This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Moeed ul Hassan
In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee created something that changed the world forever: the very first website. Hosted at CERN, it was a simple page explaining what the World Wide Web was and how to use it. It didn’t have CSS, JavaScript, or any of the tools we take for granted today. Just plain HTML.
That single page sparked the beginning of the web as we know it.
Why I Decided to Redesign It
When I revisited the original site, I was struck by how far we’ve come. Yet, despite its simplicity, that page still carries historical weight. To me, it represents the moment when communication, knowledge, and creativity became accessible to everyone with an internet connection.
I wanted to pay tribute to that milestone in my own way — by redesigning the first website while keeping its original essence.
View my redesign here
https://memory-rewired.vercel.app
The Approach
My goal wasn’t to modernize it with flashy visuals or complex interactions. Instead, I focused on:
Preserving the original structure — keeping the headings, links, and informational tone.
Enhancing readability — better typography, spacing, and a clean layout.
Subtle design touches — light colors, improved alignment, and a timeless feel without overcomplicating it.
The result is a version of the site that still feels true to the original, but is easier and more pleasant to browse in 2025.
Reflection
Working on this small project reminded me how much we owe to pioneers like Tim Berners-Lee. It’s easy to get lost in frameworks, libraries, and APIs, but at the heart of it all is a simple idea: sharing knowledge through the web.
This redesign isn’t just a design exercise. It’s my way of saying thank you to the person who started it all.
What do you think? Should we as developers start preserving and reimagining more pieces of web history so future generations can experience them with a modern touch?
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Moeed ul Hassan