Have you noticed the gradual disappearance of the concept of pages?

Take a moment to create a Google Docs document on your mobile device. As you begin typing, you’ll notice something peculiar – there are no distinct pages. Instead, the document flows endlessly, an infinite scroll of text. Curious, you navigate to the settings and discover an option to toggle pages on and off. Intrigued, you decide to enable pages, only to find that the text spills over, unable to conform to the rigid boundaries of the device screen.

Frustrated by this constraint, you revert to the fluid, pageless layout. The same experience unfolds when using Google Docs on a desktop computer. After all, Google Docs is a web application, and the absence of pages remains consistent across all devices.

My assertion is that the notion of traditional page-based documents is steadily fading in favor of dynamic, pageless layouts that adapt seamlessly to any device. Historically, the concept of pages on the web was virtually nonexistent until a programmer, perhaps reminiscing about the tactile experience of flipping pages, introduced a flip page animation. Unsurprisingly, this innovation quickly gained popularity. For centuries, since the invention of the printing press, we have been conditioned to flip pages when reading. This behavior has become ingrained in our habits, almost as if it were an evolutionary trait, developed over time as people read more and more seeking ways to survive boredom or the competitive demands of the workplace.

Yet, in today’s digital age, the preference is shifting from page flips to clicks. Our interactions with digital screens are shaping us to scroll and tap, much like how books conditioned us to flip pages. This evolving preference is unfolding gradually, often without much notice. Increasingly, I encounter individuals questioning the necessity of engaging with lengthy 100-page documents. When probed about their preferences, they find it challenging to articulate a specific term for the desired document format. Instead, they express a desire for a more interactive experience – one that allows them to “click” through content, reminiscent of navigating the web.

A new functional aesthetic is on the raise that is different from the traditional design aesthetic. Traditional design prioritizes layout – the position of elements on the page. The new functional aesthetics emphasizes  interaction and engagement with the content. This functional aesthetics enriches the traditional layout design in many ways. But most importantly it liberates design from the constraints of the page and their liner flow. 

We are at the beginning of this transformative journey, and the prospects are exhilarating, filled with new ideas and challenges. We are now reimagining the presentation of a 400-page Word document in a pageless format – considering how it would look, feel, and function. How will users navigate such content? How will writers craft and organize their material? How will designers arrange it in an interactive format? The possibilities are endless, and witnessing the evolution unfold is both invigorating and inspiring.

We are ready to embrace the pageless approach, particularly for the vast majority of content that is better suited for the web rather than confined to filing cabinets and traditional libraries.