As a full-service web design and development agency, we make it our mission to keep ahead of the latest and greatest web trends so you don’t have to. Our web designers and developers have created a whole portfolio of stunning, super functional online platforms as a result. But whilst looking at the trends that will shape the future of websites as we know them, we also have to appreciate the past.
Things have moved on considerably since the early days of web design some 30 years ago but how do those initial trends help us to create the funky websites consumers like to browse and buy from today?
Here we take a closer look at the history of web design and the trends, processes and programming languages that have stood the test of time.
New beginnings for browsers
The birth of the World Wide Web was also the start of website design. Whilst the very first website didn’t go live until 16 months after the web was publicly announced, its purely text-based format is something us web designers steer well clear of in the modern day.
HTML, the standardised system these early websites were based on, however still forms part of the web design and development process used today.
Landing pages appear
1993 saw the launch of search and landing pages. Whilst the engines and landing pages we use today are very different, the relationship between the two still sits at the heart of all SEO and digital marketing strategies.
Advertising also made its big debut during this period, with website design trends working to incorporate ads in a more succinct way. The launch of JavaScript quickly followed, with the language making the pop up window possible. JavaScript, and more specifically JQuery, is still utilised across websites with its capabilities helping designers bring platforms to life.
The blogging breakthrough
The 2000s saw the true take-off of online economy, with payment systems like PayPal offering a simple way to handle transactions for all and blogging appearing a little later. These early payment portals and blog rolls provided a great grounding for businesses looking to launch their ventures online and add to the profitability of their more traditional, bricks and mortar stores.
The birth of blogging was only made possible by content management system WordPress. As of 2021, some 455 million websites use WordPress.
The web gets social
The introduction of MySpace and later Facebook influenced web design trends further. Whilst the mobile era propelled the mobile friendly website design principles that are still dictating how websites look and function to this day.
Bring your website into the 21st century by getting in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.
