The evolution of web design has quickly blossomed from bright graphics to interactive infographics. It was only 23 years ago when the first website was published. Since then, the Internet has seen a spectrum of design trends. The early 90s look can be seen in a website that hopefully inspires a bit of nostalgia. Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show" launched a website that embodied all that the Internet could offer at the time, but that was the problem. The design trend for web layouts in the early stages of the Internet was a messy collage of photos and tacky animations. Specifically, this website had a dancing banner and the background sported a cluttered wall-paper design of photos.
Myspace, a major social networking site in 2003, was a great website for blogging, music and photo sharing, and messaging. Users were able to customize their pages, which truly showcased the current themes and styles of that time. The backgrounds were still over patterned and glitter font was a ‘thing.’
Of course, the trends between the MySpace period and today have blended and improved aesthetically. When looked at side-by-side, the change 20 years can make is incredible. We have leaned toward a more minimal and clean style of design. Websites today utilize icons to eliminate a collage style on their pages.
But of course, just like how those websites were the prime of their time, this trend may fade eventually and will be mocked by future web designers.
For now, we can only hope web trends don’t follow fashion trends because there are a few design styles that should not come back in style.
No Word Art
No Blinking Animations
No More Comic Sans
