Website redesigns - see how the big web sites have changed over the last 5 years

I've mentioned a lot recently about web trends for 2011 and web design being optimised for mobile browsing and tablet computers.
Here is a quick visual summary of some of the key players and the changes in their website designs over the last five years with a short commentary on each:

Youtube

In 2005 this start-up copied the Google central search design with a bit of a tag cloud underneath (tag clouds were the biz back then!). The overall width of the site was accommodating of smaller desktop monitors.  Notice the 2011 design pushes the "important" content (ie popular videos) and has a big call to action button "Create Account" with search taking more of a back seat. Notice how long this input field is so you can type "Lord of the rings fellowship of the ring part 7" and still see what you've typed.

Linkedin

Back in 2003 viewers were still using screens 800px wide which the original linkedin was designed to fit. Notice the bold monochromatic icons.  The 2011 design pushes the "join up" form right to the front of the site to gain more members, and advertises the benefits with icons that are more desktop style.  White space gives it an open feel (and allows scaling to various screen sizes) and gives a more professional, mature image. It's trying to blend in with those intranet web apps and customer management systems that most cubicle dwellers now use in their office jobs.

Twitter

That web2.0 crazy idea that actually took off in 2006!  Notice the pure web2.0 style of the original - pastel colours, rounded fonts, big text, cute icons.  Now in 2011 it's global & corporate looking. Just like youtube and linkedin it has account sign up as the most prominent feature with login pushed up to the top.

Huffington Post

From a small news and opinion blog in 2005 the Huffington Post has become an Internet newspaper to reckon with.  As with most news sites the navigation is now along the top and the post has also opted for a news banner with a HUGE heading and big image above the fold with the multi-column layout dropped to below the fold - eye catching!  Search is also prominently displayed between the title (more white space) and the menu.

Facebook

The current leader in social networking sites has maintained a minimalistic landing page.  The name and logo has changed since 2004 but the colour remains the same.  Like the other sites reviewed here the "sign up" form is centre stage and the login is at the top right. Content boxes that had borders are now borderless which gives a more open, professional feel and the "sign up" button is green (increasingly common - same as linkedin).

For those of you interested in changes in web designs check out the wayback machine to find archives of old websites, and you too can study the changes in design.

Website redesigns - see how the big web sites have changed over the last 5 years