Today I was thinking back to some of my old site ventures.
I was only interested in frequenting sites with great looking images that would influence my own design. I remember the big sites back then were Infinitefish, Phong, and Doc Ozone. It made me attempt to be creative with my website names like “Qrazy Graphx” and “Track 3″. It was as if the only way to be seen or found was to have a design site with a WWF-like (pre lawsuit days) moniker.
Now a days, it isn’t as much about photoshop and cool images online. It is about blogs and blogs have changed the way site names are created. Look at the most popular design blogs like Shaun Inman, Jason Kottke and Cameron Moll. Simple blogs with simple names.
This either represents the minimalistic approach to design that has been taking place or perhaps it goes deeper.
In the late 90s (meaning 96 and on), when I frequenting the internet, most people saw it as a passing fad or delved no deeper than AOL. Internet attention spans were at an all time high due to the fact that broadband was not readily available or even affordable. This has changed significantly over the past few years. Children, Teenagers and adults are now blessed with instant access to endless amounts of information. This change has caused us all to inherit IADD, “internet attention deficit disorder”.
Those names above know that their own names are just as identifiable as an obscure one. While some blogs still go the rout of creative names, Mezzoblue and Smiley Cat spring to mind, they are generally group driven.
So if you are new to blogging and want a name for yourself, don’t hide behind some crazy name, come out and be yourself.
I am Rick Howard and this is my blog!