The evolution of web design has nearly come full circle in a period of 16 years. From the "first official" web site (a single page explaining the definition and purpose of the World Wide Web) - to standardized web development today, many things have progressed, yet very little has changed in the code.

With the second incarnation of the World Wide Web (Web 2.0), many designers who continue to work in this medium after the "dot-com" bubble burst, are once again using rules developed over ten years ago by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and practicing what is called "standards-based" web design. Standards-based web design eliminates the extra code and unnecessary graphics of late 1990 web development practices, allowing web designers to create web sites that are easy to update and maintain for clients.

A trend that is occurring more rapidly now within the web design community is the open sourcing of code and the global sharing of ideas. del.icio.us and Stumble Upon allow web visitors to share their bookmarks and favorite websites. JavaScript effects libraries, such as moo.fx and script.aculo.us, offer readily-developed code in a communal atmosphere, while online tools like Blogger and Flickr have made it free and easy for people to share ideas and photographs.

Clients understand that the web is not just a means of reproducing company information but it can be a tool where they can interact with customers on a very personal level. The development of communities around a brand creates a close association and at times, fanatical following with customers. By allowing site visitors to interact with, and sometimes even comment on, their own content, vital, "open source" communities are being created. With the addition of other tools, such as mobile devices, the online experience offers unparalleled brand integration.

Today, clients are looking for web designers that can creatively persuade their audiences to interact with their site and allow their employees to share internal information effectively and easily. Specific technology platforms are no longer the issue. Figuring out unique ways to connect a brand online to its intended audience is the "hottest topic" at hand.