Since the dot-com crash, conservatism has ruled the Web. But there’s a new optimism in the design community that a spirit of experimentation could be about to take the Web to another level.

border=0 /><BR></div> </p> <p> Web technology is constantly evolving, but most commercial Web design doesn’t really match this dynamic development curve. After the heady days of the Internet boom – and the subsequent slump – designers are starting to push Web technology again. </p> <p> Several key developments have set the stage for a revival in experimental Web design. “The main driver for new types of creative design content has been greater bandwidth becoming increasingly available to users throughout the country,” says Chris Duffield of Web agency Pool.Net. </p> <p> “The delivery technology has a strong bearing on the whole creative approach. In terms of rich media, we’re seeing a lot more animated 3D content as a result of fewer bandwidth issues for many users.” </p> <p> Josh Esguia, creative director at Blitz, feels online designers operate in an unusually interconnected community, and the people who make an effort to showcase their work and exchange ideas do a great deal to advance the medium as a whole. </p> <p> “There’s a sense of healthy competition within the community, and people are motivated to keep abreast of the latest technology and artistic style,” he says. “When someone posts an original video piece, dynamic code snippet, or unique method of navigation, it encourages the entire community to advance.” </p> <p> Web designers who started with a relatively narrow skillset are increasingly getting involved in 3D, motion graphics, and programming to broaden their creative horizons. Software and bandwidth constraints of the past are being cast aside, and all these elements are now combined on the Web in ways that used to be impossible. </p> <p> “There was a time on the Web where design existed for its own sake, and then content-driven sites took over and interface design took a back seat,” says Brandon Schoessler, designer at marketing agency Nemo Design. </p> <p> <div class=inlineimage><img src= Print

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