I'll play devil's advocate for the time being and argue that these "trends" (I'd call them design patterns) are really really good for the user. Consider the user who doesn't hardly understand how to use her OS interface. Imagine the grief she faces when every button on every Web site is slightly different. Buttons should look tangible. Aqua goes a step further than the bevel and I believe it has helped users feel more comfortable with this foreign environment.

It would be unwise, in general application, to wander too far outside the domain of a computer interface to look for inspiration/influence. Yes, we should challenge ourselves to refine and understand our users' mental models for the basic tasks of your application or Web site, but we must respect design patterns that have been developing over the history of human-computer interaction, for the benefit of our users, not the need to fulfill our want for diversity--for 'art.'

Just like the button went from bevel to gel-cap, flat colors go gradient, square corners go round. These devices, trends, patterns, what-have-you, are part of the Internet that users are becoming accustomed to and comfortable with. Gradients make them feel free and open, rounded corners give them room to play, and bubbly-buttons are the friends that do cool things for them. To deny that bond for any "artistic" reason would be senseless and unyielding.

Now, getting your logo mixed up in this philosophy is a different issue altogether, and I wouldn't agree with that "trend."

Yeah, I think a large part of us saw that post, and was disgusted by the amount of diggs it received. The problem lies mainly with the population of digg have little variety. Either they are marketers or they are high school kids who think a gloss effect will make a bad design work. I think pepsi did a great job on their logo, because it is distinguishable.

Anytime I see a post on Digg or del.icio.us titled something like this:

X Number of Super Groovy Design Things

I do my best to avoid clicking the link.

When did it become an economically feasible business model to post lists of a bunch of "Web 2.0" things, be they blogs, logos, buttons, whatever, on a blog with TONS of advertising? I'm really sick of this kind of Google baiting content, and wish that people would avoid those types of mindless list posts. If you absolutely have to see the list - just promise me you won't click on the ads.

/rant

No Martin!

You're right. Lists are popular because they are easy to scan. I'm just criticizing the people who are trying to make a living at posting nothing but lists of crap and then throwing Google ads between numbers 3 and 4, 6 and 7, an interstitial ad page that users must pass through to see numbers 9 and 10... not to mention the usual sidebar, footer and header ads.

HA HA!

I took a look back on some designs i did about 10 years ago, I was a beginner and most of the designs \ logos were candy-ish very similar to web2.0...

web2.0 makes me want web3.0sp4

I saw this in my morning news and thought it was hilarious!! Will never design another site without!!!

And clearly doesn't own a copy of Illustrator or Fireworks :)

Logos do traditionally have standards -- there are many, but some obvious ones: you need to ensure they work in color and black/white, you need to ensure they maintain solid quality when being photocopied or faxed. Not to mention that the format should be vector based and you should be considering your Pantone colors as well. You want to ensure your logo (identity) is recognizable when being sized down and you should take vertical and horizontal placement into account (just keep it back-of-mind).

Everything has standards -- not that we have to follow them.