What is Web 2.0? Depending on whom you ask, you will rarely get the same answer twice; however, the singular concept would be that it is trends based. For the purpose of this article, we are going to cover the topic of Web 2.0 in the world of web design. What does Web 2.0 look, act, and smell like? Well, I can answer 2 of those 3. Web 2.0 is fun to hang around with, and smells great. Just kidding…
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Actually Web 2.0 has a broad range of styles and textures, that when combined form that “Web 2.0 look”. Although the actual functionality (i.e. implementation of RSS Feeds and Ajax in a site) has played a major role in this popular trend of sites, the distinct look can be mostly summed up into these distinct categories; mirror reflections, glossy highlights and glassy buttons, gradients, shadows, contrasting colors and values (i.e. black background with bright colors to accent it).
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The Web 2.0 “style” can be applied to logos, buttons, text, and even layouts. Some great examples of Web 2.0 logo designs can be viewed here. Although individual components can be visually complex, the overall look and feel is typically a minimalistic one. Some great examples of the usage of Web 2.0 in design can be found here; Apple, Microsoft, Carbonmade, and Solace Insurance.
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In closing, there are many convincing reasons why companies are designing/ redesigning with this trend in mind. Most notably would be the continual increase in popularity from social networking sites like Twitter, Myspace, Flickr, Digg, and Facebook. These sites leverage the new web technologies along with the design that is influencing how many users view and use the internet. Furthermore, this style of design can act as a signpost that signifies a company’s commitment to evolve with the Web.