Creating a Web 2.0 Design
As you may have been reading in a few of my recent posts I am working on creating a blog network and I am starting out with developing a design that I can apply to multiple blogs easily using CSS and wordpress. I have developed several blog looks and those keep evolving as my design skills evolve and I learn more about what attracts and keeps a visitor.
With my blog network design I am spending a little more time on the design, looking at all the current network layouts (why reinvent the wheel) and also looking into sites that I like to visit and think have a nice layout with a little flare. Searching around has brought up the question, “Do I go simple, or simple and Web 2.0ey?
What is Web 2.0? Well basically it has come to mean white space, bubble letters, bubble icons, and a few vibrant colors. Coincidentally JC over at jcCommerce recently posted an article about Web 2.0 that had quite a few useful points and links. I guess I would call it more of a rant than an article but he basically ranted about Web 2.0 and how some feel just making their site look good or “joining the fad” will make it popular. He voices his opinion that a user should be more concerned with content at first and less with design.
Well, I see his displeasure with people joining the fad, and I also agree with him that for a site to be good you need to have quality content that contributes something to people. Just look at how simple Steve Pavlina’s site is and he gets a lot of traffic and repeat visitors. However, I like the way “Web 2.0″ sites look and I find the rounded corners, color patterns, big print and faded backgrounds enjoyable to look at and usually keep me on a page.
Since posting that article and since I began writing this JC has actually made his page a little more web 2.0ey and the color scheme is pretty nice, check it out. The reason for mentioning his post was that he found some interesting sites that I think would help anyone looking into web design and creating a more in the now web page.
One of the best sites he linked to deals with a basic description of Web 2.0 called Web Design From Scratch. It has tons of great resources about what exactly Web 2.0 is and examples of interesting Web 2.0 Sites such as 9 rules (evolotion of their design), mozilla, and iomega, among others. I think also they could have added technorati since that’s one bloggers are most familiar with but you’ll get the idea. There are also links to other example sites at the bottom of that page of which I found Web Creme to give a lot of good 2.0 Designs.
There are tons of great site designs out there and a few decent explanations of designs as well. I am working hard to come up with a great design and will be sharing my search, design, testing, and publishing experience with Web 2.0 as I go along. The links above should get you started and on your way.