Since 1993, when the first website was created, the Internet has drastically changed the world, and web design has played an important role in how we interact with and experience it.
With technology constantly changing, websites went from blank walls of text optimized for slow connections to being crazy, colorful and chaotic in the late 90’s and then to the modern and minimalist version we have today, focusing mainly on usability and functionality.
| The problem
Although we are no longer limited by technology, it seems that a lot of modern website design is soulless, made the same, copied over and over without adding anything new. Everything is made out of boxes and follows the same rules like there’s no thought put into it. All websites use templates and libraries that make them easy to build which, don’t get me wrong, are really useful, but also come at the cost of individuality.
On top of that, a lot of websites take inspiration from tech giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, etc. in order to make it seem like they are part of the same ecosystem. When everyone looks at the same things, their work tends to all feel the same.
Even though the designs themselves are not bad, these websites are not at all memorable, they don’t stand out, and with nearly 2 billion websites on the internet they just get lost alongside a million other similar interfaces.
The thing that made me want to write this is an article titled “Good UX = Boring UI. Don’t Be Creative” from uxengineer.com which claims that: “from a user’s perspective, creativity just gets in the way.”
While I agree that good user experience is essential for any good website, I believe the design also plays an important role. Good user experience doesn’t have to use a boring design, the UI is supposed to engage and make the user want to learn and experience the content.
An essential element of good design is thestrong connection between form and content, between design and functionality. The form is supposed to reflect and shape the content. Once you lose this connection you end up with generic replaceable content containers whose sole purpose are to numbly transmit the information without empowering it in any way. Its a waste of potential.
| The solution
I think the first step to make great websites that stand out is to look for inspiration in different places. Nature, architecture, and real world objects are great choices, especially when they are related to your website. Even Google’s Material Design is based on the principle that visual elements should feel like they have physical properties. You could also take inspiration from games or other programs that use different interfaces.
Another way to make websites different is to not always use the popular tools and assets or to try to configure them as much as you can. (the Bootstrap gallery shows some good examples of that)
As a designer, you should also focus on developing your individual style and vision. That being said, it is just as important to balance innovation and unicity with practical considerations such as usability and accessibility
I believe using some of these tips can help create websites that are not only functional, but also visually striking and memorable.
| Examples
A good example of combining design with functionality is the award winning website for Mubasic, a catalog of music for children. The home page displays a small keyboard that is used to showcase some of their music. While the website is not too far from the other extreme, which consists of over-complicated and heavy designs with large media files and excessive animations, I think it still is an example of good web design.
Another interesting idea is Bloomberg’s which made their website look and feel more like a real newspaper. Personally I would have committed even more to this concept for the pages of articles.
There are also many examples of great and popular mobile apps that managed to bring something new to the table while also significantly improving the UX. Take for example Tinder that, while not having the most unique design by itself, influenced many other apps trough its ingenious “gamified” card swipe interface rather than the old boring box with 2 buttons at the bottom. The co-founder, Jonathan Badeen, noticed how natural the swiping motion is while wiping the fog away from his bathroom mirror. It also makes the decision of choosing left or right more impactful as you have to actually take the card and throw it. This concept completely changes the way people use the app and it directly correlates with the design.
Another example that I personally use is the app for Bolt, a riding service similar to Uber. It manages to transmit all of the important information trough its smart map design.
| Conclusion
As I see it, modern web development is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is now easier than ever to learn and create your own website. There are tons of amazing libraries, assets and themes all available for free. Everyone has the ability to do it. The tools we use are extremely advanced and allow us to create complex and sophisticated features in no time.
However, this has got people stuck in a comfort zone. We are all making and reusing the same things because its easier and we got used to it. Even though we have the ability to achieve great things shown in Chrome Experiments and other concept showcases alike, most websites remain plain and boring minimalistic boxes with text.
The solution lies in finding a balance between practicality and aesthetics. By taking inspiration from unconventional sources, breaking away from the norms, experimenting and trying new things we can create unique and memorable interfaces that not only provide a better user experience, but also engages and captivates people.
