Web 2.0 is the buzzword in recent times. A new trend of the World Wide Web, “Web 2.0” presents a developed and more advanced form of web technology. Eye-catching, simple, bright and usable designs that delight the human eye are the benchmarks of Web 2.0 designing. It uses so-called "Web 1.0" technologies and concepts in an more progressive form.
The new innovation has prompted the growth of the web world. It offers a new dimension in the overall structure of the
website design and processing by presenting the web-as-participation-platform.
Web Design
Certain guiding principles of Web 2.0
- Simple designs: Complex designs are beautiful but than they strain the eye sight of the visitors. Simple designs are clear and easily comprehensible to the web users.It is both rich and economical.
- Use central layout: Web pages with central layout offer a bold and honest look. Central positioning of the body content in a web page gives messages efffetively.
- Easy navigation: Navigation must be easily differentiated from non- navigation areas. The inline hyperlinks must be differenciated from the body text by using color, tone and shape. Horizontal navigation is the most recommended style.
- Choose of fewer columns Use few columns in a web page. Too many columns often give a clumsy look. It is advisable to use less columns and present information effectively.
- Use of distinct top sections: It is recommendable to separate the top sections from the rest of the body text. Make clear distinctions between the top of the screen i.e, main branding area, main navigation from the main body content.
- Usage of bold logos: Logo of a company speaks all about it. Bold logos are very much visually appealing and establish the brand image of the company. It is highly distinct and recognizable.
Logo Design
- Employ bold text: Bold introductions have huge visual impact. Highlight the message effectively with the use of bold text in the heading while building a web design. Again,important information and elements within the main body can be easily highlighted with the help of bold text.
- Use of strong colors: Bright colors are also very much attractive to human vision. Use strong colors to highlight important things within the text as well as dividing the page.
- Usage of gradients: Flat color or tone can be made smooth with the help of gradients. Usually used at the top of a web page to denote the boundary area. It is employed to create mood by changing the tone of the color and create illusion.
- Icons: Icon is easily recognizable. Icons with clear and wide meaning exercises a great influnence in the visitors mind.
- Use of space in web design: Strong colors are none the less attractive but often drive the visitors attention from relevant information. It is recommendable to use space so that the user can easily read through the details effectively.
- Section for user contribution: Web 2.0 offers a new platform of active participation of the user on the basis of the soap standard theory which emphasizes a two-way communication. Social networking sites, blogs are instances of this new version.Use of Web 2.0 technology has created a boom in the web market.
- Industries are able to learn about the customers needs, benefits and thereby make huge profit in business.
- Fresh contents invite more traffic.
- Inputs from web users give additional value to the existing data.
- Close interaction.
- Use of bookmark: Complex designs are beautiful but than they strain the eye sight of the visitors. Simple designs are clear and easily comprehensible to the web users.It is both rich and economical.
Bookmarks
- Employ round corner features: Round corners features is also used immensely these days. Content boxes or buttons in a web page are shaped in round cormers.
- Use light box: It important to use light boxes in a web page whenever necessary. It is used in large version of an image, warning message, large map etc.
- Syndication: Syndication icons are used to offer easy accessibility to the viewers. Use RSS to syndicate a web site.
RSS Feed
- Ajax language preferable: Web 2.0 design is generally based on Ajax language. This programming language makes a website fast and attractive.
- Use of rich realistic effects: Realistic surface effects like drop-shadows, gradients and reflections create illusion of the real. Reflection on the images has gained popularity in the recent times. Reflection is possible through light reflecting on shiny surface i.e, shiny table effect It is observed that most of the Web 2.0 websites have 3D effect. Shadow effects on logos give rise to mirror image at times.
There seems to be no end to clearly define the new trend of the web, a medium witnessing metamorphosis every second. Web 2.0 uses audiovisual formats such as the You tube.com, which is highly interactive. Sometimes, star flashes are also used in order to draw the visitors attention to important message.Web 2.0 is a big thing today, a ground of active particaipation which has generated a new society people who are more in closer terms with one another.
