As the face of any business or creative project, a well-designed website is a chance to showcase your creativity and really stand out from the crowd. Web design has become a lot more experimental, and there are virtually no limits when it comes to creating a unique and individual site.

 

There are many different options available when deciding on how to make a website. If time and money are of the essence, web hosting packages found on 1&1 allow you to pick from a template and get launched quickly without compromising on design. For those who prefer to have a little more creative input, or even get a professional web designer on the case, the World Wide Web is an endless source of inspiration.

 

To help get you started, we took a look at what’s big in web design right now, and located some of the most inventive, inspirational websites of the moment.

 

 

Visiting a website used to be a relatively one-dimensional, solely informational affair. Now, responsive web design is changing the game, and some of the most inspired websites not only inform the user but take them on a virtual journey as well. A particularly impressive example of this is le-mugs.com, which, rather than using text to convince would-be customers, lets magazine-style imagery do the talking. Gone are the days of clicking on the sidebar and laboriously dragging to move down the page; the user embarks on a virtual tour through the café simply by scrolling with their mouse, and the effect is somewhat mind-blowing. Le-mugs is a perfect example of how web design is moving away from classic clickable menus and relying on the scroll function, in favor of seamless user navigation.

 

 

Another drastic shift in web design is the abandonment of the “above-the-fold” rule in exchange of a more minimalist approach. As the easy scroll function takes the effort out of website navigation, fitting masses of important content at the top of the page is no longer the be-all and end-all. This is especially great news for creative souls, leaving more room for compelling images, artwork and graphics. Andrew McCarthy is a prime example of how above-the-fold minimalism makes for a high-impact website.

 

 

In its quest to become increasingly user friendly, web design is also starting to take inspiration from apps, with many websites opting for split screens or block grid layouts. This is an innovative approach to presenting a mixture of text and images, which is remarkably showcased by artist Habib Fadel, is an impressive way to present your website as a gallery for your creative portfolio.

 

In short, web design is moving away from information overload and multiple clickable menus, in favor of a more app-inspired, minimalist feel. The most powerful websites take the user on an interactive journey whilst giving them ultimate control in the form of anytime, anywhere scrolling. The trend of swapping excessive text for high-impact images makes it increasingly easier to showcase your creativity through your website.