5 Great Resources For Creating Web 2.0 Design Elements

August 19th, 2008 in Articles, Web 2.0

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Web 2.0 Effects
One of the aspects of web 2.0 design is the look and layout of web pages. Modern sites tend to have a certain look and feel using common elements and themes. Key design elements such as simplicity, uncluttered layouts, strong colours (in moderation), soft backgrounds, shadows, gradients, smooth text and chunky icons are often seen on modern web 2.0 sites. In this article I’ve got a list of five resources I’ve used to help create some of these modern effects through adobe photoshop.

If you’d like to read more on the visual aspects of web 2.0 design, I recommend visiting Pixel Acres.

You often see special offer badges these days on sites, here is a great tutorial on how to make one. I’ve used this personally on my static caravan rental site.
Photoshopcandy has a large collection of free icons to download and use on your own site.
If you want to create big bold buttons that are just screaming to be clicked, there is a great little tutorial at iris design. I’ve personally used this to good effect at GetThatBargain.co.uk.
Good elements require good fonts and while there are many ways to get hold of fonts many of them are not for free. However there is a site called 1001freefonts which I’m sure you can guess from the name has lots of free fonts.
Websites these days are full of shiny reflective floor effects, you know the sort of thing where the text is reflected on the surface. There is a good tutorial on how to achieve this effect over at Photoshopcandy.

I hope there is something here that you will find helpful, these elements can be great fun to make and adapt to your own sites and used in moderation they can look good and be very effective.

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Beaver Castle said,

Nothing is web 2.0 without a glossy logo!
Ps3 man said,

Thanks very much for that Steve. I’ve just started on web design and my first couple of site whilst I am please with them they do look at little amateurish. These are a great help to someone who isn’t too hot on graphic design.
Steve Kinsey said,

Hi Ps3 man, thanks for commenting.

I’m glad these links were useful to you, I know how tough it can be starting of with the web design. I like your site by the way, nice clean and uncluttered layout.
Ps3 man said,

Thanks for you kind words Steve. My first attemps were pretty awful but I still keep a copy of them to look back on and see how far I’ve come in such a short time!
Steve Kinsey said,

You should see some of my earliest attempts, I would be too embarresed to even show them. Just don’t even ask me about the logo with the cow hide texture
Basement Finishing man said,

Hey Steve….

Any resources for those of us who want to study Gimp…. Not Much about gimp even in Borers…
Basement Finishing man said,

Borders sorry
Steve Kinsey said,

Hi Basement Finishing man,

It’s not something I’m experienced with personally but I’ll see if I can put something together.
Basement Finishing man said,

I would appreciate that

Thanks
Ps3 man said,

Steve,

That cow hide texture logo just sounds superb - I can see it now. If you’ve still got it you’ve got to incorporate in into the site somewhere!
Steve Kinsey said,

lol no I don’t have it now, it’s buried, burned and forgotten forever.
Silver Industry said,

I agree you need to make it clean - if it’s not clean people will be frustrated and not want to come back