15 Websites that defy expectations.
Today, almost anyone can design a website. Pick a platform – Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, Wordpress – and you have hundreds of templates to choose from. Drag and drop features make it easy to quickly create a functional site. The downside? Websites are starting to look redundant – very predictable and frankly, boring.
My job as a designer is to find ways to subvert the norms and find interesting ways to use typography, imagery, motion, and sound to engage. Believe it or not, this is possible to achieve within the platform constraints, but only if you push the boundaries. Every site needs clear navigation, good content, consistent branding, and effective calls to action, but the great sites find ways to innovatively express their brand’s personality and look outside of their categories for ways to stand out.
Need some inspiration? I’ve assembled 15 in different categories that defy expectations to help get your creative juices going. If you want some professional help, drop me a line!
Corporate & Professional Services
Corporate & Professional Services
HYER
Private Aviation
• bold typography
• clear calls to action
• interesting imagery
• clean design
• inviting
GRETTE
Legal Firm
• no stock photos
• interesting graphic
• engaging design
• elegant & calm
• focus on people
DONALDSON
Plastic Surgeon
• good use of navigation
• beautiful photography
• calm and tonal
• design reinforces values
• elegant yet accessible
ADI GOODRICH
Interior Design
• great use of scroll
• bold typography
• interesting layout
• unexpected elements
• uses negative space well
SUPIMA
Cotton Trade Group
• compelling photography
• bold/visual sub-nav
• quiet typography
• clean design
• warm & inviting
retail & restaurant
retail & restaurant
KISMET
Restaurant
• unexpected layout
• great use of color
• fun & inviting tone
• good hierarchy of info
CHINA POBLANO
Restaurant
• fun color palette
• blend of image & texture
• bold typography
• dynamic photography
• brand has presence
BOY AND THE BEAR
Café and Roaster
• inviting tonal palette
• interesting slide show
• great type choices
• good use of page scroll
• unexpected sub-nav
LEIF
Boutique
• good use of white space
• simple navigation
• focus on imagery
• asymmetrical layout
Product & Technology
Product & Technology
GEORGE NAKASHIMA
Furniture
• bold juxtapositions
• quiet typography
• uses negative space
• interesting scrolls
• nice image on image
POKETO
Lifestyle Products
• good use of scroll
• playful branding
• dynamic product pages
• bold typography
• inviting
AARK
Watches
• good use of animation
• full of life
• great photography
• images take the lead
Pili Pili
Intimacy Products
• bold type
• fun graphics
• innovative content (spotify playlist)
BEAU
Saas Platform
• interesting illustration
• good info hierarchy
• inviting color palette
• compelling infographics
Non-Profit
Non-Profit
SWAB THE WORLD
Stem Cell Donor Registry
• unexpected design
• great use of animation
• inviting & playful
• bold typography
• engaging infographics
Let’s expand this list!
Got a good one to share? Post the URL in the comments and let me know why you love it!