Web 2.0 design secrets
The common use of visual design elements, have some way or another created a new wave in web design that many of us would refer to as a “web 2.0 design“. It just so happened that by the time web 2.0 was happening, this new trend in web design was leaving its mark on the web. The main features of a “web 2.0 design” are development with web standards, particularly CSS and XHTML, as well as dynamic content and participation of the end-users. But, what about the design, the visual part of it?
Most web 2.0 websites or online applications do share some visual characteristics that make their interface more user-friendly compared to the web 1.0 websites.
So what are the secrets of a web 2.0 design?
A clean and simple layout that focuses mostly on the content design other than the whole page environment in itself,
Bigger fonts on text,
White space, allows for easier read of the content
Use of illustrations, either in logos or in icons
3D effects on buttons and badges
Neutral background colours
If there’s any other web 2.0 feature that you know of, please do share it with us.
Any great web 2.0 designs are more than welcome for listing!
April 7th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today on Web 2.0 design secretsHere’s a quick excerptThe common use of visual design elements, have some way or another created a new wave in web design that many of us would refer to as a “web 2.0 design“. It just so happened that by the time web 2.0 was happening, this new trend in web … [...]
April 7th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Cool ideas
April 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
i like it the icons, and i used it
April 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Great job capturing the design aspects of a Web 2.0 website. Your attention to layout and typography is spot on. Don’t forget 2.0 websites also have a more interactive aspect to them as well - usually in the form of tools, programs, etc. that can be used directly while on the 2.0 website.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
It drives me nuts that there is a concept of “web 2.0 design”
Of course, the problem lies with the term “web 2.0″ itself and how loosely people define and/or understand it.
My understanding of “web 2.0″ (aside from just being an empty marketing buzz word) has everything to do with functionality and interaction (especially user generated content) and nothing to do with aesthetics whatsoever.
From the wikipedia “web 2.0″ entry:
‘…It is a common misconception that “Web 2.0″ refers to various visual design elements such as rounded corners or drop shadows. While such design elements have commonly been found on popular Web 2.0 sites, the truth is that the association is merely one of fashion, a designer preference which became popular around the same time that “Web 2.0″ became a buzz word…’
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
(see also: http://www.slideshare.net/elliotjaystocks/fowd-november-2007 and start at slide #69)
Visual design trends ebb and flow. So the aesthetic design trends that happened to be prevailing at the same time the term “web 2.0″ emerged were associated with with web 2.0 by default.
I appreciate that you did in fact make that distinction: “…It just so happened that by the time web 2.0 was happening, this new trend in web design was leaving its mark on the web…”
Some have argued that sites like Amazon, Ebay, and Craigslist have been “web 2.0″ since before “web 2.0″ (based on the criteria of user generated content especially) - yet, these sites historically weren’t visually designed very well (well, many say Craigslist wasn’t/isn’t designed well, but I think it is designed extremely well… but that’s a whole other flamewar… er.. topic)
Anyway, in much the same way that one would “suspend disbelief” in order to enjoy a far-fetched science fiction movie, I have come to accept the common misconception that “web 2.0″ has any visual design connotations at least enough to understand what someone is trying to communicate when they mention “web 2.0 design”
@Vicky - I’ll get off my high horse now and take a moment to compliment you on your nicely designed and interesting blog. cheers!
April 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
[...] Reader szerint. És ha már ennyire belebonyolódtam a grafikába, akkor egy lista is jöjjön a Web 2.0 dizájn titkairól. Végül pedig a Smashing Magazine 60 darabos válogatása tényleg nagyon szép [...]
April 14th, 2008 at 1:19 am
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April 14th, 2008 at 11:55 am
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April 15th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
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April 16th, 2008 at 10:58 am
***** web 2.0… moving on.. web infinity !!!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
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