Designing for Web 2.0

Guidelines not Rules

When preparing to design a site for Web 2.0, there are some general design guidelines a designer should follow. These are not rules by any means but guidelines that are popular with Web 2.0 sites today.

Content is King

The focus in Web 2.0 is shifting from the design of the page’s permanent features and background to the design of the content itself. This lets the users focus on the content rather than what’s going on in the background. This is a great thing because the content of the site is what you want the users to focus on. With easier to read content and more compelling content users are more likely to frequent the site and get more out of each visit.

Centered With White Space

In the past Web sites featured left aligned or liquid layouts where the content had a fixed width and filled the page. With Web 2.0 trends the content is centered and there is empty “white space" around the content. This makes the page less overwhelming, easier to read, and easier on the eyes.

BIG TEXT

Small text is out. Larger easier to read text is the trend of Web 2.0. Old Web sites had 9 or 10 point text that was very hard to read in large chunks. In Web 2.0, having spaced out text that is a bit larger, makes reading content much easier and better on everyone’s eyes. Also allowing the user to change the text size as they need is a good idea this way visually impaired users can use the site just as well as everyone else. Making the site usable to everyone and anyone who wants to use the site should be the top goal of any site.

Continued on Design 2