The Misconception of Web 2.0 Design Styles

I just finished reading the article; How Web 2.0 Style designs disturb me. The article by Onur Oztaskiran gave me this inspiration to write a continuity to it because I once shared his same feelings. The disturbance felt by a designer that websites are beginning to look generally similar.

Basically, Web 2.0 design style derives from the elements of gradients, striped backgrounds or headers, rounded corners and glassy (glossy) objects. Today, Web 2.0 websites are built around these elements over and over and over again. Each new design crafted will have one or all of it. However, there’s a misconception towards this standard design style.

Alike what Onur said, “…when we do design, it has purposes”.

This emphasis made my earlier realization more believable. I realized albeit the standard look of websites or blogs, it is working for all of them because they function. They accomplish the main website goal or aim at the time a user stumbles or visits their website.

One of the improvements that came with Web 2.0 is the ability to locate the information more efficiently. No more need to go through every single webpage like a new user but able to browse the website on their own like they’ve been using the Internet for 20 years although learning it 7 days ago.

Nonetheless, what I personally have felt and am still feeling is the lack of concept in website design now. The concept of taking the apple and having to present it as an orange. With Web 2.0, it’s now about taking the apple and turning into a bigger apple.

In summary, Web 2.0 websites is now about:

• Less thinking
• Less pondering
• Quick interaction
• Quick results
• Overall efficiency

At least that’s in my eyes. What about you as a designer or user?

[tags]Web 2.0, Web design, Malaysia, Design style[/tags]

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