Design guide for Web 2.0
Web design from scratch offers a excellent how to (and how not to) design guide for Web 2.0
A quick summary what the site has to offer:
Simplicity, Central layout, Fewer columns, Separate top section, Solid areas of screen real-estate, Simple nav, Bold logos, Bigger text, Bold text introductions, Strong colours, Reflections
Rich Surfaces
Most 2.0-style sites use subtle 3D effects, sparingly, to enhance the qualitative feel of the design.
Gradients
Web 2.0 design has more gradients than the Alps. Gradients soften areas that would otherwise be flat colour/tone.
Cute Icons
Icons play an important role in Web 2.0 design. Today we use fewer, better icons that carry more meaning.
Star Flashes
These are the star-shaped labels that you see stuck on web pages, alerting you to something important.
