Comments on: Showcase site for beautiful AND functional webdesign?

Question: Showcase site for beautiful AND functional webdesign?

dinkyday — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:42:23 -0800

I am looking for websites showcasing beautiful webdesign that is not too 'out there'. If I Google for 'great / beautiful webdesign' I mostly get examples of sites that are indeed very beautiful to look at but would never be accepted by the sort of clients I work for (mostly small business owners that need their website to communicate the info on their products very clearly - i.e. they are not artists or brands that are just out to project a cool image). So I guess I am looking for examples of excellent webdesign for relatively boring sites.

By: bwonder2

bwonder2 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 01:10:16 -0800

This post on the blue about Microsoft's new design links to some good "standard" designs.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 01:38:42 -0800

Panic.com

By: roboton666

roboton666 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 02:29:24 -0800

I happen to think you are looking at one.

By: roboton666

roboton666 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 02:30:25 -0800

Minus the boring part, of course!

By: bleep

bleep — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 04:10:24 -0800

Mediaqueri.es is technically "about" "responsive" design but there are some really good looking informational/business pages displayed.

By: jumelle

jumelle — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:18:48 -0800

How plain are we talking? Communication Art's web picks showcases a lot of real world design. Searching "web templates" is a good way to find nice, inoffensive, generic layouts but some of the sites can be shady so watch out.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:39:54 -0800

Let's Get Flat.

By: HopStopDon'tShop

HopStopDon'tShop — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 06:13:13 -0800

I happen to think our website is fantastic (not designed by me) and we're in financial services, so it's fairly boring stuff. Our clients and peers are all shocked/thrilled etc by the site, which was part of the point - designing something that reflected who we are rather than the industry that we're in. (I'm not trying to self-promote here, I really love the website.) Here's the link: Front Shore.

By: Dansaman

Dansaman — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:25:19 -0800

Cool Home Pages
SiteInspire
StyleBoost

By: Bora Horza Gobuchul

Bora Horza Gobuchul — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:37:34 -0800

Some really great suggestions so far. I'll add a few more: these tend to be a little heavier in process, analysis, and design philosophy:

Uninvited Redesigns is a showcase site for just that; handy from the perspective of comparing what a site is like now to the proposed changes.

A proposed Microsoft redesign.

Wikipedia Redefined

The Inside Story Of The New Microsoft.com

I hope this helps!

By: barnone

barnone — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:06:35 -0800

Some of the wordpress themes are actually quite lovely and well designed. There's a reason they are popular.

By: halfguard

halfguard — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:20:11 -0800

I suggest changing your search query from "great / beautiful webdesign" to "minimalist webdesign".

Minimalist sites are the best kind for communicating information inasmuchas all of the design is focused on emphasizing the site's content - not its style. Minimal design gives an impression of quiet competence and good taste. This doesn't mean it has to look boring - far from it (see, e.g. Minimal Sites).

As an added bonus, the sites will be beautiful anyway, because minimalism is beautiful.