Websites, websites, and more websites...

So I've been doing this for a while now — almost 17 years. During that time, websites have dominated. Things have changed so much since the days of Compuserve and Flash 2... we used to think it was brilliant when images changed when you rolled over them. Now, your browser window can literally show you a different world.

In a recent article, I wrote that "the web has matured faster than anyone could have expected, which is both a blessing and a curse". Users have adapted to the medium so quickly that there's now almost a default style they've come to expect. Makes things easier when you've got a stock-standard client, but also makes the idea of breaking the mold that much harder.

Should we as designers even try to be innovative? I'm no longer sure. Full-Flash sites like 2advanced.com now seem frivalous and almost wasteful; users want their information fast, without too much guff.

Still, I remain hopeful that web design doesn't just mean information delivery, but something more exciting. Gone are the days when rollover effects made us grin... but that doesn't mean we've forgotten how to smile.