For those of you who are reading this post in a pdf format, we’re going to let you in on a secret: we’re in the midst of a web refresh. That being said, all we can think about are websites these days. We are gradually seeing more innovative web designs as businesses begin to invest more time and resources in the digital space. Today’s Joe is an appreciation post to the websites that we are currently bedazzled by; those that turn heads (if you are not already looking).
Going onto the Universal Favourite website is comparable to entering a theme park - you don’t know where to start because everything catches your eye. The Australian design studio - that we truly admire - has a way of making things fun. From the copywriting to animations, we find user experience uniquely explorative and visually stimulating.
“It makes me want to stay even if I was here to look at one project,” said Evelyn.
If you are a fan of uncovering Easter eggs, navigating this website might be thrilling for you. The thing about web designs is that it can’t be too over the top - it has to make sense. Universal Favourites seem to be a master of keeping things interesting yet intuitive. You might be surprised at the little details (you may have missed) that have been put in place to create what seems like a seamless experience.
Left: Less or More Toggle. Right: Animation that introduces the team when you hover over ‘The Specialist Team’.
Does the interior design company Studio McGee ring a bell? If it does, you have probably caught Shea and Syd McGee in the Netflix reality TV series, Dream Home Makeover. When entering their website, the words that came to María are ‘organised’, ‘light’, and ‘comfortable’, which are words that we think could be used to describe their interior design style as well. The way the studio’s aesthetic comes through on the website is highly commendable as that is always the primary objective of a website - to reflect the essence of the brand.
Studio McGee’s website’s layout might look simple, but we think it could be the piece of the puzzle that the Nice People team spent the most time solving. The use of dynamic layouts for an image-heavy website is definitely a bold decision. We also observed how white space plays an important role in making the minimalist design.
“There’s so much personality in this website once you’ve navigated through. Nice People’s attention to detail creates a flawless (and if I may, soothing) web experience,” María expressed.
How many of you are fans of a good single page website? Well, if you are - welcome to the club. Anton Repponen is a designer and photographer. Irene Pereyra is a UX director/designer. “We have set up our studio so we can be personally involved with every single project and get to be choosy about what work we take on — client or self-initiated,” is how they’ve explained their story on the website.
For Anton & Irene’s website, you wouldn’t know what to expect when you first land. Once the scrolling begins, you would not want it to end. What really makes the website stand out is the huge focus on flow and storytelling. The whole experience is almost cinematic with its narrative and sequencing done in a way that feels like a short film. Segmentation is important on a single page website, and the pair have done that well with the use of bright colours and a range of animations. Needless to say, the copywriting packs a real punch and arguably takes the lead in this design.
Clients: Data visualisation - simple and direct way of storytelling.
About Section: Animations are not always the key to interactivity.
