Deciding to create a web presence is a big decision, but the best websites are a culmination of many small decisions. Choosing the right content management system and web host, opting for a template, refining your content, and selecting the best layouts to display your products and services are just a few of the details that establish your business’s online identity. But one major decision that takes time, diligence, and a great deal of inspiration is the design of your website.
So let’s discuss websites that have absolutely nailed their website design.
Why it inspires me: Bright colors, drop shadows, and smooth animations give this website character and depth. The flat geometric designs with abstract accents make albums and artists practically jump off of the screen.
This website isn’t selling a product or a service, just an experience. And not truly selling it, but offering it up and the emotions that accompany the memories of watching this film as a kid. The interface itself is a streamless flow and the animated elements aren’t sudden or drastic - they appear on the page gradually. I’m also a huge fan of dark mode over light mode, it’s more casual and comfy.
I think, so far, one that really struck me when it comes to design is https://www.madametussauds.com/, there’s a lot that is going on the website but still manage to make it easier to use.
I really like https://www.chegg.com/
They have a professional feel with a lot of white space but pops of color. Very appealing to the college age crowd.
I really like this too. The volume of data being updated daily is impressive and they had this site up and running within a few weeks of Covid being declared a pandemic. Really intuitive to navigate and drill down the data without any real instructions too.
This is bringing me to the shocking realization that I don’t browse websites nearly as much as I do brands’ social media presences (even when I don’t have my “marketing hat” on). With that said, I suppose I have had a lot of really nice experiences browsing products and purchasing on (… Sorry HubSpot CMS … ) many retailers who are on Shopify. A lot of their themes are super clean, and they have a very appealing checkout experience. The use of white space coupled with avoidance of visual clutter, as highlighted in this lesson, plays such a huge role in making those sites appealing to use.
