The concept of the “World Wide Web” is believed to date back to 1946, when Murray Leinster first described it in a short story. However, its official (albeit accidental) invention is attributed to physicist Tim Berner-Lee in 1989. This marked the beginning of a new era in web design, as the NextStep operating system (later purchased by Apple) was used to create the World Wide Web. In 1994, Jim Clark and Marc Andreessen created the first web browser, Netscape. This allowed designers to divide a design into units (sidebars, content blocks, embedded advertising areas, navigation areas) that could be sent to the browser and installed in the viewing window in the best possible way.
This led to the creation of specially designed mobile sites that were separate from desktop sites and, eventually, to an adaptive web design. The introduction of Facebook in 2004 had a huge impact on web design. It made designers realize the importance of intelligent branding, clean design, social media integration, and more. Motion graphic design also became increasingly popular as it allowed for more effective images.
The development of devices such as tablets and PCs led to an expansion of web design capabilities. Designers began using the specific features of these devices to gradually improve their products. To create complex designs, many web designers had to use complicated table structures or even use a blank spacer. Following Steve Jobs' statement that the iPhone was not compatible with Flash, designers had to look for other ways to develop websites. Companies soon recognized the power of websites and began creating carefully designed and aesthetically pleasing landing pages and online ads.
This shift to e-commerce permanently affected web design, making it an essential aspect of business activity for many companies and increasing the need for experienced web developers. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) was also introduced soon after, allowing for the separation of design details from content itself and streamlining the web design process. Designers began prioritizing mobile devices and creating designs that could be displayed without further problems on tablets and desktop devices. Designing first for small screens and then reaching larger screens has had a significant impact on user experience. By grouping information into units, it is easier for users to perceive it. Designers can also understand their audience better by taking into account their age group or cultural branch. The web design of the future must take user experience to the next level and offer exceptional web experiences for everyone.
FAQs and extensive keywords should constitute a central content strategy to break with the classic framework of web design.
