The Difference Resolution Makes for Web Design

I typically design for 1024 x 768 screen resolutions. I work from a 1920 x 1200 screen resolution at home, and a smaller 1280 x 800 resolution at work.

The difference in resolution at home and at work is remarkable. At work, I end up having to make my mockups 600 x 800 so I can see more of the borders, and can check my widths, etcetera. Personally, I am considering purchasing a new monitor with a larger resolution to use at work simply because I find that bigger is better.

In addition, I like to use Adobe Illustrator in order to plan my designs, and I like to draw parts of the graphics off of the canvas. This means that I have to be able to see the entire canvas with plenty of area on the side bar - so I get a bird's eye view of what the final design will be like in 1024 x 768.

Of course, it means that I do, in fact, use a window resizer so that I can see what the average user would see. But I find that it benefits my designs in that I can see if there are flaws between different resolutions, and I can see how to make the different aspects of the design work in greater harmony.

Often I am asked why I wanted such a large iMac when I ordered it (I splurged and got a full 24"). Part was vanity, part was because I was using a smaller G4 Macbook and a Gateway laptop and it felt absolutely cramped.

Truth be told, I feel that larger resolutions should be given out everywhere, but I know that a person who just needs to use Word and casually surf the web won't be hurting for a monster resolution like mine, and, well, maybe it is a good thing, otherwise I would have to double my resolution to design for 1920 x 1200, which would be, well.. Very difficult :P