404 error pages that will make you smile
A 404 error page is an HTTP status code that means the page you were looking for doesn’t exist on the server where the website is hosted. For example, you might land on a 404 error page by mistyping the url of the page you are trying to locate.
404 error pages are often an afterthought. These pages are known for their robotic and humorless language. On the other hand, some companies treat these pages as a way to showcase their creativity and a chance to surprise their users. Here is a small collection of the creative 404 pages that I came across in the last several weeks.
Amazon
Amazon is definitely an “everything” store, but not always the most playful, creative, or well-designed store. It’s surprising how creative the company has been with its 404 pages. The dogs of Amazon have been around for over a decade, according to evidence in this blog post from 2006. The collection of dog pictures has been carefully curated and there are over 50 species that I have personally encountered. Next time you are on amazon.com, be on the lookout for these groomed and photogenic canine species. They might distract you and save you from (yet) another Amazon purchase.
Sweetgreen & Tender Greens
I came across the Tender Greens 404 page first, and then decided to see what its food competitor Sweetgreen does when you mistype their url. The two companies have a similar approach to their 404 pages — very simple, but funny and relevant for the fast casual food business they are in.
Alaska Airlines
Since I moved to the West Coast, I started flying Alaska Airlines more often. What a change from some other usual suspects that are more common on the East Coast! This best airline company in the country also has a very creative and memorable 404 page.
Disney & Pixar
The character Sadness from Pixar’s Inside Out film has made its way to the Pixar 404 error page. Those who watched the film know that it didn’t take much to make Sadness cry.
In the case of Disney, the 404 error page is also memorable and witty. It pictures Stitch, a genetically-engineered lifeform resembling a koala, having eaten the page you are looking for.
- Well-designed 404 error pages help reduce user frustration and show that you care about user experience on your website.
- Don’t let the 404 error page be the last page a user visits. Help the user find their way to the content they were looking by adding relevant links or options to search the website.
- Track the URLs that return 404 errors and fix them.
- If you are designing a 404 error page for your website, here is some additional inspiration from Squarespace and Android
