The world wide web didn't always have such
clear industry standards when it comes to web design and user experience. There was
a time when the internet was young, a fertile patch of soil ready to be shaped by the nerdy
architects of a new generation, and websites at the time often reflected that. Back in
the good ol’ days, many web developers (amateur and not) experimented with different approches
to design, aesthetics and functionality to varying degrees of sucsess. The very first
websites were rather simple and revolved mostly around text, hyperlinks and still images.
In the mid to late 90s things like search bars and animated GIFs became commonplace.
In the 2000s websites often stressed both design and functionality, not only sporting
unique, attention-grabbing styles – but often also allowing users to customize their
experience and express themselves in intricate ways, in a sort of expressionist approach
towards web design.
Earlier myspace was a prime example of that, giving users near full
control over their profiles with the option to customize their pages using scripts, HTML
and much more. Some websites focused on exploring new ways to create specialized, usually anonymous
communities that would thrive and serve as bastions of cyberspace & internet culture.
Then came the new social media sites and web design standards, and made all of that seem
obsolete with shiny, minimalist, often more mobile-friendly web design which prioritized
accessibility, uniformity and ease of use as opposed to the more uh… you know… Approach. In addition these web services
were usually less anonymous and more eager to collect a whole lotta data from users,
further blurring the already hazy lines between the internet and real life. This approach
steadily became the standard across the entire web, way beyond just social media.
Web design
in the 2010's was defined by this clear-cut corporate aesthetic and emphasis on broad
appeal and minimalism. Things haven't really changed all that much since the early 2010s,
and the minimalist approach to web design continues to prevail, only further coating
the internet with plain colors, gloss and this f—–g art style for some reason . However,
in recent years nostalgia for the old internet began to pop-up, with zoomers on the front
lines of a a currently-brewing revival movement for the aesthetics, user experience and culture
of the old web with modern conveniences – like a neoclassical movement of sorts for cyberspace.
But that is a topic for another day. I am Eden Suki, and this was Internet Culture Quicky..