Web3 and the future of web design
Web3 (Web 3.0) has been a buzzword in the tech industry for the last few years, and with the rise of NFTs in 2021, everyone wants in on it. Built using blockchain technology, it has the potential to disrupt and revolutionize how we think and use the internet.
The next version of the web is being built on an entirely new set of protocols and architecture. The scaffolding that Web3 uses is much different from anything we have ever seen before or how we think of the web we use today (Web 2.0). The web will be decentralized, meaning that there will no longer be one central server or company that controls this network. Decentralization means that everyone will own and control the content on the internet.
Content creators and consumers alike will get to participate in an open, permissionless network where we can control our own information and still access content from any device. As with other technological advancements, this change has both risks and rewards. This article explores what Web3 is and how it might affect web design for businesses and individuals.
What is Web3
Web 3.0 or Web 3 is the next iteration of the internet in which data is no longer stored with a central entity like Google, Facebook, or controlled by any single host. It’s decentralized, meaning there are no longer any centrally controlled databases.
Instead, Web3 uses a series of nodes that people can run to store and share content over an open, permissionless network. In turn, this could significantly impact web design for individuals and businesses alike.
This article will explore the potential benefits and risks of Web3 to web design for both individuals and businesses.
Web3 and the future of web design
As the web becomes decentralized, which is effectively what Web3 is, the way that we experience and design for the web will also change. With this new decentralized network, there are no longer any central servers or companies controlling the content on the internet. Meaning all of the content on the web will be owned by everyone — content creators, consumers, and everyone in between. It is an open-permissionless network where we can control our own information and access any content from any device.
The implications of this change are huge for both businesses and individuals alike. With Web3 comes many opportunities for designers to rethink how they approach their work. For instance, with a decentralized web, websites could be less about page views or click-throughs and more about generating revenue through donations or subscriptions. Web3 could also allow designers and developers to design more immersive experiences for customers with AR/VR technology like Oculus Rift or Apple’s long-rumored AR glasses.
Web3 and the GDPR
The GDPR is a set of regulations designed to protect internet users. Web3 will have an enormous impact on the web design process because the GDPR requires content used by or for organizations to be transparent and unambiguous, with ample choices for the user, and will not allow the use of data without consent.
Web3 will change how people interact with websites. For example, using blockchain to create decentralized networks, users control their data instead of corporations collecting information about them. This means that if you are looking for a job, you don’t need to worry about your future employer finding out about your medical history because it will always be encrypted on your device, and there won’t be any centralized databases for employers to access or utilize.
On the flip side, this also means that companies will need to change their business models to accommodate these changes. Businesses and organizations will need to update their websites to be consumer-friendly and fair to everyone using them.
Web3 design for businesses
As the web evolves and shifts from a centralized one to a decentralized one, it will change how they create websites and content. One impact organizations need to be aware of is how the new web may affect their marketing efforts. In Web3, it’s more difficult for businesses to distinguish themselves from their competitors because no central server holds all the data from sites. It’s easy for consumers to switch between platforms without difficulty or consequence.
With this in mind, businesses may want to develop a strategy where they can keep customers engaged with them on a variety of channels rather than relying on just one or two channels. This means being present on social media and developing a newsletter list, so customers have other ways to stay in touch with your company besides just visiting your website.
Web3 design for individuals
Web3 is still in its early stages, and the full implications of the new architecture and protocols are unclear. However, there are a few things we can say about how this will affect individuals on the web:
- The new decentralized web will allow consumers to choose which type of data they want to share with different entities. For example, you’ll be able to decide if you want your favorite retailer to know what you bought at their competitor and vice versa.
- You’ll have control over online content published about you and be able to decide who has access to it and who doesn’t.
- Web3 takes away some of the power from internet giants like Facebook and Google by giving users more control of their data. Meaning that it may be more difficult for companies to make money off of user-generated content like ads or YouTube videos since they won’t own all of it anymore.
Wrapping up
We are still in the early stages of Web3, but the future of this new technology and how we will design for it is already fascinating. Web3 will be a more personal, human experience that will have a higher level of personalization, which will be beneficial for both businesses and individuals.
