If we are in the middle of the web design in Madrid process for a site that must stand out, above all, for its originality, it is not enough to just browse the internet for hours and copy the ones we consider top in terms of aesthetics and authenticity. Creative websites can be creative for many different reasons. Yes, researching and getting inspired (not copying) is essential, and the web gives us thousands of sources for that (vertical and horizontal social networks, content creators' websites, online media, niche blogs…).
Needless to say, when it comes to creativity, two heads are better than one. And three are better than two, and… Well, you get what we mean, right? 😃 Sharing the project and joining forces will do us a world of good. A brainstorm, with its positive and negative comments, smart and not-so-smart ones, to try to set ourselves apart from the rest (especially from the competition).
Creative websites stand out for their ability to present their content in an appealing way. That is the key to a website's success (one of them).
Let's go over the concepts that make a website stand out, with the invaluable input of one of our best web designers 💻 at Webbing Online, Raúl Álvarez.
Creative websites
A broad concept, as we have just introduced, but one we need to approach within the specific context we are talking about: the digital sphere.
The digital creativity involves interaction, and this element is the key to the success of creative websites.
However vague and deep the concept can get, Raúl Álvarez boils it down to three premises that every creative website must keep unchanged:
- A creative website must surprise users with unique, innovative concepts they haven't seen on other sites.
- The good thing about a creative website is its potential to go viral, how easy it is to share with other users to show them a unique, different website. It is a very interesting potential to work on.
- When designing a creative website, it is very important not to forget the basic web design criteria, such as accessibility and usability.
In addition, our web designer in Webbing Online points to the following elements as the essentials for standing out creatively in today's web ecosystem:
Graphic resources tied to the company brand or to the personal brand of the person behind the creative website
The goal is to convey the concepts and values that define the organization and help build the design architecture of the website.
Using different typefaces on the website, even within the same block
Don't overuse this resource, as it would have the opposite effect. We don't recommend using more than 3 typefaces.
Clean images/portraits, without much noise
A tendency towards minimalism, images that convey calm. Play with combining black-and-white images.
A color palette in line with the brand's branding , the logo and the feelings you want to convey
Every web design is underpinned by a set of emotions and values meant to come across to each user who visits the site. Use no more than 3 main colors, which usually help us differentiate areas/blocks of the website and highlight them when that serves our corporate purpose.
Creativity in the copy, both in its content and in its layout and presentation
Play with font sizes, line spacing and indents. Combining these elements with style and confidence takes experience and taste. It is not easy, and “overcomplicating things” in an attempt to innovate often leads to confusion and chaos, which in web design and usability is a mortal sin (the penance: users leaving, drops in traffic and in SEO.
Other creative features for your company website in Madrid
In an market with so much competition and business activity as Madrid, it would be a mistake not to give the company website the importance it deserves. In order to stand out and for the website to truly work as a faithful reflection of our values as a brand, you need to look at other creative websites to come up with the unique concept that makes the company stand out digitally in a city like Madrid.
At Webbing Online we point out the aspects that we believe creative websites should have so as not to be just another drop in the vast ocean of the web:
- Align the structural and aesthetic concept of the website with the corporate goal or goals.
- Invest time in a thorough breakdown of the website concept plus a breakdown of the goals, in order to define what the user interaction processes should be like, making them unique and different, but never hindering the user experience or prompting users to leave the site.
- Visual harmony (images, shapes, colors, etc. take precedence over text).
- Innovative content in form and substance (distinctive text in format, fonts, font sizes, etc.).
- Related to content, the description of products and/or services is key. Combine clarity, conciseness and creativity when presenting this information.
- Headings that stand out in form, content and placement.
- Strategic calls to action within the web architecture. Sharpen your wits to give these elements a creative touch that can set you apart.
- Highlight what sets us apart in a unique way. Personalize the website through our brand's distinctive character, our achievements, customer satisfaction (testimonials), what we do and how we do it (not with text but, for example, with diagrams, infographics, images, audio…), offers and promotions…
- Communicate and convey the message in the most clear, simple and concise way possible. If our creative website stands out for a concise message without leaving out any vital information, we will gain a lot in the eyes of internet users.
- Smart, consistent usability that helps visitors easily understand the site's web architecture and makes for intuitive, hassle-free navigation.
- Less is more. Closely related to the previous point on usability and navigability. Simplicity is creative, and above all, functional.
- Never forget the technical side. However creative creative websites may be, and however much they stand out to users, they will come to nothing if the technical framework does not support the visual one. In short: pay close attention to the performance of the website.
Conclusions
It has long since stopped being enough to simply have a corporate website to be well represented digitally. Not just any website will do. Now, with competition and the massive use of the internet to meet most of our needs, it is essential to have a creative website that is well researched and designed to meet brand goals. Creative websites create positive brand recall, and if they also answer users' questions or needs, we will have gained a lot online as providers of products/services and against our competitors.
At Webbing Online we are web design experts in Madrid and we know how to represent a company's unique character and value proposition in a creative, original way. Take a look at our project portfolio 😉.