However, this shift to mobile-first design means we’re not making the best use of the wider horizontal screens of desktops and laptops.

By focusing on mobile, we’re essentially neglecting the potential of horizontal displays, opting instead for designs that are easier to scale down to fit mobile screens. This often results in simpler layouts, like two columns that can easily adjust to a single column on mobile, rather than fully utilizing the available space on larger screens.

The advancement of augmented reality (AR) and our eyes being the most advanced displays available challenge the need for any external screens. With AR technologies like Apple’s Vision Pro, which follows earlier attempts like Google Glass, we’re beginning to see how digital content can be directly integrated into our visual field, making the need for a physical device in our pocket less relevant.

This technology could lead to entirely new design layouts, moving away from traditional screen shapes and sizes. We could see designs inspired by the square format of IMAX screens or even a return to the more classic 4:3 aspect ratio.

This possibility suggests that while the mobile-first approach has been effective, it might be limiting our thinking and use of technology, especially as we consider the potential for AR to change how we interact with digital content.

As AR becomes more commonplace, we might need to rethink our approach to design, moving beyond the constraints of mobile-first to embrace a wider range of display possibilities, including those that make better use of our horizontal field of vision and potentially new formats that AR can offer.

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