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2.0Culture - How to design Web 2.0 look-a-like websites

vipedio.com — A comprehensive summary of design issues on Web 2.0 web design. This one is focusing on a design related point of view instead of the usual Ajax / Web2.0 API approach. Basic, yet highly interesting facts on why those websites look as cool as they do - while still being dead simple web design.

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  • mittermayr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Now updated, so that it actually implements the guidelines itself.
  • bartoncls, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Great article! This totally describes what's going on at this moment.
  • HoagieKat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Soon all websites will look the same... Be different... look the same...
  • hanshasuro, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Should we be insulted that Digg didn't make the list at any point?
  • rodball, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1He's saying what we're all thinking.

    Some of these pastels, though... (Skype for example) ...just too much! However, I'm glad to see minimalism in websites become "cool" again. I think it has a lot to do with 1) the Google approach and 2) focusing on the code behind the site.
  • bipto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Excellent summary of the current trends. Dugg!
  • wbrendel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think the "Web 2.0 Look" is a fad that won't last beyond the end of this year. As previous posters said, at some point all the sites will look the same, with rounded corners, gradients, ultra-clean minimalist designs, etc. I still dugg this story though, because it does a good job covering the basic Web 2.0 look.
  • master_of_fm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3is it me or all these "2.0" references starting to get really annoying. what next Pants 2.0? How about Couch 2.0, or even better Sidewalks 2.0?
  • Paul, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Dig Dig Dig!!!

    I've been trying to describe this to my local designer friends and they don't seem to get it.

    They've looked at my work and called it "Kindergarteny."

    No dorks large Ariel and gentle gradients are the bomb!

    Hopefully they'll read this tut.
  • LJWhorfin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0first thing i had to do when i visited that articles site/page is decrease my font size 2 times..
  • isdereks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i liked the writeup. Great overall summary of current web design trends. Simple sites are good sites.
  • CaughtThinking, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1LOL. Web 2.0 design is the equivalent of being the bellbottoms of design schools. Enjoy the 5 minutes every 20 years.

    I can't believe anyone would want to look like this...
  • crpietschmann, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It doesn't even link to Digg?
  • igloo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, sites featuing large black type on a white background with 1px borders around everything. This is just what the internet needs more of.

    Is it just me, or does anyone else think the web used to look a whole lot better before the whole 2.0Revolution? You know, before everyone demonised table-based layout while gleefully writing css that they'd have to hack up so bad it'd a) ***** up the markup more than tables would have anyway, b) pass as presentable on the browser used by 90% of the world, written by people who have no interest at all in complying with the "standards" and c) still not be able to do basic stuff like vertically centering content without ***** up?

    Maybe it's just me.
  • cosmo7, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0This is retarded. Web 2.0 is all about rethinking the way that users interact with a site, not a bunch of design cues. It's like someone thinking that the main distinction of a Ferrari is the red paint.
  • zschendi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0LOL, great.
  • weareglass, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good idea, poor execution.

    Well done analyzing some of the trends, but spare us the reasons why we should round our corners. Obviously most of these trends are simply in place because they are reactions to the previous trends, which in turn were a reaction to previous trends which were etc. It has nothing to do with soft shapes being more psychologically pleasing.

    The danger in mimicking a style as a designer is getting lost in the pack and looking overly dated when the style falls out. A good design takes a few cues from current trends but throws a curveball in some other areas. Please don't encourage people to make cookie cutter designs, it'll burn out this trend faster than you can click publish.
  • Panagiotis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There may be a design-trend that combines some of the features mentioned in the article, yet I don't see a solid connection between this design "style" and the so called Web 2.0 sites. Changes in what people consider "trendy" web pages is not something new.

    I think the writter misses the (maybe more subtle) fact that most sites of this kind do use larger type because they're designed in a CSS content-presentation-seperation fashion, resulting in clean design overall, and much better usage of the screen real estate.

    Designing well is something quite subtle; either you can do it, or you can't. There's no 101 nor a simple checklist of simple things to do. Let the average blogger think he's trendy if he does 5 specific things, and there it is: a blog-o-sphere of uninteresting content, wrapped in a boring environment.

    I think the term "Web 2.0" has already been abused. Please, let's not abuse the process of design as well. Let the designers do their job (and design); and the bloggers do what they know (write).
  • EpicSA, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I funny it hilarious that none of you picked up the obvious mocking tone of this article.
  • arnchalooo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Rules?
  • Sirocco, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1***** you 2.0
  • heinous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Some of the examples are really horrible looking. Consider the legibility of the title bar at http://instantdomainsearch.com for example. Ugh. I think this "design trend" is more of a revelation that back-end developer people are moving in on designer's turf than it is a conceptually sound new movement. If you want to see some solid design, check out http://www.csszengarden.com
  • Panagiotis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Dear epicsa,

    if this article was indeed written in a humorous fashion and most people don't get it, then yes, it does harm the internet community and that's why we should make it clear in the comments: kids, don't try this at blog - err, home!
  • HoagieKat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I understood it's mocking tone, the problem is when people believe a Web 2.0 enabled site should look like a web 2.0 site, you'll end up with a lot of sites that all look the same (or pretty similar!). I like the 2.0 look, but Web 2.0 is more about how sites interact with the users to create a more intelligent user experience, it's not the look of a site. So, what's coming in Web 2.5 ? ;-)
  • Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Screw this, I'm waiting for Web 3.0

    (I've been using rounded corners and Arial font since the 90s and no one called my sites Web 2.0.......)
  • Prez, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0ahahahaha Web 2.0.. let me go grab my Emo wig, makeup, Thrice CD, razor blade, box of tissues, ipod, and meet you in 5 minutes for the Web 2.0 design meeting for myspace users.

    Those designs ARE "kindergardeny". Anyone with design talent won't produce crap like that. Web 2.0 is for tredny bitches who can't design and need an excuse / trendy name for their ***** work.
  • spadin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think this is great. I was beginning to think I was the only person noticing this trend. Also to the person that thinks this is a fad, the great thing about this type of design is that it's so flexible. Since everything is usually just simple paragraphs, headings, lists, etc.. All you have to do to change the entire look is just switch out the CSS file. This is in fact more versatile than using tables for complex images.
  • digitz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Like epicsa said, this is a joke (or I sure hope it is a joke)
    there is no such thing as a web2.0 design. Just a design-hype-of-the-moment.
    "web 2.0 uses rounded corners" mmmm I used rounded corners years ago. I did not know I was a web2.0 prophet in those day's. Well, I'm cool after all...

    Digg, it is just a funny article

    ps: Ay lofe te spel shekker :)
  • munkt0n, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0woohoo! I got full house...

    http://web2.0bingo.com/

    I'll be glad when all this 2.0 crap dissapears up its own arse.
  • spadin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh and I agree http://www.csszengarden.com/ is one of the best websites to get inspiration from.
  • herrin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0sarcasm rules.
  • spadin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh and Ruby on Rails is not a Web 2.0 fad. You'd be surprised by it if you actually looked into it.
  • gbrad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0SilverOrange!? They've been openly hostile to "Web 2.0" talk. The started http://www.webtwenny.com/ as a parody of all the hype. No digg.
  • EpicSA, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Spadin,

    Rudy on Rails is actually a very good language and very easy to use. It improves productivity 10x in some cases. It has just picked up this web 2.0 stigma but that will eventually go away.
  • jiminoc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think its an evolution of how people use the web. Have you tried surfing a website with a crowded layout with someone who isn't so tech savvy? You're like "there there, click over there" and they have no idea how to find anything? Simple.. KISS, its an evolution in usability, not a revolution.
  • BGFeltenink, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Um, none of you seem to know what Web 2.0 is...

    http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

    READ this. The above will tell you what Web 2.0 is, everyone involved or with knowledge of the subject is getting sick of it being called a fad and being used as some catchall buzzword by ignorant ***** that don't know where they put their balls this morning. (I'm looking at you, news outlets)
  • ,,|,_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Taking usabilitydesign recommendations from this site is like taking driving lessons from Stevie Wonder.
  • osbjmg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Kinda funny, but I still don't buy into the web2.0 tagline.
  • uplink, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Hehehe. I have been rather unimpressed with the way that all of these "creative, ground-breaking" Web 2.0 sites look nearly 95% the same as each other. Could they not get creative with their design as well?
  • sfslim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Hi-larious. Manages to be accurate and insightful, while also taking the piss. Exactly the summary Web 2.0 "culture" deserved. Go ahead, give it a read, laugh out loud at all the trendy dopes slavishly aping the new rules of style (and then privately ape them yourself). It's Ironicatutional!
  • akinder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've already invented Web 4.0, you guys are two revisions behind
  • SpaceCat85, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Digg, because despite the obvious humourous tone it actually gives some sensible rules for creating clean pages with a simple color scheme and readable text. This is one "fad" that I hope doesn't go away anytime soon.
  • bipto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Sarcasm or not, it's still a great summary...
  • Coreguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0dugg

    I think it's a good reference.
  • mike_p, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh would you haters stop whining about the "Web 2.0" phrase... You sound like children whining about not getting McDonald's. Get over it already. I'd rather call it Web 2.0 than "next-generation web development" or any other phrase not involving revision numbers.

    I didn't know people could dislike a phrase so much. It's not annoying like "Did I do that?" (Steve Urkle) or "You're in big trouble, mister!" (Olsen twins)... ugh, TGIF memories =/
  • anagoge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Who wants to follow when you can lead?

    Don't make the Internet full of white, gradiented, Arial websites. There's so much more creativitiy to be had while keeping all of your lovely web 2.0 crap in it too.
  • nlogax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Arial? I think Lucida Grande (Lucida Sans Unicode for windows people), Helvetica (like here on digg), Verdana, and even Trebuchet MS are far more popular with these sites.
  • Paul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The reason why I like this kinda design is because it was a creative (at least for a few months) way to build minimalistic front ends for web applications.

    I absolutely cannot stand FLASH
    I absolutely cannot stand TABLES
    I absolutely cannot stand CSS 3+ column layouts with crowed disorganized links and adds down both sides!

    That only leaves "2.0 Culture" for me to surf...

    Do I like pastels? No.
    Do I need rounded corners? Not really.
    Do I like simple clean recallable interfaces? Absolutely!
  • crappo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If people think that good web design is this easy, I guess I don't have to worry about losing my job.
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