, Not Reactive
Regardless of which direction we start from, every project we build is fully responsive and designed with flexible layouts. We avoid simply shrinking content or removing features. We rethink the experience for each screen size.
Mobile-First: When It Works Best
Your product has a high percentage of mobile traffic
You expect users to engage on-the-go (e.g. e-commerce, social apps, travel)
You want to prioritise performance, speed, and content hierarchy
You’re designing for emerging markets where mobile dominates
Desktop-First: When It Makes Sense
Your platform is task-heavy or data-rich (e.g. dashboards, analytics tools)
Your users are primarily desktop-based professionals
Mobile use is secondary or assistive (e.g. monitoring, notifications)
We don’t follow trends, we follow users.
Our Double Diamond approach—Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver—begins with research and user data. Only then do we determine whether to design mobile-first, desktop-first, or take a hybrid, adaptive approach.
Whether you’re building a product from scratch or optimising an existing one, our goal is to create seamless experiences, no matter the screen size.
Need Help Figuring Out Your First Screen?
Let’s look at the data together. Contact Four UX Studio to book a UX consultation or device-use audit. We’ll help you make informed design decisions that put users first and keep them coming back.
