As the internet evolves, a funny thing is happening. In some ways, it seems to be going in reverse. During the early part of the 2000s, the online world had a huge growth spurt. Bored with the limited nature of HTML, developers sought new ways to push the boundaries of the web. Sites got more cumbersome as interactive features and special effects piled on (often via Flash).

Then, the weight of the internet got tiring. Huge Flash websites were bulky and tough to update. People started using mobile devices more and more. Social media took over. All of a sudden, instead of using the World Wide Web for entertainment, we started to use it for information aggregating and social networking. People just wanted content.

And so the internet that has emerged seems to be one that is clean cut and light weight. There have been many developments, but one that I find interesting is the embrace for nostalgia. The animated GIF has proliferated as a trendy "new-old" way to add visual interest to websites and emails. This heritage file format finds new life in many places, from low-brow memes to high-brow fashion email blasts to cinemagraphs to stereoscopic animations.

This phenomenon also seems to be coinciding with similar return-to-form movements offline, such as our current obsessions with analog mediums, artisan methods, and pre-industrial production.

Image Credits: Jack Spade, J. Crew, Field Study, Need Supply, Flipboard, Battle Axe, Twin Sister

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