Minimalism is great, but getting a bit too common, don’t you think? As a designer, it’s my duty to stay ahead of the game and challenge the norm. [Insert hipster artist joke here] Graphics say a lot and can tell consumers about your product before they even read into it. Don’t get me wrong, minimalism is fantastic and I love it, but it does have it’s place. I’d like to highlight what I think is one of the hardest styles to achieve: graphic heavy site designs. Many people attempt it, but few prevail. Graphic heavy sites often look cluttered and messy. They become hard to navigate, slow loading and generally… terrible. I’ve compiled a list below of some amazing examples of how graphics can be used heavily in a website without overwhelming the viewer.
Click the images to view their corresponding websites.
The Postproducers
This site uses a bold pop of pink on a greyscale site to emphasize the important features. Headers, social media links, and panel transitions all stand out with just a touch of pink “highlighter” overlay. I could honestly scroll through this site all day long admiring the graphic design and use of photography and type (even though part of it is in a different language…).
Twisted Bindings
Not only is Twisted Binding’s product pretty freakin’ cool, but they’re website is too! The bold use of photography is unique and eye catching. I especially love the snow piles at the bottom of the video and the shop links. Their images aren’t too distracting and provide a really good feel for what the company is all about before you even read a single word.
Indubitablee
Indubitablee is the home of web designer Denise Chandler. She has lots of illustrative elements in her design that add a playful, quirky twist to her site. Her font is big, but just the right amount of big. It’s eye catching, bold and beautiful.
Just Dot
Just Dot takes the chalkboard trend to the next level with their website. It looks jumbled at first glance, but as you look around you see how each element ties in to the grand scheme. My absolute favorite part of the site is the combination of fonts. I’m a sucker for handwritten fonts, and when they are beautifully combined, I fall in love.
Firefly Festival
This website uses a lot of funky graphic elements paired with a stunning color scheme to bring you a wonderful work of art. As you scroll through each different colored panel, everything lines up beautifully in a new and interesting scene.
Chore Monster
Adorable, quirky and innovative, this website portrays a great use of texture and graphics in beautifully busy harmony. The movement in the header is a very nice touch as well. And I mean, come on… That app is a great idea to get kids motivated to help around the house!
Jacksonville Art Walk
Jacksonville Art Walk’s site expertly blends artistic graphics with photography to bring you an interesting backdrop for content. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m kind of a sucker for hand written fonts, so this use of typography on the web gets my seal of approval.
Captain Creative
Ah, vintage graphics… Just starting to coast down from their peak of popularity, but not quite diving to their sudden “so last year” status. Personally, I still love them, and Captain Creative does them incredible justice in a new-old-school comic book fashion. From the muted color scheme, reminiscent of old photos to the beautiful integration of textures, this site is worth the look of any designer or graphic connoisseur.
Bel50
I love waffles, but I love this website more. The orange shade is bold and enticing, just like their product! The graphics are fun and quirky and tie in well with the witty typography.
DIY.org
My love for this site goes beyond the beautiful graphics. I love the entire concept of this site. It’s like scouts for anyone at any age! I think it’s a great tool for parents, teachers or even just the average person looking for something new to learn. Best of all? They do it all with beautiful, bold graphics to make your experience lovely.
No Comments Yet.
Be the first to leave a comment on this article!