I don’t visit a lot of different websites, but one with a design that I like is Postcrossing, an international postcard-swapping network.
Their layout is clean and intuitive, and I like how it reflects the project’s snail-mail initiative – through blue and red stripes reminiscent of airmail envelopes and the stamp shape on the logo – without being too “on the nose” or overbearing. They also make the main things you might care about as a user the first things that you see when you log in to the site, such as the progress of your postcards, and your stats.
Despite their more traditional grid, color scheme, and menu style, there is a modern prioritization of white space that indicates active and attentive site management, forgoing clutter for simple blocked out widgets that don’t crowd or compete with each other. The organization and focus is precise and flowing, and is probably my favorite thing about their design. They also utilize a modern icon style for the sent and registered postcards, with enough detail to be cute and unique but remain consistent with the minimalist design from the rest of the site.
I know it’s sort of a trend right now for many websites, but another thing I really like about Postcrossing’s site is that there isn’t some huge screen-filling graphic and/or registration form on the home page that I have to find a way off of to get to the actual site content. The log-in button is easy to find, and they tell you right away what they’re about instead of making you hunt for it.
I’d like to incorporate this sense of purpose into my site’s design, focusing more on getting users to what they’re trying to find and less on things moving around on the screen or making people feel compelled to sign up for something. I also like that there isn’t a whole lot of busy content to sort through on each page, especially moving horizontally across the screen; sites with three or four columns of wordy links really irritate me and make me want to leave. The color palette does a lot for me because it is a bit different from what I see on a lot of other sites right now – I’m not a big fan of the move to neon.
I really like the balance that the Postcrossing site strikes between negative space and active space. It feels functional while remaining neat, and I’d like that same sort of chic economy for my project.
One thing I like on other sites that Postcrossing does not use is a sticky menu across the top of the page for navigating to other pages. This site doesn’t have too many places where you end up scrolling for a while, but I like when sites give you “exits” to other parts of them without having to reorient to the top of the page, and a sticky menu does give off a modern vibe to me. Another consideration for my project is sidebars, which Postcrossing also does not use. I don’t usually care much for sidebars (fixed, sliding, or otherwise), but I recognize contexts where they are useful, and might end up needing something like that for my project. I tend to prefer the sliding sidebars, and think one would most consistently go with my other design goals.
You must be logged in to post a comment.