Since I first started this series, the goal has been to showcase websites that did not feature the design conventions that have stereotypically accompanied web 2.0 sites. Since the beginning there have been some comments stating that web 2.0 is about the interactivity between users. I have always been aware of this however the goal was not to feature sites that necessarily were 2.0 but ones that did not “catch the trend.” That being said, I also have been challenged by some of the readers to find web 2.0 sites that do feature some amazing design.
Finding amazing websites that were 2.0 proved to be a larger challenge than I had anticipated. This list is much smaller than I had originally wanted due to the lack of sites that were able to meet my criteria. That being said, each of these sites deserve special acknowledgement for their ability to break web 2.0 design convention and maintain effective presence (every site selected was a webware 100 awards 2008 winner).
Zune Marketplace
http://www.zune.net
What an obstacle to tackle, this site is responsible for directly competing with the ipod the coolest gadget on the planet. The design is minimal and sleek with great hierarchy and a use of gradient that is actually effective rather than an easy way to “fill space.”
Threadless
http://www.threadless.com
For a community of designers run by designers, it is no surprise that threadless is a well designed site. While the design of the site has changed quite a bit over the last couple of years, the use of illustration has remained. The great little illustrations make the site both fun and interesting.
Cake PHP
http://www.cakephp.org
This site is pretty much everything that a web 2.0 site should be. The site has a great conceptual approach to the design that dares to be different. I am in awe that this site came from a group of developers, the functional nature of the content could have easily resulted in a typical 2.0 result.
Skype
http://www.skype.com
Skype has really changed their appearance over the years, however the current version is definitely my favorite. Previous versions of the site were extremely glossy, however the newest version has managed to tone it down to an acceptable level yet still remain bright fun and approachable.
WordPress
http://www.wordpress.org
The recent overhaul of the WordPress website is both welcome and exceptional. While there are better designs in this list, this one is well executed and helps to display the almost endless amount of technical information in an extremely improved format. After a couple of hours browsing the Codex you are sure to appreciate the redesign.
AssociaDirect – The Association Agency
HellYeahDude.com
WordPress theme's for designers
Digg for Designers
Barackas.com – Barack Obama Maraccas
Flash Components
3 Months $20 
It’s partially the “fault” of all the people...
May 9th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Hello!!
You have a very good site.I love It.
Keep up the great work.
Thanks Jitendra
May 9th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Really, I still haven’t figured out what Web 2.0 actually is (and as far as I know, I’m not the only one). There’s nothing “2.0” about these sites; they simply showcase a natural, gradual evolution of a bunch of techniques that are (nicely) blended together. Nothing more, nothing less. Stop hyping it.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Anonymous,
according to Wikipedia, Web 2.0 is defined as:
Web 2.0 is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users.
I would focus on the collaboration amongst users personally. Web 2.0 is not a bad thing, the false marketing buzz around it is. I do not see this post as using buzz to drive interest. Instead it is because I hate the buzzword nature of “web 2.0” within the design profession that I created this series. Also, I do not believe that I have hyped anything here, I just have just critiqued these designs and praised them for their ability to be different than the rest of their competitors.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:35 am
When people say web 2.0 I have to figure out whether they mean concept and community or Arial sporting, gradient whoring, oddly glossed websites with the dodgiest reflections ever conceived. The latter needs to die, please.
Out of these, the new Wordpress theme and Threadless are probably my favourites. Cake PHP looks like a cartoon Fluther to me.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Lil,
Don’t you mean Arial Rounded?
May 9th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I don’t know, but Wordpress, CakePHP and Skype all follow several “web 2.0” design principles. Bright colors, lots of blues, structures AND pretty, vector graphics, etc. Not to say those things definitely make something “web 2.0” or not, but these are common things you see in “web 2.0” sites.
And when can we stop calling it web 2.0? I hate that term. It’s such a stupid catchphrase and makes me cringe, same as “dot com” (appended with either boom or bubble) did in the 90s.
Lindsey’s latest post: What could you do better as a web developer?