Dark Ages of the Web is an online resource created by Pavel Laptev that explores the early years of web design and development, covering the period from 1994 to the early 2000s. It provides historical context on the technical limitations of the time, such as low screen resolutions, the absence of web fonts before @font-face, and the reliance on table-based layouts before the widespread adoption of CSS. The site also examines how early interactive content was shaped by Flash, a technology that became obsolete with the rise of HTML5.
The resource also reflects on design trends from the Web 2.0 era, including the widespread use of gradients, rounded buttons, PNG stickers, and tag clouds. It highlights how these elements influenced digital aesthetics and the growing role of user-generated content. Through a combination of historical insights and visual examples, Dark Ages of the Web presents an overview of how web design evolved, offering a reference for those interested in the foundations of digital interfaces.
