Change is the only constant, and everything evolves with time. From your daily habits to your general knowledge, everything shifts—including web design. This blog explores how some of the most popular websites have transformed over the years. Following Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest, these sites have remained dominant by adapting to advancements in technology, layouts, and design. Thanks to CSS and improved web browser capabilities, these websites have undergone significant makeovers, cementing their place in our cultural landscape. Let’s take a look at how these well-known websites have evolved in terms of UI/UX design.
By the 1990s, Microsoft had already established itself as a tech giant, capturing nearly 90% of the global market share. Despite this dominance, its website design was far from revolutionary. In the late 2000s, it followed the trend of showcasing technical software in a storefront-style layout, with text-heavy pages taking up most of the space.
Over the years, Microsoft moved away from outdated navigation bar designs and embraced a cleaner, more modern look, focusing on consumer lifestyles with large banner images and ample whitespace.
Apple’s website is now one of the most aesthetically pleasing, favouring a dark theme with an elegant and minimalist design. However, it wasn’t always like this. In its early days, Apple’s website resembled a basic newsletter before evolving with structured content and striking product imagery.
Steve Jobs was a strong advocate of skeuomorphic design, which meant that Apple’s website and products in the 2000s reflected real-world textures and objects. Today, Apple has shifted towards a sleek, flat design, making it one of the best-designed websites in the world.
Although not as dominant as Amazon, eBay revolutionised the way people shop. Initially an auction site, it later expanded to include a wide range of products and categories. However, its website design remained cluttered for years, filled with colourful banners and excessive text.
After maintaining a similar layout for nearly 15 years, eBay underwent a major redesign in 2015, transforming into a more polished e-commerce platform with organised colour blocks for a sleeker look.
When YouTube launched in 2005, its homepage was remarkably simple, featuring just five videos and a large search bar—much like Google’s minimalist approach. However, just a year later, it introduced personalised user profiles and video ratings, marking the beginning of its journey to becoming one of the most visited websites.
Over time, YouTube has refined its homepage and video pages, moving towards a clean and intuitive layout to enhance accessibility for both viewers and content creators.
If you think Yahoo’s website looks busy now, you should have seen it in 1994 when it was first created by Jerry Yang and David Filo. Initially, it was simply a collection of links—a gateway to the open web. As the years passed, it became increasingly text-heavy, giving it a cluttered, outdated appearance.
Despite several redesign attempts, Yahoo has never quite managed to escape its crowded layout, serving as a cautionary tale for businesses considering a website overhaul.
The New York Times launched its website in January 1996 as an online counterpart to its print newspaper. By 1998, the homepage featured larger headlines and images, giving it a sleeker, more organised look.
Today, the website mirrors the print edition, featuring a clean layout with black text on a white background. This redesign was carefully planned to ensure online readers receive a seamless experience comparable to reading the physical newspaper, according to Denise Warren, Executive Vice President of Digital Products at The New York Times.
The undisputed leader of search engines, Google has been setting trends in web design since its launch in 1997. Initially, its homepage featured a colourful logo with several links beneath it, but in 1998, Google adopted its now-iconic single search bar and minimalist design.
With only minor changes since then, Google has retained its clean aesthetic, with the Google Doodle being one of its most engaging and beloved features.
Skype was introduced in 2003, allowing users to make voice calls from one PC to another. The game-changer came in 2005 with the introduction of video calling.
While the Skype website has undergone multiple redesigns to accommodate new features, its transformations have been more functional than visually groundbreaking.
Did you know Twitter was founded in 2006? In its early days, the website focused on explaining its purpose as a social networking tool.
Over the years, Twitter has experimented with various designs, including its signature blue background. Today, it stands among the most popular social networking platforms, boasting a clean, minimalist homepage that prioritises simplicity and usability.
Fashion websites often lead the way in stylish web design, and Guess is no exception. When it debuted online in 1999, its homepage was cluttered with multiple links, making navigation a challenge.
Since then, Guess has refined its website to focus on visually engaging content, reducing text to highlight striking images that capture visitors’ attention.
Reddit has always been a text-heavy website, packed with an overwhelming amount of information. Since its launch in 2005, its design has seen only subtle changes, maintaining its traditional forum-style layout.
With the introduction of ‘New Reddit’ in 2018, designers worked hard to modernise the user interface while preserving the site’s original feel. The result? A more user-friendly experience that attracts an even larger audience.
In the 1980s, Michael Jordan was the face of Nike, and the brand was thriving—but you wouldn’t have guessed it from its 1998 website. Featuring low-quality images and minimal text, the site failed to represent the brand’s identity.
Since then, Nike’s website has undergone several transformations. With bold visuals and darker themes, it now conveys a sense of sophistication and athletic excellence, making it one of the most well-designed websites today.
If there’s one company that exemplifies website evolution, it’s Amazon. Originally an online bookstore in 1995, its website was plain and uninspiring, dominated by shades of grey.
As Amazon expanded its offerings beyond books, the site introduced tabs for various categories like toys, electronics, and games in the late 1990s. The 2000s saw a refreshed logo, and by 2012, Amazon adopted a minimalist, responsive design that has since become the gold standard for e-commerce websites.
Nearly all of these websites have adapted to changing trends by refining their designs to create a more engaging and seamless user experience. By embracing minimalism, prioritising functionality, and improving UI/UX, these platforms have successfully stood the test of time—enhancing customer satisfaction and securing their place at the forefront of the digital age.
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