Since the late 90s, a UFO has arrived to transform the world: the web. Over the course of 30 years, it has undergone enormous changes and continues to evolve. Categorized as a sort of new untamed territory, it has long served as a playground for many, particularly due to its playful aspect and a utopia of freedom.
It is this desire to create that has allowed the web to evolve into what it is today. Most people have either grown up with it or adapted to make the web an integral part of their lives. Being relatively recent, there are still many things to explore, and the new generations hold all the keys to continue advancing the digital world in the right direction.
“In the early 2000s, working on the web was primarily a creative and intuitive experience. We experimented without real limits, which shaped the foundations of today’s digital landscape.” – Yann Bellot
Digital design is intrinsically linked to overall design, as many designers have had to adapt to this evolution, creating new professions and new ways to conceptualize.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Yann Bellot, a renowned digital designer with 25 years of experience, for an exciting discussion about the evolution of design in the digital age. It was in an ideal setting, the recording studio of Kosmos in Bordeaux, that Yann shared his experience, his thoughts on the impact of digital technology on design, and the importance of passing on knowledge to new generations.
1. An interview with a web design expert
1.1 A remarkable guest: 25 years of experience in design
Yann Bellot, digital designer and professor in design schools, is a pivotal figure in his field. Graduating from the Beaux-Arts de Paris, he recognized the potential of the web at a time when everything was yet to be built.
“I started at an art school, the Beaux-Arts de Paris, just as the web was starting to emerge. It quickly became clear that this medium had immense potential, which sparked my interest in digital design.” – Yann Bellot.
Through his early experiences, Yann specialized in digital design and trained teams in agencies, at a time when the web was still poorly understood. Gradually, he became a consultant for various companies while simultaneously teaching at several design schools.
“Teaching has allowed me to rethink my design practice. Students arrive with fresh perspectives, driving teachers to constantly reinvent themselves.” – Yann Bellot.
Yann has alternated between consulting and teaching for over 15 years. This dual role enables him not only to contribute to tangible projects in the professional world but also to guide the new generation in a constantly evolving sector.
1.2 It's better in a good studio
All of this has been made possible by Kosmos, which sponsors this interview. Kosmos is a video production and content creation agency founded in 2022 by Ugo and Florent. Additionally, the agency offers studio rentals in Bordeaux.
2. The topic: design in the digital age: evolution, UI culture, and passing down to new generations
With Yann Bellot, we explored fundamental themes related to digital design, its evolution, and its role in shaping tomorrow's experiences. This interview, conducted by Pierre Soares, UI & Product Designer, and Océane Kanté, UX Designer at Digidop, highlights a unique journey driven by innovation and the passion to impart knowledge.
2.1 Evolution of design towards digital
The advent of digital technology has radically transformed design, opening up new creative perspectives and even new professions.
“What struck me at the beginning was the idea that we were building something entirely new, with very few references or established frameworks. This allowed for total freedom, but also a lot of experimentation.” – Yann Bellot.
Many individuals, unbothered by the arrival of the web and interested in design, have been able to start creating, particularly due to its playful nature and a utopia of freedom.
Like many new innovations, numerous designers ventured into this untamed territory to lay the groundwork for today's digital design.
“What makes digital so exciting is that it is constantly evolving. Even with decades of experience, one must continuously learn, test, and adapt to remain relevant.” – Yann Bellot.
Today, digital technology has made design more accessible than ever, particularly through tools that allow us to continuously develop our creativity and also to create personalized user experiences.
2.2 Culture of design in UI
The culture of design has always nurtured the digital realm. The much older history of design has enabled the digital field to grow and gave rise to new designers known as digital designers.
Indeed, the merging occurred with the rise of digital technology, when designers steeped in the digital world were often at odds with more traditional designers. Nowadays, it is essential for a digital designer to have a holistic view of design, and conversely, it is crucial for a traditional designer to embrace digital.
“Major movements like Bauhaus remain a significant source of inspiration, even in a digital context. The simplicity and functionality emphasized by these styles resonate in modern UI design.” – Yann Bellot.
Furthermore, different design styles, like Bauhaus for example, continue to inspire most designers, as evidenced by Digidop's current logo, which is heavily inspired by the shapes of the movement. This merging of tradition and modernity is particularly illustrated in the complementarity of approaches.
“Digital does not erase the past. On the contrary, it builds upon the fundamental principles of traditional design to offer experiences that are both innovative and familiar.” – Yann Bellot.
2.3 Passing knowledge to new generations
“Teaching has allowed me to rethink my design practice. Students arrive with fresh perspectives, driving teachers to constantly reinvent themselves.” – Yann Bellot.
Transmitting knowledge to new generations is essential, first and foremost because they have not lived through the same experiences, not grown in the same environment, and most importantly, arrived when the web was already established.
The younger generations that are coming will be the ones who hold the keys to the web in the future, and it is up to them to develop this entire ecosystem while being aware of everything that has come before. This transmission also enables a projection into the society of tomorrow.
Indeed, this passing of the baton is not only beneficial for young students, but it is also advantageous for those sharing their experiences, allowing them to adapt their discourse and change their view of the web while reflecting on what comes next.
2.4 What future for design?
When discussing the future of design, thoughts inevitably turn to artificial intelligence. Today, it plays a predominant role in the web world, but also has embedded itself in society.
While it is still very recent and has been minimally experimented with, many people use it daily, whether for text generators, image generators, or for developers, code generators.
One might then wonder if they will ever replace humans?
“AIs are fascinating, but they remain tools. They lack the sensitivity or human intuition, two essential elements for genuinely meaningful creation.” – Yann Bellot.
This reflection also extends to the ethics of digital design.
“The ethical question is becoming central in digital design. We must ask ourselves: for whom are we creating and for what purposes? These reflections will guide the future of design.” – Yann Bellot.
Many questions arise, but to date, these AIs remain tools, used for certain operational and production tasks. We are not talking about substitution here, but about assistance, and it is partly these new tools that will push design in the right direction. Ultimately, the future of design relies on a balanced collaboration between humans and technology.
“The future of design relies on a partnership between humans and machines. Tools like AI are not an end in themselves, but catalysts for pushing the boundaries of our creativity.” – Yann Bellot.
2.5 Conclusion: design as a vector of innovation and transmission
The exchange with Yann Bellot shed light on the evolution of digital design, its roots, and its fundamental role in shaping tomorrow's experiences. Through his journey, Yann illustrates how digital design has been enriched by its history while adapting to technological changes.
According to him, design remains a field of experimentation where human creativity is amplified by digital tools. Yet, he emphasizes that this evolution must never come at the expense of ethics and intuition, two inseparable components of meaningful creation.
“Digital does not erase the past. On the contrary, it builds upon the fundamental principles of traditional design to offer experiences that are both innovative and familiar.” – Yann Bellot.
As artificial intelligence redefines certain aspects of design, Yann insists on the essential role of humans in this process, not as passive spectators, but as co-creators capable of infusing meaning and emotion into their works.
“The future of design relies on a partnership between humans and machines. Tools like AI are not an end in themselves, but catalysts for pushing the boundaries of our creativity.” – Yann Bellot.
This dialogue reminds us of the importance of transmitting knowledge to new generations so they can continue to advance this field while staying true to its fundamental values: innovation, openness, and passion.
