Web 2.0 is generally referred to as a way of doing something on the internet or a particular style. Many people see it as a resurgence in the web economy. From a style point of view web 2.0 attributes are:
- Clean
- Mininalistic
- Bright
- Simple (Simplicity is key)
Web 2.0 is about the style and workings of a website. When HTML was created there were many ways of doing various things, now it has been simplified over the years. Simplicity is the most important thing when your creating a new site with a “2.0 Mind”. Graphics for web 2.0 websites are either seen to be “shiny” or clean. Below is an example of generally recognised Web 2.0 text.
Also another effect that is seen as a Web 2.0 effect is the reflection of images, you can do this in Fireworks, Photoshop and many other image editing programs. If your looking for a place to start with creating reflections, Initially it is only an upside down image then it is faded into the background. To add other effects please Google it. Below is an example of a reflected image.
Many Web 2.0 sites centre the design on your screen. Although as Web 2.0 has developed with the introduction of many new web technologies it has changed. For example if you were to build a site using flash or silverlight you have the opportunity to utilize the whole screen, shown in studies many people like this more than having their content in one place. DPOV ( That means it is going to be so much more difficult for positioning web objects on a web page) in stead of using “px” for size values it would be easier if you were to utilize the use of “%”.
Layout
Layout is another very important thing about Web 2.0, if not this is the most important thing.
Some do’s:
- Distinct Top Section
- Simple Navigation
- Solid Areas Of Content
- Bold Logo
- Bold/Larger Text Headings
- Strong Colours
- Rich Surfaces (SHINY!)
- Gradients
- Inspiring Icons
Click here to see a complete guide to creating a Web 2.0 Website.
Nice little introduction to 2.0, from a style aspect it’s slightly correct, if we were to put stereotypes onto how websites should look.
Web 2.0 is more technologies than style, for instance, You could skin a website many ways but still have an Ajax Popup showing information about a link when hovered. This could be on a super-shiny website, and it could be on a simple un-styled website.
I think the term “Web 2.0″ is beginning to become mis-interpreted on the internet, it’s beginning to be associated with, as your article states, Clean, minimalistic, Bright designs; when the term actually refers to Dynamic content.
Dynamic content being ofcourse, content users can interact with, whether its, using my example above, more information about a link-on hover, or a Wordpress Blog allowing users to post comments. It’s all dynamic, it’s all done in php/aspx/actionscript/silverlight etc.
Anyway, to simplify things further and repeat the point I’ve mentioned in every sentence (ittirating for rememberability, always works).
Web 2.0 is Dynamic Content.
(Web 1.0 is Static Content)