When it comes to technology, things happen so fast. Every year we have new smartphone models, and apps are born and die every day to make our lives easier.
The evolution of web design has been no different. From the creation of the first website to today, the changes have been enormous. And the most interesting thing of all is that this evolution is constant.
So, if you’re interested in web design, we invite you to take a brief tour through the history of web design, which is now approaching its third decade.
Chronology
Over time, the needs and ways of solving the challenges that have arisen in the world of web design have changed. However, the firm commitment has always been to evolve towards user experience . Evolving to make browsing the internet easy and intuitive for users.
(1989) The Beginning. The Dark Ages of Web Design
It all began in the 1990s, known as the dark ages for web design. In its early days, web design was based on black screens with monochrome pixels adding a touch of color. In short, web design didn’t exist, as text dominated the screen.
Around 1991, the first website, the ” World Wide Web, ” was published by Tim Berners-Lee, an English physicist considered one of the special database great creators of the web. The sole purpose of this website was to inform people about the World Wide Web (or global computer network). Today, more than 27 years later, we can confirm that its uses have undoubtedly multiplied, and that the evolution of web design is more active than ever.
Design with tables. Since 1995
The invention of browsers that allowed the display of images represents the first step in the evolution of web design itself. Tables were introduced to bring order to content, allowing for the mixing of static and fluid designs through tables within tables.
In some ways, tables were the starting point for what responsive design is today.
For a long time, the table method was the most widely used method for designing web pages. And in a way, this created a separation between design and development. While designers created the designs, developers looked for ways to make them work, managing information in different elements.
JavaScript. 1995
JavaScript arrived to address several of HTML’s limitations. Its emergence brought web design a surge in dynamism. However, one of when should i post in australia? the most frequently discussed drawbacks is that it slows down page loading.
While many people today avoid JavaScript to solve problems that can be solved using CSS , it remains strong in both the front and back ends. The front end is related to what is displayed on a website, while the back end ensures the correct data is sent to the browser and creates the system’s functionality.
The Flash Era and Design Freedom. 1996
Flash arrived and impressed with the possibilities of visual effects, breaking down the barriers that existed in web design at the time. It was a dream fulfilled through a single tool. A file sent to the browser for display.
This era marked a milestone, but over time it became clear that the effects and interactions weren’t accessible to search engines that index HTML , and they also consumed processing power. This led to its decline over time.
The rise of CSS. 1998
Cascading Style Sheets
This language became popular with its approach that separates content from presentation. That is, HTML handles content, while CSS defines formatting and appearance.
CSS underwent a process of evolution that took several years to achieve its best results. At first, the display varied depending on the saudi data browser, which made it difficult for developers.
Web 2.0. 2003
The era of user-based information begins, and Web 2.0 becomes popular along with social networks and blogs.
With more visually pleasing and highly usable interfaces, we entered a more evolved phase of web design, one that began to consider both users and search engines. The focus was on the browsing experience through the use of web design.
Grid and framework design. 2007
The arrival of mobile design.
Web design was forced to evolve with the arrival of smartphones. From this moment on, it was necessary to generate site versions based on screen size. This was possible through the use of grids and frameworks. It was a significant challenge.
The first improvement was with the idea of columns, until the grid system was defined with a division into 12 columns as the system used to this day.
Responsive Design. 2010
From 2010 onward, and around 2012, the last major change in web design appeared. Responsive or adaptive design arrived to resolve the size conflict between the different screens of smart devices.
These changes have favored a flatter design , returning to the roots of putting content first, abandoning shadow effects and returning to photography, typography, and line details. Simplicity meets practicality.
In some ways, it would seem that, in a more evolved form, the cycle is returning to its beginnings. But It is even estimated that the changes and the evolution of devices themselves will continue to influence the world of design, as we depend on them as a means of presenting websites. And if devices change, web design must keep up with them.