A rather mystique phrase is used over the internet world for the last few years. Web 2.0 – the cure for all diseases?? Could be. Lets have a critical look on it before following the mass… and this is meant in the true sense.. In my opinion it is more the design, the fonts, the visual which developed in the so called Web 2.0 website.
Roots in African Masks How african masks are related with this question? Lets have a short look back to history of art. No, not the history of the internet, but the development of design. We had a comparable change in the art of design a bit more than hundred years ago, when “modern art” started to develop. Up to the end of 19th century, traditional art was “boring”. A big development took place when a new simplicity of design, created based on african masks and african figures, became famous in Europe. Indeed the old african tribes had carved their african masks in a puristic, simple and valuable style, that even nowadays you can put african masks on top of any book. What is their secret?? It is the abstract form of the african masks, with items like mouth “unusual” in size, the natural color worn by many years of use, and the clean carving really resembling to the pictures of modern internet designers.
So lets focus on the first important conclusion: it is simplicity, which is a key factor. And it might well be, that this is the most important factor. Puristic construction, simple fonts.If you add some great colours you are nearly done.
But let us watch at some typical examples of Web 2.0 design. One nice example is a website about fonts. Yes, one of these graveyards with thousands of fonts – or not? Well, have a look yourself to a font site a great experience. A attractive example for such a uptodate design site with fonts depicts the combination of a simple but unsual design, strong colours, great visuals … and the best fonts you may find.
Another fine example is a health site about hair loss. Health sites tend to be clean white, boring one could say. This site about hair loss is looking different. But who blames? Web 2.0 gives you the possibilities to show it the way you prefer – whether its about fonts or hair loss. Its true – one can not use only photos for such a serious item, but even a hair loss site can start with something astounding.
Both sites – the site with fonts and the web directory – are rather puristic in style. Actually it is not a question of having thousands of clours. But you can use them if you have the right site. In contrast to a web directory anime sites are in most cases colourful – dedicated to younger people loving anime storeis. Anyhow, noone would like an anime website where only grey shades can be seen. So this unusual anime website draws its attractiveness from the simplicity. No word, just one picture to start. Only if you go accross the picture with your mouse, you come to the menu this anime site offers.
So, whether looking at fonts, anime, web directory or african masks – you can come from history and will glimpse into the future.
