Web 2.0
Minimalism killed the radio star
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 by vStyler | Discussion: Community
So, just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on Web 2.0.. bothering me a bit I guess.. The idea is flatter, softer surfaces, more muted, natural color, plenty of empty space etc, less use of 3d elements, A more minimal look that lends itself to a 'more usable' experience.
I suppose it worries me a little as, as much as I enjoy a minimal look sometimes it definately does not lend itself to creativity and with monitors getting bigger by the week, i see the need for saving screen real estate decreasing also.
Basically I just hope it doesn't have an adverse affect on skinning, after all the reason we do what we do is to create a something different from the norm.
I do plan on doing a Web 2.0 ish theme soon, if for nothing else but to test the waters, but really I'd hate to get pinned down to 3 pixel frames and all the other design choices usually found in themes at sites like customize.org.
Is eye candy dying?
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:42 AM
I like some of the WEB 2.0 sites and things I have seen. I think it's possible to be minimalistic and yet very slick. The best ones really play on your senses, like you can almost 'feel' the coolness or sleekness of them. As much as I like eye candy, I love minimal when it's executed well. I've yet to see that 'minimalist' wb-skin that grabs me. A lot of folks have come close, but I don't know (IMHO) that anyone has completely 'gotten it' yet. Some of the biggest issues I have with the minimal skins is that the author will make the font entirely too small as well as the buttons and other things. As if by making everything small is all it takes.
One thing I would like to see would be an original series of icons for such a theme, including the ones used in the themes. A lot of what I am seeing is flat versions of Microsoft or Mac standard icons and shapes. I think if something could be nailed that could work universally and be understood on sight,,,and was NEW..different..original..it could pull together everything else and bring it home.
I believe if anyone can pull this effect off 'well' in a wb, it would be you. I'm looking forward to see what you come up with.
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:05 AM
Thx Po, actually was thinking about taking my VXP skin and updating it to a more modern 2.0 look.
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 14, 2009 6:55 PM
http://webdesignfromscratch.com/current-style.php#big-text
^ there is a pretty good explanation of it here , under the examples.
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 14, 2009 7:11 PM
Okay, so I looked.
I guess being someone who is not in designing stuff for the web I don't really know the significance of this. When I go to a web page I'm looking for the content that I wanted and I don't pay attention to how the page was set up. What am I missing here?
Who or what is the big driving forces behing Web 2.0?
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Reply #1 Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:16 AM
God I hope not!
I really enjoy the stuff you guys put out that makes looking at this screen so enjoyable. 
Then again....if the screen looked like crap I might actually lose interest and get something done or even go outside...there still is an outside...isn't there? 
Why is it when something works someone has to try and break it? 