Comments on: Rant: Web 2.0 Look? Lets Talk About “Good Design”

By: Martin Ringlein

Martin Ringlein — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:18:05 +0000

I actually really had a bit of a fit when I heard EJS’s presentation at FOWD — I don’t believe that design trends should be stopped, just controlled. The one thing that bothers me is that so many designers are unable to take themselves outside the context of who they are. All real designers aim to break trends and be truly unique, in all industries. But that doesn’t mean because the gradient has become overly popular that all designers should be ashamed for using them.

To me, there is a web 2.0 design style — it is one that popped up right around the recovery is the dot bomb. Many of the styles used really didn’t define “web 2.0″ — it more defined the difference between web design artists and web designers (the distinction between true artists and people who know how to use Photoshop). Many of the stereo-typical elements like gradients, reflections and rounded corners are all things that Photoshop started to allow to you to do with little effort. Where as now.

By: n!ck

n!ck — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:04:38 +0000

This is a great article and agree 100%!

It reminds me of how incorporating trends should be avoided when designing logos. As web designers or web design artists (I’m slightly confused about that point in Martin’s comment), we’re often are tasked to create logos. Making something that looks great now might not look great 15… or even worse in 2-3 years.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:03:18 +0000

Sam, very well said! I definitely agree with Martin’s twitter post that we’re at the end of an era where the gloss & sheen aesthetic is concerned, but I think the point which you crystallized here is let’s not rush out and find the next big thing. That behavior is destructive of any creative industry (think emo music, ‘reality’ tv, ‘teen comedy’ movies) and is detrimental to the overall signal:noise ratio. Sure, we all ‘gots to get paid‘ on occasion, but for 2008 let’s all resolve to keep it the exception, and not the rule. That means you, MTV ;)

By: Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 03:13:15 +0000

This was a great read, Samantha! Thank you–always enjoy your stuff!

By: Samantha

Samantha — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:52:01 +0000

@Martin Ringlein I am with N!ck on your comment about Web Designers versus Web design artists. I do agree with you that there is a style, but perhaps that style is just nicer design. Along with photoshop making it easier to do reflections and rounded corners it has made it easier to do lots of different looks and feels. I think sometimes clean, simplified, good design is just confused with the term “web 2.0″. Perhaps it is because the time period after the dot bomb gave rise to designing with standards which in term really liberated many talented designers to get more creative with their layouts, find the web more inviting, and just practice good design more often. Thanks for your comment, i really appreciate your enthusiasm on this subject!

@n!ck I totally feel yeah on your logos comment. Great point. Just like a classic simple logo can withstand the test of time a good website can do the same. If the site is functional and usable the user will continue to come back.