Blast from the past of the webscene

posted February 06

This blog is jam packed full of NOSTALGIA.
Saera emailed me about getting some brushes from some old ‘vintage’ sites….that’s when I was re-introduced to archive.org.

I went back in time to view some old websites I used to admire, and then I stumbled upon my own. I realized that the site has changed dramatically, and maybe I’m not so proud of it anymore. Things don’t feel the same like they used too. Sure everyone gets older and drifts away from things – most of the websites I used to visit are now closed, it’s sad, yeah. But I’m still here. The lone star survivor, haha.

The thing that really got to me is when I read one of the blogs I had posted October 15th, 2007, where I listed random facts about myself. One of the items on the list caught my eye:

“11. I giggle at some websites that try to make their website more ‘professional’ looking. WHATS THE FUN IN THAT?”

I think that maybe I lost myself in all of this professionalism website CRAP. I feel like I sold myself out in a way, but it wasn’t because I wanted to change, more so because I felt like it was necessary. I’m going back to my roots, yup, next layout will be totally ME. :) I hope!

Graphic design wasn’t about this when I was younger. When people actually used to be apart of the webscene just to post brushes and have a blog. Now people have sites just to make money and offer crappy myspace layouts. Maybe I’m just lost in this internet world and there is like a secret community I don’t know about, hahaha.

I wanted to show you guys some websites I basically grew up with…that were my inspirations and had visited daily. This was the webscene when I was growing up.

Devilinthedetails.net was a site run by Dane. He was an amazing designer, I loved the handdrawn feel to all his layouts.

Douxx.com by Scott. I was actually a personal friend of Scott, so this website brings back lots of memories. He was really great and non-judgmental in the times where people thought I was a snot. Hey, that rhymes!

Funeralmonster.net by Henri was not up for that long, but was very popular in terms of resources and Henri himself. He is great with using stock and his resources and brushes were AMAZING. I still have his brushes to date!

JuvenileCasualty.net by Eshita was always nicely designed. Eshita knew how to use images and colors very well. Her brushes were notably amazing as well. I still use some of them even today.

Kenekila.net by Kendra was one of the older sites I used to go to when I was back on neopets. She made the ever so popular ‘abstract backgrounds’ with lots of dither and color hueing. Of course at the time I thought she was AMAZING at design, but looking back, that’s not quite the case :P

Remixx.net by Scott was another example of ‘OMG I THOUGHT HE WAS SO AMAZING WHEN I WAS 15 BUT NOW AT 20 I REALIZED HE WASNT THAT GOOD!”. Scott’s site was SUPER popular until he just kind of shut it down for no real reason besides loss of interest. Bummer because he was a pretty cool guy, but all good things come to an end.

Silencehurts.org by Ashley was one of the more iconic sites I remember. Even the name stands out. God, so many memories! Ashley was an amazing designer, and judging by the layout I found, her designs are still amazing even when I look at this now 3-4 years later.

Slashmysoul.org by Ashley was yet another iconic site, especially with the domain name chosen. I can never forget this site, ever

Vionnet.despair.nu by Serena encased everything I wished I could do with my site. Colors, organized coding, great designs…Serena always impresses. She’s going into fashion design but I always told her she should do design on the side. Maybe she’ll make me a dress!

Radioslut.org by Amy was single handily the best site on the web during my time. Amy was so talented, as you can tell. The site was very popular in its running, until Amy decided to sell it. Even as years pass her artworks are still flawless. I looked up to this site so much. You don’t even know.

Do YOU remember any of these websites? Feel free to share any websites you used to visit and/or reminisce with me :)

There you have it. Half of my internet childhood (if you will) in screenshots. It’s sad to see all the years go by with things changing so much, but I believe there still is potential for a great web community if we all stick together! Sounds lame but eh, what else?

36 comments | graphics picture blog

Comments

I remember Kendra’s and Scott’s sites..wow, blast from the past or what!! And all those are better than anything I could do, lol.

Jenni posted this February 05 * # Reply
Haha seriously? You knew Kenekila?? That’s pretty awesome! I was scared no one would remember…nice to know there are still some oldies out there.

Jessicaposted this February 06 // # Reply
lol, I don’t remember any of these sites but maybe it’s because I’m still “new” in the designing scene. I only started a few years ago, haha.
Some of these layout previews are so amazing especially the top one and the bottom layouts.

Patricia posted this February 06 * # Reply
Dane from Devil in the Details is now at OnceUponaForest.Net and I believe it’s the same Henri at MajestyofNight.Net.

anon posted this February 06 * # Reply
I remember a few, especially Remixx.Net – I particularly like the site’s broken.nu and jennyspage.net sigh

Melissa posted this February 06 * # Reply
I honestly liked the layout used on your site, this one:
http://web.archive.org/web/20071017034411/http://www.swimchick.net/
I like eveything on it, I actually miss that kind of layouts in all sites I used to visit, cause now they’re all got like nice css layouts and stuff, with no images except for fancy stuff such as an image for the header, and something to decorate the footer and bsackground, I still like that kind of layouts (the ones you make) because they’re always creative and they are not boring. I know you’ve improved a lot and stuff, but I miss your old layouts too (not that I don’t like your new style) but it would be nice to see something like the one you showed us in this blog.
Hm that was a long comment, hey and nice resources/tutorials ;) keep it up.

Rafa posted this February 06 * # Reply
starlightmks.com
strawberryheavens.com
purplepopcorn.com

Those site use to be the shit, lol. ^^

Sam posted this February 06 * # Reply
Wow, I just got into graphic design about 2 years ago. I wish I could have seen these sites.

Amanda posted this February 06 * # Reply
it’s funny. it seems everyone’s been having flashbacks to like, 2-3 years ago.
including myself… i was looking at an old layout i had on my site, and i found a bunch of links to sites i used to admire…. most of them are gone now. :/ at least you’re still here!

Dalia posted this February 06 * # Reply
http://www.twitpic.com/11rhj3
ahhh swimchick.net and hot chocolate, bliss :)
I love scrolling through your blogs and tutorials, keep em coming!

Natalie posted this February 06 * # Reply
I looooved streetcar circus!!! Oh, I just remembered, I also loved a site called Hybrid Genesis!

Christine posted this February 07 * # Reply
devilinthedetails was one of my inspirations as well. Streetcarcircus was another. They sort of brought out the messy handdrawn looks into some of my own work.
I still remember the first time I went on your website, you had a bluey-teal coloured layout, and the header literally took up an entire ‘page’, had to scroll down to read your stuff lol!

jabed posted this February 06 * # Reply
You just struck a nerve here and now I’m filled with reminiscence of the past. Wow! I remember DITD and funeralmonster (which I found through you) and I think I remember Scott. :) I don’t even know what I used to do…I was like 11! (5 years ago, when I first got into everything).

And this wasn’t so long ago, but I also remember Steetcarcircus.net (it’s some actual circus site now- WTF!)

And, ah, Neopets, oh my god! I LOVED it until 2-3 years ago…I miss it so much. I’ve TRIED becoming addicted to it again, but I can’t. I don’t know if it changed or I changed or both. I learned so much through it, it’s pretty funny and ridiculous.

I look at all those layouts, which I awed at a few years ago, and I can do better than that now! Amazing what can happen in a few years. Although I’ve stopped doing web design and graphics for the past year…I should start again.

Fatima posted this February 06 * # Reply
omg I totally remember when you said that making a website looks ‘professional’ is boring ‘cause I remember nodding my head and going ‘yeah, it’s boring’. But now you know, everyone changes their minds.
I remember devilinthedetails and funeralmonster and JuvenileCasualty too. I miss those sites, I used to use their brushes, but now I don’t have them anymore :(. They were really good.

Esme posted this February 06 * # Reply
C: awww, haha.

i actually remember most of these websites! these sites inspired me to get into web design when i was in the neopets days. plus, i always wanted to know how people made those amazing, vintage-like graphics.

to me, eshita impressed me. at 14 years old she knew how to code layouts properly (ftp, i believe?), she handmade all her brushes, and her layouts were stunning, as usual.

Saera posted this February 07 * # Reply
That first layout is fantastic.

By the way I think it’s awesome that you actually saw that you’ve lost yourself along the way and are willing to correct it, most people just carry on, sell-out even more, lose visitors and close their sites.

Callum posted this February 07 * # Reply
Whoa! I don’t remember any of these sites! Is there something wrong with me? lol

Swimchick.net was probably my most visited site when I was SO VERY INTO GRAPHIC DESIGNING and everything! It’s amazing to see this site still up and like 80% of all the other sites I used to visit gone! =(

Well, I quit like a year ago but I returned because I missed it really much! =P lol

Most people have found other things to do but I’m sure all of them want to be back though… too bad not many people bother! =(

Mr Hoax posted this February 07 * # Reply
Hello, I really like your site and all, and this blog was a really good idea, and i know i will get so much abuse for this but when you described Remixx.net and Kenekila.net as sites that you thought were “SO AMAZING WHEN I WAS 15 BUT NOW AT 20 I REALIZED HE WASNT THAT GOOD!” i have to stick up for them, because everybody knows that you are a talented graphic designer, probably the best on the web but why slam people who are not as good as you? People may enjoy graphic designing but may still want to do it.. Please, dont diss other sites just because you personally think they are not as good.

I probably wont get a reply to this because you never reply to my comments but hey hoe, it was at least worth the read.

Greg.

Greg posted this February 07 * # Reply
Well Greg, luckily for you, I respond. Although I’m quite unaware of the connection between commenting on design that makes me a ‘hoe’, but whatever helps you sleep at night.

I’m not ‘dissing’ other sites, furthermore, remixx.net doesn’t even exist so I’m not sure why you’re even slightly offended. Anyone who knows design would be thinking the same exact thing, it’s more of an inquiry and not so much an attack on a specific website. Also I’m pretty sure when you were younger you used to watch shows and/or go to websites you used to think were SO amazing, but now when you see them you realize they weren’t all that great. The point is that you still acknowledge that you liked them. I liked Scott’s site and at the time his designs were amazing, but design has changed and so has my opinion on good design. That’s pretty much it.

Jessicaposted this February 07 // # Reply
I dont mean to pry or anything, and I’m sure you just misintrepeted what he said but by ‘hey hoe’ he didnt mean ‘Hey Hoe’ as in ‘hey jessi’ or Hey trashbag’

it was sort of another way of saying ‘whatever’ or ‘oh well’.

also out of curiosity do you Remember any particular commentors from the past. May you could do a blog entry and talk about them. (wonder if you remember any of my old posts hehe)

jabed posted this February 07 * # Reply
Maybe I just read it wrong, you know how things are today, heh.
I hope you didn’t take my post as being rude Greg. I come off strong sometimes, my mistake. Anyway, I don’t mean to insult anyone so I apologize if you took my blog (and my reply) the wrong way.

Jessicaposted this February 07 // # Reply
i agree with greg’s comment .. i was a little bit like “hmmm…” when you wrote those things in this blog.

anyhow i do remember almost all the sites you listed here, but for some reason they don’t feel that “old”..

also i think that kendra’s site/design style was not even in the same era as the rest of the websites you posted, i believe hers was much older and that the other sites with the “messy” style are quite recent in comparison (3-4 years ago)… which leads me to think that the “webscene” you grew up in had little variety in design. or perhaps this reflects your preferences back then or something, i dont know.

katie posted this February 09 * # Reply
Gosh, I remember almost all of those sites. They were huge inspirations to me as well, to move from an MSN Group to a real site. Some other sites I remember are Stellachu, Junkiee (I remember it all the way back when it was Arab Designs), Divergente, etc. Good times…

And hey, we all change, it’s only natural. I remember when I first started my site, I was using Cutenews (although that was very short lived). I actually remember when your site was still using Cutenews, lol! And I remember how you inspired me (and like, everyone else) to try FanUpdate. Some of us oldies are still around, but not many.

Christine posted this February 07 * # Reply
oh arab designs copied one of my layouts agesss ago. Nobody copies anything from me anymore, I actually enjoyed finding out about copiers because it made me a little flattered. Shallow of me I know.

jabed posted this February 07 * # Reply
i love that site! it brought back some memories for sure. i remember when i was first getting started and before i looked back i didn’t really notice anything major that changed but once you do, you see a huge difference!

alex posted this February 07 * # Reply
OMG! KENEKILA! used to lovee that site. And I remember Eshita and scottt, too.

melissa posted this February 07 * # Reply
Ahh…I remember DITD. Good stuffs there and the layout always inspire me. I heard alot about juvenilecasualty but I was a bit too late since the site already closed down when I venture into graphics making.

Zakiah posted this February 08 * # Reply
I really, really like this blog! Sites like these didnt even exist to me about 2 years ago, so it was really nice to see how things were before.

And on a side note, i liked how you said stuff like “this was everything i wished i could do” and “i’ll never forget this site”. I hope you know that’s just about exactly how i feel about your site, and i’m pretty sure some others feel like that as well. :)

i wish i was there during your neopets era, it wouldve been fun to see you grow so much!

violette posted this February 08 * # Reply
I honestly don’t remember any of those sites :S I only remember radio slut. I never knew it was closed :O haha, I guess I’m really behind. I do remember xoxmariah.com, that was probably my favourite because I actually learnt how to code a whole wordpress theme from that :)

xx

Nusardel posted this February 08 * # Reply
I used to love xoxmariah! I really wish she would come back :( It was always her and swimchick that i used to visit everyday.

Anna posted this February 08 * # Reply
Hi,
IÂ´ve just read the comments above me, and, IÂ´ve the same thing as you, that when you were younger you loved some designs and thought: OMG, that’s lovely! and now you just don’t know why you said that. When you get better and designing you realize which designs are good, and which aren’t. I have the same now. I have some designsite who I found were the best ones on the web, but when I look back I don’t know why I thought that. It’s not weird to say that you don’t like it so much now.
And, Jessica, just remember you are one of the best designers on the web, and you can say as one of the bests which designs are good and which aren’t.
Allright. This wasn’t good English at all, but I hope you understand it. :)

Iris.

Iris posted this February 09 * # Reply
You know whats funny, Ive been around the website for YEARS and I mean YEARS I remember websites that I used to love going. These that you have posted reminded me of how much fun I used to have having a website you know, consistantly making layouts and such. But then it got tedious, and boring for certain reasons people didnt have any intelligence whatsoever or originality or creative and would basically copy off one another. Where was the fun in that?

The webscene has died and its sad, But im really glad you still have your site bcuz I still visit you. Im an oldd designer, started out young, and still doing big things. Ive been around so Ive seen everything.

Kevin posted this February 10 * # Reply
I found this page on google, while searching for anyof the site’s I used to visit way back when.
I used to own Dinorawr.info and before that two subdomain’s called rhubarb, i stopped just over a year ago, i seem to have lost all inspiration.
I remeber you back in your hayday XD I’m proud to know your still standing… Gosh I remember comming here when I started! Those site make me smile so much :) I remember them all so well, also places like streetcarcircus, missprinted type (still alive), artisticimpulses, xoxmariah… so many more. I also remeber a guy called Jordan but i forgett the site, and i guy called Charlie i think it was optimizeddork… Everyone I can remember seems to be long gone unfortunatly :(
I have to agree with you 100% on this “professinonalism” lark, unless its your job and you HAVE to be professional, its fun to experiment XD.

God! I remember when people gave layouts away for FREE, coded and everything. It was about the pride of seeing someone use you layout/graphic or whatever it was :’) not about money.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. And thankyou for being an inspiration when I first started back on freewebs, I wouldn’t be on a interactive media course at college atm with out you and the lot mentioned :)

Keep going Jess!
xxxxxx

Emma posted this April 26 * # Reply
This takes me back! I’m bored at work and I googled my old site and came to this. I remember every one of those sites. I’m Ashley from slashmysoul.org :) It’s been YEARS. I don’t even know how long. That was a nice trip down memory lane.

Ashley posted this September 23 * # Reply
per chance of also thinking back to those webdesigning days i googled my website (yes its the ‘radioslut’ but roughly 5 years later!) and im tremendously flattered at what youve written even after so long ago! :) props for continuing with this! i noticed as well lots of people never really pulled through but i wouldn’t see it that way – just that life brings you to appreciate other things in time more and we all just kind of move on to different things. it was definitely very exciting (even the neopet times, got to admit it!) and i dont really think any hobby i pursued afterwards was as intense as the website/blog creating! its always nice to think back to how much effort we put into little things such as that. my gosh i still cant really grasp how life has changed since, as has society really. if anybody could still recommend now other websites that stayed true to how it was before id love to see how its being carried on into the new decade!

A posted this November 22 * # Reply
So many memories here! I remember Henri, Eshita and Serena. They were my absolute favourites!!

Philippa posted this April 09 * # Reply

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Blast from the past of the webscene

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