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Modern and Classic Web Design Studies

Original: 01 Sep 2022 23:57 / Repost: 06 Sep 2022 16:06

To start off this discussion, I do not intend to challenge anyone's perspective on modern web design. I made this because I wanted to say something someone would probably listen to :p. But, I have also made this for general awareness. Most of my audience are teenagers (like me!) and haven't really seen many websites with classic web design. Hopefully, this is very thorough with its information.

Now, as you see above, I have posted eight images of websites. Four from the "Classic" Era and four from the "Modern" Era. The Classic Era images are what would be Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. I have picked the DeviantART website from 2003, GBAtemp.net from 2005, the Conspiracy Games website from 2002 and the Nintendo website from 2001.

For the Modern Era, I picked Twitter, Google, Modern GBATemp.net and Facebook. These websites are modern Web 2.0. Obviously, since these websites are about two decades apart, the design themes have changed. But, there are three major choices that make these websites completely different:

  • Depth
  • Colour
  • Readability

In my honest opinion, I find the Classic Era designs a bit clunky, but very stylistic. Meanwhile, Modern Era designs lack depth and colour, but make up with readability. However, these JavaScript heavy designs stand out the least. And my question is, why? With HTML5, CSS3 and a multitude of server-side scripting languages, we should be able to do much better than before. Yet, they choose sterile, blank conforming designs. Is is reflective of how we feel nowadays? And who do I mean by they? Why I'm talking about the tech giants of course! The indie web is a perfect example of modern use of Classic Era web design and what it still means.

Swifty's HQ homepage, c. 2022 https://swiftyshq.neocities.org/

SADGRL.ONLINE homepage, c. 2022 https://sadgrl.online/

I truly and wholeheartedly believe the indie web is not letting this design language die out. Mostly because the indie web is built on nostalgia, but also a form of combat. The fight against conformity and centralisation. The personalised websites built on freedom and community, proudly wave their retro designs.

But that's just my silly little opinion on this. Thank you for reading this.

Anyway things you can do: