Past, Present & Future of Web Design

PAST, PRESENT &FÚTURE of Web Design Web design has been critical in the forging of Internet content. From basic HTML production to cascading style sheets and the more recent emphasis on user experience, web design has shaped how we consume new information. PAST HISTORY OF WEB DESIGN 961 In the Beginning Tim Berners-Lee published the first website in August 1991 - A simple, text-based page with plain left-aligned black text and bright blue links on a white background. Web design as we know it was born in 1993 when early browsers began to display images with text (as opposed to in a separate window). Developing Web Design The World Wide Web Consortium, formed in 1994, established Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) as the standard. W3C 93 By 1996, more websites focused on the following elements: 0, Experimental font and background colors Table-based layouts created additional design options by providing structure and multi-column layouts more complicated than HTML could produce at the time. Table layouts allowed for navigational columns (or rows) to be incorporated with content. Table-based Visually, images and text could be juxtaposed. layouts Adjusting column widths and quantity gave designers the chance to use principles of design, like the rule of thirds. Cascading style sheets (CSS) created better web page structure. CSS provides markup that determines the structure of multiple pages instead of creating new markup for each page. Cascading style sheets (CSS) CSS gave designers more creative control, allowing them to design around the purpose of the site and fine-tune details. Flash-based Flash-based designs came to fruition in the late 1990s. It was more practical than Shockwave and presented more layout and design options beyond HTML. designs Insufficient Rudimentary CSS-based animations were possible for years but it wasn't until the late 2000s, when sufficient browser support was available, that they were really used. browser support Design Details & New Influences The dot-com boom at the turn of the century demanded better web design among competitors: usability, accessibility, layout, color choice, typography etc. became important considerations when designing websites. CSS-based design gained popularity due to its advantages, such as: 00 13. Reduced markup Separated design Improved page response time clutter and cleaner elements from layouts with visual consistency content These influences caused a maturation of design principles: Content is kept minimal, conveying information concisely. Simple designs rely on good use of color palettes, typography, and contrast. Apple.com started a clean web design trend as early as 1999 and has inspired countless websites. PRESENT RECENT TRENDS IN WEB DESIGN R Mobile Devices With the growing number of mobile devices and the growing use of mobile access to the web, web design is no longer limited to desktop or browser compatibility. The iPhone's popularity, sleek design, lack of flash support, and focus on thumb navigation has impacted web design trends. Websites can be seen with overall layouts that look like an app as well as changing the way they use flash, utilizing large buttons instead of text links, using crisp quality images and video, and consistent branding, colors, layout, and typography between the website and official app. In addition to designing with mobile in mind, designers also have to contend with multiple devices (tablets, e-readers, smartphones) and with more than one OS version for each type of device. Responsive Web Design A fluid grid is an adaptive grid layout in which every element is resized proportional to the container within the CSS without further structure or back-end coding needed for each size. Responsive web design takes fluid grids further by utilizing embedded media queries in the CSS that respond based on the media device the user is accessing the website with. The iPad's touchscreen, advanced retina display, and ability to flip between landscape and portrait pushed design to accommodate the user's preferences, switching between devices, and natural hand movements in a way that had never been done before with traditional desktop layouts. Full Screen Apps Hi-res displays meant that designers: Needed to either update, keep multiple sizes of, or only use extremely hi-res raster-based images Use vector-based images which can accommodate any resolution FUTURE HOW NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL ALTER WEB DESIGN Biometric Fingerprints The iPhone 5S has a TouchID system that scans your fingerprint to act as a security measure, instead of a password, to prevent your phone from being unlocked should it be lost or stolen. While there is some concern as to the overall safety of using an individual's fingerprints as a mainstream security measure, many wonder if similar technology may soon change how users access secure websites. Online Banking The top 10 U.S. banks offer their own app designed with features like bill pay, person-to-person payments, and check deposits through mobile phone. More banking sites are using responsive web design to accommodate mobile users who access the main site. Siri, Google Glass, & LeapMotion Users have traditionally accessed the internet through a graphic-user interface (GUI). Applications and devices like Siri (voice), Google Glass (voice/vision), and LeapMotion (gesture) are changing the way we can access the web. As a result, web design will need to accommodate: Google bing YAHOO Requests and searches for information outside of a traditional search engine Gathering specific information rather than visiting an entire website Navigation using more natural language and movement rather than clicking a mouse Welcome! 50% Advertising SALE Some sites are using fewer ads, leaving them out in key places to focus on consumer needs, and requiring ads to blend with the web design. NEW! Traditionally web ads are sold in set sizes and exact positions, but recently ad sizes, placement, and how they are sold is changing with the adoption of responsive web design. E NEW! The complications created with responsive web design and advertising may be the catalyst that initiates an overhaul in the way web content generates revenue altogether. Social Me dia Social media's popularity now requires designers to integrate social media into web design. Share Beyond branding and marketing, social networking sites are excellent sources of successful design and layout that turn potential users into frequent, regular users. CONCLUSION With more than 20 years of history, web design has come a long way from the days of plain white pages and lists of bright blue links. It's already clear developing technology and changing web culture is altering the way web design is approached so only time will tell how future technology will continue to shake up the design world. SOURCES bluehost.com www.alistapart.com | en.wikipedia.org | www.awwwards.com www.w3.org | news.cnet.com | www.cnn.com | boagworld.com sixrevisions.com | www.1stwebdesigner.com | www.thebellabuzz.com | techcrunch.com | uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com developer.mozilla.org | www.leemunroe.com | coding.smashingmagazine.com | thefinancialbrand.com | www.mybanktracker.com www.pbs.org | www.theverge.com | webdesign.tutsplus.com | allthingsd.com | www.businesswire.com --- --