So as 2009 has come to a close and the year of “Twenty-Ten” is upon us, of course it is a time for reflection on the past and what is ahead.

On the web design side, 2009 was a year full of simple, clean usable design. It has become part of the consciousness of the profession. I was so overjoyed by this move in 2009 and hope it continues in 2010. I tend to see things visually this way and hope it continues. I hope the web industry has finally fully accepted that simple, direct communication beats fancy design, and that we must strive to deliver what our web site visitors want. It is about finding the information they came to find in the best possible way.

Usability is now more mainstream and accessible, User-Centered Design has become part of many people’s design processes, and we’ve also seen SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (search engine marketing – pay-per-click etc.) become dedicated professional disciplines. If there is any big trend to continue in 2010, I hope SEO continues to show its might and worth. Of course, Social Networking was king in 2009, and I am sure that will continue. I do hope however, it finds a way to mainstream itself more to be a transmitter of quality content and quality networking of ideas and groups. I worry with the “jump on the bandwagon” that has happened with SN lately, that we will have so much information that the quality of the content may be lost. But let’s hope there are new methods and forms of IA that continue to evolve with this medium.

My 2010 wish list on the geek side is, of course, the iSlate, iTablet, iGuide or whatever they choose to call it. I hope it lives up to its hype. And I hope I can continue to worship at the Apple Altar. I will if the product they deliver continues to be as stunning as it was in 2009. But, I also hope some friend of mine will buy an unlocked Nexus One so I can play with it. Competition is a fine thing.

I hope to be able to continue my freelancing business in 2010 with the pace and quality of the projects that 2009 brought me too.

On a more general side, I hope and pray 2010 is the year we remember how close and connected we are as a people, nation and world. A little more civility and cohesiveness all around would be most welcomed.

And finally, I did not mistype that. It is HOPPY NEW YEAR – and old family tradition and a great one at that.