Click the W to go back to the Dashboard and create a new website!
So you’re new to Webflow, eh? Let’s dive in.

Visual Web Design Guide

This visual guide will walk you through important responsive web design concepts and how to implement them visually inside Webflow. 

#2 LAYOUT ELEMENTS

Basic layout elements

Add elements to your website by clicking on the [ + ] icon in the upper left hand corner. Below are some of the most basic structure elements in web design - sections, containers and columns. 

A Section takes up 100% of the width of the browser window if you add it to the Body (the canvas of a website).
It’s great for the big horizontal sections of a website.

Section Element

A Container is a 960px block centered in the middle of the browser. Usually most website content is added inside of a Container so that it’s centered. Containers are usually added to the Body or a Section element.

Container Element

Adding Columns are the fastest way to build a unique website layout. To edit how many columns you want in different devices, just click on the Gear Icon in the top right corner to access element settings.

Responsive Columns
#6 media queries

Designing for different devices

In Webflow you first design your website for desktop devices and then make changes on mobile devices (access the Device icons in the top bar). Adding styles in a mobile device will override the desktop styles. 

Responsive Heading example

This is some heading text that gets smaller in mobile devices.

Description: This heading is really big on the desktop, but we want it to be smaller on mobile devices. Click in the devices in the top bar to see that the text size and line height was decreased.
Fix It yourself

Make this big heading text get smaller in mobile devices.

Responsive Button example
Button Text
Description: This button is meant to be small on Desktop screens because it’s easy to click with the mouse cursor. We made it bigger on mobile devices so that it’s easier to tap with the finger
Button Text
Fix It yourself
TIP: Go to the Tablet device and increase the padding of the button. When you do that it will override the previous styles set on Desktop and will cascade down to all the devices below Tablet. 
Responsive Columns example

Column 1

This is some text inside of a div block.

Column 2

This is some text inside of a div block.

Column 3

This is some text inside of a div block.
Description: The Columns Element in Webflow can be customized for each device. By default columns stack next to each other on Desktop and stack on top of each other on mobile devices. 

Column 1

This is some text inside of a div block.

Column 2

This is some text inside of a div block.

Column 3

This is some text inside of a div block.
Fix It yourself
TIP: Select a Column or Row element above (you can also use the Breadcrumb bar at the bottom or the Navigator panel on the right to find it), go to the element settings (Gear icon in the top right corner) and make sure the columns stack on mobile devices.
#7 Resources

Need more help?

You got it! There are tons of people learning Webflow and web design every day. A great place to start is the video tutorials. Then head on over to the support center or community forum. 

(You can click on the links above by going into Preview Mode – the eye icon in the top left corner)