Dot-com
Internet history during the dot-com era, from the 1990s through to the first few years of the 2000s.
Note: some of these articles were migrated from my previous website, Web Development History (WDH), which was active during 2021. Check the timeline for a chronological list of WDH posts.
-
1995: From Batman Forever’s cinematic design to HTML tables
1995 begins with web designers creating cinematic experiences using images and browser tricks, and ends with the arrival of table support in Netscape Navigator — giving true control over layout.
-
1994: Cool Site of the Day and the rise of curated web design
Although the Web is technically limited in 1994, it is a fast-growing network and so curation quickly becomes a design problem. Enter Glenn Davis and his website, Cool Site of the Day.
-
1994: Publishing comes to the Web — and design matters
1994 marks the Web’s shift into a publishing medium. As site authors seek control over formatting and design, the WWW-Talk mailing list hosts an early debate over style sheets and presentation.
-
1993: Global Network Navigator and the first web designer
It's difficult to apply design to a website in 1993, but that doesn't stop O'Reilly & Associates from launching an 'online magazine' called GNN. Suddenly Jennifer Niederst, a book designer, has a new career.
-
1993: Web browsers add multimedia and MTV.com goes online
Mosaic adds an image tag to HTML and becomes the first modern web browser in 1993. Soon after, MTV VJ Adam Curry builds one of the world's first commercial websites — not that his bosses care.
-
The history of web design, 1993–2012: season 5 launch
Introducing Cybercultural's history of web design, from the grey web pages of 1993 to the colorful, mobile-centric web designs of 2012. A celebration of the peak years of personal websites and blogs.
-
2003: MP3 Blogs and Pitchfork Shake Up Music Media
Online music and blogging were two key trends in the first decade of digital culture. In 2003, they combine in the form of MP3 blogs. Together with Pitchfork, they revolutionize music journalism.
-
What the Internet Was Like in 2003
Blogging goes mainstream in 2003; and with the launch of Google AdSense, pro blogs emerge too. Also the iTunes store debuts, social networks ramp up, and Flash websites are everywhere.
