The importance of design for any creative or business endeavor undoubtedly continues to increase. The McKinsey report “The Business Value of Design” states that companies with high Design Index scores demonstrate better business performance than others. But it can be hard to follow an industry that is developing and changing so rapidly, and this is where we come in.
We’ve selected some of the best website designs from Awwwards in 2021 to share the latest trends and provide you with some inspiration. Keep on reading to explore our list and come up with new ideas for your project.
1. Grids
by OBYS AGENCY
This is an in-depth educational site about grids as a design tool, its various capabilities, and the creative solutions that it provides. It may sound geeky, but it’s actually really fun to explore even if you’re not a graphic designer.
2. Portfolio
Find some inspiration in the playful way that Victoire, a French interactive designer and illustrator, has redesigned her creative portfolio.
3. Kalso
by VAAN GROUP
Vaan is a digital agency that specializes in concepting, designing, and building technologies that enhance e-commerce digital experiences. This time they reinvented a website for the Earth Shoe – the “original wellness shoe” invented by Anne Kalso in 1957.
4. Shapefarm
By GARDEN EIGHT
Look at this exciting combination of clean design and spectacular dream worlds. It was created for Shapefarm, an independent game developer, by a Japanese design studio.
5. Monopo
by MONOPO
It’s safe to say that cyberpunk aesthetics are here to stay, so it’s worth paying more attention to design decisions like this one. The dystopian future is already here. Visually, at least.
6. My Little Storybook
by LUSION
Wow! Lusion, a real-time application focused creative studio, has brought the storytelling web experience to another level. This is a story inspired by Japanese anime. Make sure that you check out their website, because it has a number of impressive design projects.
7. GSoft
by MILL3
GSoft is an independent software company that was founded in Canada over 15 years ago. Their mission is to help their clients organize their business processes in an easier and more efficient way. Their new website makes it clear right from the start, thanks to a friendly design and a clear message.
8. Gucci Burst
The legendary fashion house Gucci has been experimenting with formats a lot. To celebrate the launch of their new Gucci Basket sneaker, they created a dynamic game. Check it out and have some fun!
9. The Shift
by GAREN EIGHT
The world is moving faster and faster, and The Shift helps companies adjust to these constant changes. Garden Eight, the studio behind the design, has managed to create an international look, while also preserving the Japanese identity of the company.
10. Pangram Pangram
by LOCOMOTIVE
This is a sleek website, but it’s also a source of trend-conscious and free-to-try fonts for designers. What if you find one that will work for your brand there? See for yourself.
11. Traces
by WE TRANSFER
One of the most spectacular items on this list. Traces is a project that legendary conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramovic created for WePresent. This isn’t just a website, it’s an immersive digital experience and a virtual time capsule.
12. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia
By GUCCI
Yes, it’s the Italian fashion house again. In 2021, a lot of people were still shopping mostly online due to risks and restrictions, so Gucci helped them explore the ingredients of their new fragrance. How versatile and valuable the digital experience can be for product launches! This immersive platform includes a photo sticker booth and AR features.
13. DFY
by DFY
You can’t expect anything less from a creative agency that focuses on building brand spaces and experiences that resonate with customers. Pay attention to the typography and the grainy visuals. They are extremely popular right now.
14. Star Atlas
by HELLO MONDAY
Wow! The future has arrived. Star Atlas is a space exploration strategy game with a blockchain-driven virtual metaverse. And this immersive digital experience was created to tease the game before its release. Extremely impressive, isn’t it?
15. Are you OKOK?
A dystopian take on a basic question that can also lead to an existential crisis. We invite you to give this little game a go and to pay attention to the fascinating design details while you’re at it.
16. Life in Vogue
by MONOGRID
It turns out that the fashion industry has been experimenting with complex and innovative web-design solutions. The main idea of this interactive web experience is to depict the Vogue workspace. There are 3D spaces and live events.
17. Creative Nights
This digital portfolio of an award-winning creative studio (located in the Czeck Republic) includes some of the biggest trends: bold fonts, pastel colors, and videos. It’s complex and dynamic, but it’s also simple enough to be pleasing to the eye.
18. Speedy
by BUROKRATIK
Finance-related platforms and apps are on the rise. Speedy is an invoice and payment platform. Its minimal, clean, black&white design makes it easy to focus on the numbers, helps you find what you’re looking for, and prevents you from making mistakes. Sometimes less really is more!
19. Artisans d’Idees
Artisans d’Idees is an international agency with expertise in innovation, production, and digital experiences, and their website couldn’t get any better. Someone at Immersive Garden decided to go big and created this phenomenal design. Wow, right?
20. Miranda – Paper Portfolio
Merging the old with the new is an approach that can do wonders. Niccolo Miranda is a multifaceted creative working in Art Direction, Motion Design, and Creative Development. He decided to create a digital paper for his portfolio, which is a great way to tell his clients that he prefers taking unexpected routes. Have a look and pay attention to the details!
Don’t underestimate the power of good design. It can help your brand stand out among competitors, impress your potential clients from the get-go, and significantly improve user experience. Hopefully, this list became a source of inspiration and valuable insights.
If you’d like to keep on exploring examples of outstanding design, the Awwwards archives are at your disposal:
— 20 Best Website Designs from Awwwards in 2020
— 23 Beautiful Website Designs From Awwwards
— Best of Website Design: 16 Designs of the Year From Awwwards.
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