What is Web 2.0?

This is a question you hear very often these days. In fact if you search on Google about this issue, we guarantee that you will be even more confused about it. No one really can define Web 2.0, no one will have a clear, straightforward answer to this question. Yet, when you see a website, you immediately can tell if it’s Web 2.0.

Internet users have lots of possibilities such as blogs, social media websites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. to be active contributors with information in ways that are so easy to do. A couple of years ago, you had to have at least some basic knowledge about HTML, graphics and web servers to put together and publish some information and images on a web site, now it’s so simple that anyone can do it.

Some people say that Web 2.0 is a set of technologies that help users achieve this. We really believe that Web 2.0 is the look and feel that these technologies empower.

We as a web design company will try and scrutinize a few of the design characteristics of Web 2.0 and how they help achieve the user being in power:

Content Management System

Every successful website is built on a Content Management System (CMS). CMS empowers site owners to easily manage their content. They can edit pages, post news about their company, manage products and services, can have a blog and much more. This will encourage users to return for the latest information.

CSS Based Layout

The most important part about Web 2.0 is the semantic markup, or markup that describes the content that it’s applied on. The usually markup languages, HTML and XHTML, are used primarily for display purposes, with tags to which designers can apply styles via CSS. This basically means the separation of content by design – just by changing the mark up you can completely change the design and mix all kinds of different information from different sources together. It allows the information to flow free on different platforms and websites, and even combine different sets of information together.

Simplicity

An Web 2.0 Design is all about simplicity. Is about designing the content in order to look simple, straightforward easy to use. Is about guiding the website visitor directly to the content they are interested in. The more stuff there is, the less likely is for the user to grasp all the necessary information without difficulty.

Template Based Navigation

Navigation should be easily identifiable and selectable on each and every page. Users need to know where they are and where they can go so they won’t feel lost. All the links should be clearly identified.

Bold Colors

Bright, strong colors draw attention. This means it is very helpful to use bold colors to divide the page into clear sections, and to highlight or separate important elements of design. Just do not over do it. If you do not have enough empty space around, usually it doesn’t work.

Textures, Gradients, Reflections, 3D Icons

Because they look cool, all these elements draw attention and enhance the information around them. Most of Web 2.0 web sites will use at least two of these effects.

Big Headings

Making headings bigger makes them more noticeable and separate them from the content without use of extra design elements.