Unconventional Web Design and Navigation

When it comes to web design it is easy to fall into a the mold mode, horizontal navigation, up top the page etc. A more difficult approach would be to design and build a site that goes against the grain, against the so called “convention”, and this is what this post is all about.

But before we get to examples it’s worth musing about why is so much of web design of “the same old mold”?

The three main reasons why so much of web design has become “molded” are:

1. Usability:
Usability (sadly) trumps design in many cases, and since good usability often implies finding things quickly, navigation bars are often placed on top of the page, in the same exact place almost. While good use of usability delivers a good user experience, the current conversions of what “good usability is promote the templat-isation of web design

2. That’s what clients want:
Many clients are scared to go with an “untested” idea. Especially when it comes to sites that are businesses too, no one wants to risk it all just to look unique. Think of it as the Gap of web design: Gap has often failed when it tried to be unconventional, it simply is not them.

3. Themes and Templates:
With a the wide use of Content Management Systems and their pre-made themes, it’s easy to pic something and go with it. The problem is, several other people have chosen the same look, or at least something similar. All these people are now part of the same mold.

And now for some samples of unconventional web design:

You don’t have to use HTML5 in order to scroll sideways, but  this site combines both, it is certainly worth a visit.

There are multiple columns in the Grip Limited site and each one operates independently of the others, very cool.

This site actually moves sideways, so no scrolling down, but rather scrolling left and right. Keep in mind, this site has been copied numerous times in the past, I guess it’s really good.

There’s nothing like putting up your work to hang like laundry, Buro Maisengasse does it well.

This site uses Accordion Panels as a structure for the entire site. This unconventional use of something completely conventional.

The entire structure of this site revolves around tabs created in CSS, the tabs are the size of the full page which is easy to use and completely unconventional.