I used to have mullet and a lightning bolt earring and they were glorious. You laugh now but back in the day they were perfectly acceptable and I rocked them hard. Of course, looking back at pictures of me and my mullet make me cringe. Did I really think that was a good look? Seriously, what was I thinking?

But if I think past the look and to the function of that oh-so-horrendous hairstyle it did exactly what I needed it to do -- mark me as a "rebel" and pissed off my parents.

Looking at websites from our past, it's easy to scoff and joke about how silly they look compared to today's flashy Flash fests. But the truth is, we always think what we're doing now is great and what we did "back then" was stupid. But we must always remember to look back in the context of the time. Back then, my mullet was bitchin' and this One Show Interactive 1998 Gold winning site from Honda was killer.

 

One Show Interactive Gold ‘98
Art Director Luis Ramirez
Writers Heather Reid, Claudia Saunders
Producer Michael Sterner
Programmers Andrew Lientz, Jeff Kwong
Client American Honda Motor, Co.
Agency Rubin Postaer Interactive

This site has everything a shopper needs. Want to learn about different Honda models? They're a click away. Plus, you can check out the colors just by clicking a color box! Want to find a dealer? Just input your zip code. Sure the design is rudimentary and maybe a little clunky but the utility of the site is amazing. Compare this to their current site.

All the function of the '98 site is there but so is a whole lot more. I can still see the cars and change their colors and I can still find a dealer using my zip code. The design is much more mature but I also find it a little busy. There's button overload. Too many choices. I'd argue that today's version is the site equivalent of parachute pants -- we simply don't need that many pockets and zippers.

What I love about the original is that it did exactly what it needed to do. It helped shoppers learn about the cars, explore their options, and then continue down the consideration path. It may look funny now but it's design and function was perfect for the time.

So let's learn from the past. Keep it simple and if you're going to be flashy, make sure it serves a real purpose and isn't flashy simply for the sake of being flashy.