There is no official standard for what makes something “Web 2.0”, but there certainly are a few tell-tale signs. These new sites usually feature modern web technologies like Ajax and often have something to do with building online communities. But even more characteristic among these brands is their appearance. Web 2.0 sites nearly always feel open and friendly and often use small chunks of large type. The colors are bright and cheery — lots of blue, orange, and what we jokingly call the Official Color of Web 2.0: lime green.

You can see some of these striking commonalities in Ludwig Gatzke’s compilation of nearly 400 Web 2.0 logos. Read on for a breakdown of the fonts used in a few of our favorite brands.

The Softies

A clear trend in new identities is the use of soft, rounded typefaces dominated by VAG Rounded (AKA Rundschrift), but also including Helvetica Rounded, Arial Rounded, Bryant, and FF Cocon. All of these lend a modern friendliness to what might otherwise be a cold trademark.

Oct. 2008 Update —  New and underused fonts in this category: Foco, Tondo, FF Netto, Estilo Text, and FF Unit Rounded.

	ClipShack — video sharing Font: VAG Rounded and Light obliqued
	Zimbra — collaborative calendar Font: VAG Rounded Light
	Wayfaring — custom Google Maps Font: VAG Rounded (fattened with added stroke)
	Kajeet — mobile phone service Font: VAG Rounded (custom ‘j’)
	Zopa — lending exchange Font: similar to Frankfurter Medium or Bryant Bold Alt
	Pando — file sharing Font: similar to Bryant Medium Alt
	MySpace — social networking Font: Arial Rounded Bold and Bell Gothic Black
	TracksLife — personal database Font: Arial Rounded Bold
	Eventful — collaborative calendar Font: Arial Rounded Bold (slightly smooshed)
	Spongecell — collaborative calendar Font: Arial Rounded Extra Bold
	Skype — internet telephony Font: Helvetica Rounded Bold
	ShoZu — photo sharing Font: FF Cocon Bold
	Tabblo and Tabblog — photo sharing Font: FF Cocon Bold

The Futurists

Some sites are reflecting the technological breakthroughs of Web 2.0 with a look that says “tomorrow’s techno”. Pixel faces, hard edges, and ultra simplified forms are not as common as the cozy shapes from the group above, but they represent a good portion of the latest internet startups.

Oct. 2008 Update —  New and underused fonts in this category: FS Sinclair, FS Alvar, FF Cube, FF Netto, Sys, Notes Style, Purista, Stratum, Neutraliser, ITC Tetra, Stainless, Atrament

	Last.fm — musical social network Font: ITC Ronda (customized) Alternate: Avernus
	Photobucket — photo hosting Font: Digital Sans Medium
	Plazes — geographical networking Font: Base 9 Regular SC
	NewsGator — RSS aggregator Font: ITC Bauhaus Medium
	ReminderFeed — reminders via RSS Font: FF Dot Matrix Two Regular
	Technorati — weblog search tool Font: Neo Sans Medium
	TagWorld — social networking Font: Handel Gothic Bold
	Shoutwire — news sharing Font: Agency Bold

The Classics

Safe standbys like Trade and News Gothic, Frutiger, Avenir, Interstate, FF Meta, FF DIN, and the always ubiquitous Helvetica continue to see use in new web logos.

Oct. 2008 Update —  Using uncommon alternatives to classic typefaces can ensure a logo is unique. Here are a few new or underused alts to the standards:

• Trade Gothic → Spiegel, Benton Sans, Brown Gothic
• Frutiger → Locator, FF Transit, Vialog
• Futura → FF Super Grotesk, Neuzeit Grotesk, Nobel
• FF DIN → Malmö Sans, Magion, Sophisto, Antagometrica, FF Good
• Helvetica → see Alternatives to Helvetica

	Xanga — weblog community Font: Trade Gothic No. 2 Bold and Light
	FeedBurner — RSS optimization and tracking Font: Trade Gothic Bold
	Newsvine — news sharing Font: FF Meta Bold and Book
	StandPoint — belief sharing Font: FF DIN Medium
	DropSend — file sharing Font: Frutiger Bold
	Flickr — photo sharing Font: Frutiger Black
	PureVolume — music promotion Font: Avenir Book and Medium
	Shutterfly — photo service Font: Avenir Heavy (customized)
	9rules — web design network Font: Helvetica Bold
	PODZINGER — podcast search Font: Interstate Black
	Campfire — group chat Font: Interstate Regular
	YouTube — video sharing Font: Alternate Gothic No. Two
	Bloglines — news aggregator Font: ITC Officina Bold
	Weblogs, Inc. — blog network Font: Syntax Bold
	Wikipedia — collaborative reference Font: Hoefler Text

New Classics

Just as there will always be trends, there will also be those designers who break from them. The following logotypes eschew the popular styles mentioned above and use new typefaces that have the potential to become timeless classics. The typeface is then used throughout the site in headers and graphics. It’s a great way to reinforce a brand and set it apart:

	Socialtext — enterprise wiki Font: Lisboa Sans
	Facebook — social networking Font: Klavika (customized) Also: cards with Vista Sans
	Joyent — small business server Font: Proxima Nova (alt ‘a’) Not a logo, but we love Joyent’s use of Proxima — a new face that feels familiar but has its own character.

Update - March 22, 2006: Today’s email newsletter suggests some alternatives to the typefaces used in these trends. If you’re not subscribed to FontShop News, you’re missing out on that good stuff, plus the monthly calendar and free font. Register for a FontShop.com account or check your subscription settings to get on board.

See also:

• An annotated list of all the companies represented in Gatzke’s compilation.
• Ben Hunt sums up “current web style”.
• Christopher Fahey rounds up a list of other sites that categorize design style.
• Web2Logo catalogs the sites and hosts forum discussions for each.