The Bomb in the Garden

The web is turning 20. Has it lived up to its early promise? I say no. The web was intended as a space for sharing human creativity and ideas. It's been partially successful in that role. But it's become dominated by an advertising economy that relies on confining creators — especially designers — to an ever smaller box. I'll make the case that the trend can be reversed, if designers are willing to re-assert themselves. But getting there will require puncturing some comfortable myths.