Fives years from the year 2008, it’s hard to tell what the web will be like. By web, I’m referring to the internet and all the interactivity it has to offer. By interactivity, I mean the endless links that allow us, as test dummies, to browse content. To think that 10 years ago the internet would blossom into what it has become, one would have been labeled crazy, or at best good at fantasizing. Today, we have the ability to view nearly any video you can think of, download any song ever created, and find information that no one cares about or that everyone cares about. It’s no wonder that web 2.0 was conceived, because it would be elementary to say that what we can do on the internet in 2008 is even remotely comparative to what could be done two years before the new millennium.
Steven Heller touches on the topic of interactivity in his book, Becoming a Graphic Designer. Throughout his explanation of what to expect as a web designer, he touches on various, important topics. First of all he touches on how vast the internet has become and the appeal it has towards all other types of medium. Even though he states that the internet is still considered a compliment, or a type of bonus, to primary media, I believe that notion will soon fade. He also focuses on how many institutions implement a web design course as part of its curriculum. Collaborative efforts are vital to the success of a website as well. Finally, Heller touches on the importance of designing websites that are attractive and relatable to its viewers.
The internet is excellent in many ways and would be nearly impossible to note all of them. However, some very crucial elements come to mind. First of all: community. Websites such as web forums allow people with similar interests or hobbies to share their views with each other. For example, it may be suitable for a big sports fan to partake in a discussion of his favorite team on a forum because it allows him to express his opinion of the matter with numerous others who may feel the same way. Outside of the forum, the social atmosphere may restrict his ability to discuss different matters and get the feedback that a forum may offer. Furthering the idea of community, networking sites have most recently been implemented, especially with the introduction of facebook a few years ago. Facebook, and myspace alike, allow its users to network with each other, whether it be personal, professional, or a means to reconnect with friends and family. Facebook has gain a lot of popularity because of its sleek interface and its uniformity in layout. An interface is simply when the program establishes the appearance of the site. Alternately, myspace allows its users to customize the look of its page with a theme they’ve chosen or designed themselves. While myspace has the reputation of being less professional, it still allows its users to connect or reconnect with people they otherwise may not have been able to. The internet has also given way to the era of the blog. A weblog has a sort of joural-esque quality that allows its owner to post whatever they deem appropriate. Blogs also represent a community atmosphere because it allows its viewers to reply to the authors’ original piece. Further still are new and improved search engine sites that make it almost effortless to find any information that one may need. Google has become such a powerhouse that a verb was created in its shadow. Hosting sites, too, have become an efficient means of webology. [yes, I do believe I just created that word] Image hosting sites such as photobucket, tinypic, and imageshack all allow users to easily upload their photographs and share them with anyone on the net. [I googled webology, and it turns out I did not create the word] Sites such as rapidshare and megaupload allow its users to easily share video and audio files. All of these examples, although the interface isn’t too expansive, are vital to the new era of internet that surrounds us.
Some sites, however, do rely heavily on layout. Imagine that you’re a graphic design student interested in web design. It would be extremely important for you to be able to create a webpage that is representative of your passion and of you. Websites, like printed design, share a story and evoke emotion of its viewers. As Heller mentions, the website of Cartoon Network is going to be drastically different than that of the New York Times. He also mentions that it would probably be tough for a designer of the New York Times website to try and design something for the Cartoon Network. Once designers find their niche, it may be difficult for them to branch towards others. This is a bad thing. With the internet becoming such a powerful tool, it is necessary as designers to be able to adapt to the changes that may arise. Right now, nearly everything that isn’t internet based still has a connection to the internet through its website. The businesses recognize the importance of the internet and the excellent marketing opportunities that it possesses. For example, all television companies have websites that advertise the shows that they have. If someone were to hear about a new show and want to find out more, it’s only a few clicks away. Within the last couple years, television companies are even allowing viewers to watch their shows via the internet. This makes it extremely convenient for viewers who may have missed the airing of the show on television. Soon, I’m willing to bet that most all television programming will be moved to the internet. When this occurs, there will be no more need for television or cable companies. Even sports games and award shows can be sent to monitors via live stream. It is crucial that websites are up to date in their design and interactive appeal. There is also a high competition on having a sleek design that is continuously exemplified through the creation and renovation of websites.
Because of the ever expanding web, it is important for institutions to implement a web design course within its structure. By doing this, you are letting graphic designers of all sorts to gain knowledge of an important subcategory of design itself. Even those whose focus may be on print or packaging can still benefit from the knowledge of web design. For example, one may work for a company who makes wonderful 2d designs but lacks the type of website that attracts clients or viewers. By knowing what internet sites should have and how to make them stand out could be extremely beneficial to the company which in turn will benefit you. Also, knowing all aspects of design is great because it gives you the opportunity to explore different mediums in your approach or concept of work. Institutions are also important in their ability to expose you to group projects. By collaborating in groups, you enable yourself to learn from others while at the same time presenting valuable pieces to the overall concept. In the real world, many projects, including web design, are based on the compilation of many designer’s efforts. While one person of the group may be responsible for the coding/programming aspect, a few others may collaborate to establish the visual aesthetic. This group is also part of the client/designer relationship. The client must be expressively and actively present in the creation of their website, allowing them to update the site without relying on the designer for everything.
This expansion of the web’s capabilities introduced us to web 2.0. Simply put, 2.0 is the second generation, if you will, of the internet. While originally, it consisted of simple sites aimed at getting information across, more so than attracting viewers, 2.0 embodies all of the types of sites and ideas previously mentioned in this article. With my prediction of television being streamed live from computer monitors, comes the idea that soon web design will evolve into something so interactive that perhaps a monitor would not even be needed. Maybe the future of the computers we grew up learning, exploring, and altering will shed away from its shell and become something beyond a keyboard and mouse. An idea that comes to mind is one in which websites are three dimensional and are presented using projectors. Imagine a type of interface that allows typefaces, images, and themes to move seamlessly upon our desks. Although I doubt this structure would be labeled web 3.0 [I’d say more like 5.0], I do know that it will be ground breaking in the way that designers work. It will open up an entire new genre of design that combines web coding and three dimensional design. It seems almost ridiculous to think about a computer that would offer such capabilities. But what is even more astounding is the fact that when that happens, it will only be a matter of time before something even more innovative is born.
I found your conclusion to be both exciting and frightening. When you mentioned three dimensional text my mind jumped realizing that, while it is possible now, type designers and 3D modelers have only touched the tip of the iceberg with 3D type because its current solutions now have been limited to simplistic ideas of simply giving the text a depth and not expanding on its new surfaces.
The reason I say fear was a slight response is because of the negative effect the internet has on our society. While people are able to interact with one another across the globe [there is a small smiley at the bottom of this page] the level of personal interaction is reduced. Instructors favor blogs and online calendars instead of face to face time with a student (something I believe is invaluable) and the effect it has on a person is something I find to be astounding because of the reward it removes from our physical world. It was once thought that just computer geeks spent hours in front of their monitor punching keys into the wee hours of the night and day. Now even the socialite is seen spending hours, every day, on facebook and myspace. Artists create, mechanics fix, husbands adulterate, racists collaborate, mothers ask for help, and people the world over kill time to escape the world we live and the interaction we were meant to have with one another. I know my view is a little bleak but dangers of the internet are not simply predators and terrorists. It is a more subtle patient process.