7 Inspiring Web Development Examples To Learn From
As a web design agency in Northern Ireland, we have a vested interest in maintaining an up-to-date awareness of the latest trends in web development and graphic design. Staying on top of the newest and most innovative thinking in the sector means that we can create websites which reflect the brand ethos of each of our clients as clearly and effectively as possible. In very direct terms, knowing this stuff is our job. We provide web design in Northern Ireland, but we work with a global perspective and an awareness of the best work that other people are doing. We also think it’s important for anyone in business with a digital presence to remain aware of the options available, and so we’ve pulled together this selection of inspiring web development examples from around the world to showcase exactly what can be achieved.
Mighty Buildings
The Mighty Buildings website is an interesting example, in that it straddles two sectors – construction and tech. Mighty Buildings is a trailblazing company, specialising in the innovative practice of creating homes via 3D printing. The key to their brand is that they are able to turn out residential modules utilising the kind of complex designs which traditional building methods aren’t able to match. The website utilises clean, clear lines in the design and emphasises the use of visuals as a means of presenting the information. For a product of this kind, a high-quality image or video can capture the innovation and ease of a new technology with far greater impact than text can. The site also makes use of interactive metrics throughout in order to showcase the achievements of the company and highlight key figures such as the faster building time and minimal waste created.
Mbau
Mbau is an exclusive luxury island resort in eastern Fiji. The website is designed to offer an immersive experience from the first second, based around a visually sumptuous video showcasing the natural beauty of the island. Despite the pin-sharp quality and rich colour palette of the multiple videos on the site, it loads and runs quickly and smoothly. Mobile-first development also ensures that the layout of the site delivers the same high-end immersive experience across the full range of devices.
Motion
Motion, a website which showcases the principles of motion graphic design and animation, is a classic example of ‘show, don’t tell’. As the user scrolls down the site, a white dot guides the navigation, bouncing around the minimalist, black-and-white screen in the manner of a computer game. The use of a game-like user interface turns the act of exploring the site into an experience, with principles such as ‘GOOD ANIMATION ALSO MAKES THE USER EXPERIENCE MORE MEMORABLE AND EXCITING’ being demonstrated in real time as they are spelt out. The site manages to pull off the difficult trick of offering a novel and visually innovative experience whilst also being extremely easy to access, explore, and understand.
Spotify
The next example is one which many more people are probably aware of. The fact that a site like Spotify is so popular means it’s easy to take the quality of the web development for granted, but the homepage boasts several features which help to set it apart. The overarching selling point of Spotify, and the thing it does extremely well, is the User Interface. The first thing to note is that the UI of Spotify is dynamic, offering a different immersive experience every time a user visits. Aesthetics and functionality come together in the form of an intuitive layout, seamless navigation, and dynamic content, which is constantly updated to reflect the preferences of the user. The design is also responsive, which means that the UI offers a uniform experience across all devices.
Zara
One inescapable fact facing anyone working in web development is that there are an awful lot of websites out there. According to some of the latest statistics, there are 1.1 billion sites in total, of which 201 million are active. Standing out amidst this much digital noise can be tricky, and some web developers overcompensate by loading their pages with content, images, and features which only serve to cancel each other out. The Zara online store takes the opposite approach, adopting minimalism and high-definition imagery to create a site which encapsulates the brand ethos of luxury and modernism. As well as looking stunning, the site boasts an intuitive layout which makes searching for the items you want completely seamless and friction-free. The ‘less is more’ approach to information helps to frame shopping as a pleasure rather than a necessity.
Monzo
The approach taken by online-only bank Monzo is to provide all of the features that modern banking customers would expect, but to present them with a rare degree of flair, turning the sometimes tedious and/or stressful process of handling personal finances into something more enjoyable. Instant payment notifications are just one aspect of the dynamic approach taken by the site, enabling users to track their account in real time rather than via static snapshots. Tools for budgeting and saving also make it simpler for users to work on their ‘financial health’, with a degree of ‘gamification’ playing a part in encouraging good habits like saving small, regular amounts.
Solar Journey
Solar Journey is a site which combines educational content with stunning web technology, showcasing a 3D journey through the cosmos. In simple terms, it fills the screen with a richly realised view of the solar system, with the planets orbiting around the sun. Users can then click on an individual planet to access a detailed 3D model. The visual representation can be zoomed into and rotated for closer inspection, as if being held in the hand, while written information is presented in the form of key facts and figures along one side and more detailed information on the other. The site as a whole is a prime example of the ability of great web development to utilise stunning visuals to present complex information in an accessible and enjoyable manner.
Aspects of Great Web Development
Each of the examples given above is unique and provides different inspiration in terms of high-impact, user-friendly web development. Taking the examples on board, however, it is possible to draw a few general lessons around what you’re likely to see as part of truly impressive web development:
- The needs and requirements of the user are put at the centre of the website. If it doesn’t function well, then all of the great visuals in the world won’t stop users from bouncing.
- The look of the site has been kept as simple as possible, with visuals that enhance the branding, but don’t distract users from finding what they came for.
- The aesthetic of the site and features such as navigation styles should be consistent across the whole of the site.
- The site needs to be responsive, meaning it works equally well across devices of any size and type.
