Web 2.0 design is simpler and less cluttered, with a bold logo in the upper left corner, central axis layout, generous white space, and fewer columns. Navigation is well-defined, and design elements like icons and gradients can add interest. Bright buttons should be used sparingly.
Web 2.0 styles share some common characteristics. Overall, the style is simpler and less cluttered than previous website styles. Pages can use eye-catching design elements accented by white space. The web designer strives to best communicate the content of the page and is more likely to design around the content.
A bold and distinctive logo sets the tone for web 2.0 design. Effective logos express the characteristics of organizations and are easily recognizable. In Web 2.0 page design, the logo is usually placed in the upper left corner.
Page layout around a central axis is a primary feature of web 2.0 layout. Centralization can draw the viewer’s attention to the most important content on the page. Vertical scrolling has become more acceptable to users, so the web designer can be less concerned with presenting the content within the users initial screen view.
White or neutral space is another key aspect that defines web 2.0 styles. Generous use of white space refreshes viewers’ eyes and allows important information to stand out. Using larger, bolder text, another 2.0 style, also highlights the information most important to the user.
Strong colors work well against a neutral background and can draw the user’s attention to various content areas. A single color can be used to showcase specific and infrequently used design elements, such as buy buttons. The goal is to use the unique color to encourage the user to take action.
A simpler design, a key tenet in web 2.0 styles, usually results in fewer columns. While four columns may be common in other design patterns, the number of columns is minimized, often to two columns, in web 2.0 styles. One of the columns can be thinner than the other and can be used for navigation. The remaining wider column will display the main content of the page.
This simpler design theme extends to navigation. The header and main navigation on the web page are visually separated and well defined. With this simpler navigation, users can easily understand where they are on the site and their navigation options.
While web 2.0 style guides suggest that the look should be simple and uncluttered, the design could still be rich and interesting. Some charming and effective icons can adorn web 2.0 pages. Design elements, like buttons and logos, can use reflection to add depth and interest. Gradients, where an element or space gradually changes from one color to another, also add interest and can emphasize certain areas of the page.
Another technique for Web 2.0 design styles is bright boot and can be used to present specific content. These should be used infrequently or they will become ineffective and make the page look cluttered. Typically only one per page should be used.
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