[type-2]

Why did he decide to call it kawaiization? I don't think this kind of design is inspired from japan, even though the rounded corners, soft color palette can be considered "cute", they exist because they are perceived as "modern web design". I put it in quotes but honestly I don't hate it. It is pleasing to the eyes.

[whywhywhywhy]

> I don't think this kind of design is inspired from japan

It's almost entirely a west coast US style if anything, nothing to do with kawaii. I even find it weirdly similar to 90s software illustrations, the ancient Adobe Acrobat branding comes to mind [0]

[0] https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wSPfBcRRL...

[knolax]

Agreed, there's no additional meaning to the world kawaii that isn't already captured by the word cute. Actual Japanese websites look nothing like what the author describes.

[type-2]

Pretty much. Though it is a very international thing, I think chinese websites in general look more "kawaii" if we use the world like the author(?). For eg. take look at www.ui.cn

[jotm]

It got you to read it. It got it to the front page on HN.