Here is a look at ten of the most creative styles in use in web design today with examples of some of the best websites that utilise them.

1. Illustrations and Cartoons

Illustrations and cartoon drawings can really bring a web design to life. Drawing is a creative activity by definition and by incorporating it into a website’s design is one of the most creative methods of presenting information on the web.

The variety of this style is only limited by the designers imagination and can be hand-drawn or vector based imagery. Check out the examples below.

Flourish

Owltastic

The Pixel

Artua

Pampaneo

2. Two Tone Colour

Using only two colours to create a design doesn’t sound like a particularly inspiring style of design until you see it used well. When used well it can indeed be very inspiring and allows more focus on other aspects of the design such as typography and layout. More focus can be placed on the content as this style of web design ties in well with the minimalistic design which increases the users’ focus on the content.

To see just how inspiring and less distracting this type of design can be take a look at the following examples of some of the best uses to two-tone colours in web design.

Squarespace Blog

Carsonified

Helveti-Tweet

Circus Family

3. Photo-Realism

Photo-realism is a technique that everyone will be familiar with immediately purely because of the associated realism. It is a great way to complement the content especially when used as a large background image.

The following examples show just how stunning photo realistic based web designs can be.

Ecoki

Work Awesome

Palm

Alexey Abramov

Food Inc. Movie

4. Transparency

Transparency is a great way of making text more readable when placed above images. Doing so also preserves the part of the image below the text so that the full image can still be seen to some degree.

With the increasing demise of IE6 and ways of making transparent PNG files behave in IE6, transparency has become a viable style in web design. So much so that some sites rely on it heavily.

Envato

Core

Fix Outlook

Pizzaza

Line 25

5. Beautiful Typography

Ultimately good typography is what helps make text more readable on the web but he design of typography can be inspiring in its own right. Great typography is an art and therefore is one of the more creative ways to display content online.

Arranging native type on a website is slowly improving with services such as Typekit popping up but of course, image replacement techniques can be used for any unsupported fonts.

Andrew Lindstrom

João Andrade

Mulletized

Jack Bloom

idsgn

6. Textures and Patterns

Using textures and patterns can be a good way of adding depth to a web design. The most common use of this style is on the background either as a repeated image or a big background image.

Simone Maranzana

Matt Mullenweg

Xperience

Biola Undergrad

Shannon Moeller

7. Grunge

The grunge look can often look a little messy and untidy but that is part of the appeal. Especially in web design, as current trends point more towards the clean and tidy styles that is more appealing but grunge design still has its place primarily with brands which it is appropriate for.

Syc Fuk

ths

Ali Tabatabaei

8. Nature

Natural elements within a web design create a familiar relationship with the outdoors and evokes the feeling of being down-to-earth. Nature can also give a design an organic feel. Have a look at the examples below to see how nature can be used effectively in web design.

Komodo Media

Tomáš Pojeta

Weberica

Outdoor Italia

Silverback

9. Abstract

Abstraction is a very creative artform due to the freedom it gives the designer. Abstract art can be given a meaning or have no meaning at all or it can be interpreted in any way the viewer wishes or it can simply be used as a good looking visual effect. As such, this style is probably the most diverse in its creativity meaning that designs can be unique to themselves and be more memorable as a result.

The freedom of abstract design is used to stunning effect on the web.

Lyrical Media

DSDesign

Gummisig

Make Photoshop Faster

duoh!

10. Retro

Retro design is a niche style that is a fairly recent trend in web design. It is commonly used to sell a product or service with styles that originate from anywhere from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is interesting to see modern interpretations of what was common in that era and below are some examples being used on the web currently.

Forty Seven Media

Jeff Sarmiento

Edgewater

The New York Moon

All Star Lanes

In this post we will take a look at each, and highlight some effective examples of there use within web design.

1. Monochromatic Color Harmony

As the name dictates, this calming color scheme uses only a single color as a base and allows its various shades, tints and tones to be included with in its palette.

? A Monochromatic Color Harmony or Scheme

Using monochromatic harmony expresses unity and and instills elegance, while at the same time is neither powerful or bold enough to to allow you to focus on any particular aspect of the design (due to its lack of color contrast).

Here are some beautiful examples of Monochromatic Color Schemes within web design:

1.1 Loewy Design

1.2 TagDiri

1.3 WilsonMiner

1.4 nclud

2. Analogous Color Harmony

Analogous color schemes are basically made up of colors that are directly next to each other on the 12 point color wheel.

? An Analogous Color Harmony or Scheme

Compared with the monochromatic scheme (above), the analogous offers more nuances, but suffers from the same defect – a lack of color contrast.
To use this scheme effectively, you have to choose one dominant color, a second to support and lastly a third color, that is used as the accent, which will give your web design a dramatic impact.
It is also recommended not to use too many hues and avoid the combination of cool and warm colors.

Here are some examples of Analogous Color Schemes within web design:

2.1 ustvarjalko

2.2 Ecoki

2.3 Outlaw Design Blog

2.4 Whooray Records

3. Complementary Color Harmony

With complementary color schemes we finally have recipe for good color contrast.

? A Complementary Color Harmony or Scheme

This scheme basically uses two colors located on opposite ends of the color wheel (such as, red is opposite of green and orange is opposite blue…meaning they are complementary…).

Due to the huge effect and power of the contrast, web designers will choose one domintant color (usually the background) and another to highlight the most important elements of the page (the content).
Any shade or tint of a color can be used in a complementary color scheme, but desaturated colors should not be used, as you will lose positive contrast and the sites overall impact will greatly decrease.
Such as red is opposite of green…meaning they are complementary.

Here are some examples of Complementary Color Schemes within web designs:

3.1 Gobierno Federal Mexico

3.2 Douglas Menezes

3.3 Frenzy Labs

3.4 Blogger BakeOff

4. Split Complementary Color Harmony

To ease the contrast of the two colors from the complementary scheme (see above), split complementary schemes use a combination of three colors.

? A Split Complementary Color Scheme

They are formed by combining a primary color from the color wheel with colors on each side of its complement. (Or, in layman’s terms, in the formation of the letter Y).

Here are some examples of Split Complementary Color Schemes within web designs:

4.1 Apps Templates

4.2 PSD Chimp

4.3 Nuances Communication

5. Triadic and Tetradic Color Harmony

Triadic Color Scheme
As its name suggests, triadic uses the power of three colors which are situated at 120 degrees from each other (these points are determined by an equilateral triangle) on the 12 step color wheel. There color harmonies tend to be bold and vibrant, even if you choose to use pale or unsaturated versions of the original hue.

? A Triadic Color Scheme or Harmony

This harmony could be considered your best color scheme option, with its effective contrast. You could use one color for a background and the two remaining for content and the highlighted areas. The colors should be carefully balanced – let one color dominate and use the two others for accent.

Tetradic Color Scheme
Yes, you have guessed it, tetradic uses a combination of four colors, determined by a square or rectangle placed over the color wheel. To create different harmonies, the square or rectangle can be rotated, which will result in the creation of a new harmonious tetradic schemes.

? A Tetradic Color Scheme or Harmony

In a logical deduction this scheme has the greatest number of combinations, it is based on two complementary pairs. This can be a double-edged sword though – it does offer the biggest option of color, but can give problems for good harmony. Be very carefully when choosing these colors.

Both of these (triadic and tetradic) color combinations are difficult to interpret, most websites will use a combination of four colors based on these color schemes, making it difficult to highlight with examples. Throw a stick into the the deep recesses of the web, and the chances are you will wind up hitting a site with either a tiadic or a tetradic color scheme.

As such, you may like to browse these web design inspirational posts, and view how to effectively use all of the above color scheme and harmonies out in the wild:

Colors have a way of speaking to people, drawing their attention, and just simply mesmerizing them. Certain colors invoke a whole spectrum of emotions in people. The way your visitors react to your website can either make or break your business. The emotional reactions of your visitors plays a big role in boosting your company’s brand. People tend to associate different colors with different moods, and studies have shown that colors have a way of changing a person’s mood.

If the colors that you choose for your website can evoke such a vast array of emotions in people, then you can be rest assurd that you are already halfway there to success. So, to create such emotion inspiring website’s, you need to be extremely careful when choosing a color for your website. Colors are classified into 3 categories, namely Cool, Warm and Neutral.

Cool colors consist of:

• Blue
• Green
• Purple

Warm colors consist of:

• Red
• Yellow
• Orange
• Pink

Neutral colors consist of:

• White
• Grey
• Brown
• Black

The following are a few guidelines when making your web pages:

• Make sure that your text is readable. Black or white would do good for the text. Yellow or white or any of the other light colors would work well on a dark colored background. If you have a white background, then stay away from using colors like yellow, gray or green.
• Use colors that are pleasing to the eyes.
• Make sure the colors you use portray your company’s image to the visitors.
• Do not use images as a background behind your text. This makes it hard for the visitor to read. If at all you need to use an image, fade it out as a watermark.
• Make sure the colors are uniform throughout your pages.

When designing your site, choose a good color scheme. The overall impression that your site gives out is what will decide your future. Hiring a good web designing company can help greatly in this area.

Dive Shop

Exclusive Authorized Dealer & Service Center
- MARES – TUSA – SUUNTO – CITIZEN – RUDY PROJECT – SEVEN TENTH
In 2001 our company targeted to serve all divers in Egypt in a completely new concept high tech outlets & high quality professional service and display which was never achieved before in the diving industry in Egypt that led us to become the exclusive key dealer for mares in Sharm el sheikh

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
CMS

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Cars Rental Comapny

In the beginning, with substantial progress in the field of car rental, which in the kingdom in recent times we have decided to enter the market through the company union brothers ltd, after considerable experience we have obtained through our father who works in this field since 25 years.

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
CMS
Flash

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5 Star Diving Center

the Red Sea Diving College opened as the first diving centre/school dedicated to the student diver.
The College was purpose built, starting with a blank piece of paper, enabling a design that would fit exactly to the needs of diving courses. The search for reliable partners started and the project team was completed.
Sinai Hotels and Diving Clubs were approached as an Egyptian company to join in the project to be partners, by providing the location and construction .

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
CMS
The Platinum Point System
Flash

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Hip Hop Workshop

Dancepiration is an intensive hip hop workshop held in Cairo involving two renowned foreign choreographers straight from L.A.
The incredible dancers Gigi Torres and Asaki Imai are joining us to teach 4 days of classes at El Sawy Culturewheel. Following the workshop will be a show which will give the chance to local dance groups to show their talent and of course Gigi and Asaki will be closing the event with their performance.

Come and join us for what we want to be the first step to the establishment of dance in our culture.

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
CMS

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Sunny Lakes is pleased to present to you an opportunity to purchase a luxury apartment in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The Sunny Lakes development is on track to becoming one of the most impressive sought after locations in Sharm El Sheikh offering secure, luxury living and first-class surroundings that are second to none.

The exclusive Sunny Lakes is located in the most desirable area of Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay. The International airport is only five minutes drive from the resort and only 3 minutes from the heart of Naama Bay. The complex is surrounded by 5 star hotels giving you a 5 star apartment in a 5 star location.

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
CMS

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PADI Book Store

Codex started life as “Red Sea For Books and Maps”, which is still the official registered name for the business. However, Codex is easier to remember!


The name Codex comes from the Latin codex. The source of the word  is a variant of caudex, a wooden stump to which petty criminals were tied in ancient Rome! This was also the word for a book made of thin wooden strips coated with wax upon which one wrote. Essentially these were the earliest forms of books, replacing the scrolls and wax tablets of earlier times, typically a manuscript or volume, usually for ancient classics or Scriptures.

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Web Design
Web Developing
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(Padi 5 star gold palm resort) offers daily snorkelling and diving trips to Ras Mohamed National Park and Strait of Tiran. Our multilingual instructors, including Japanese, teach all level of Padi courses, including Nitrox and rebreather.

SINAI DIVE CLUB
Sinai Dive Club offers a full family programme, in Sharm El Sheikh and Sinai, if you have non-diving family or friends with you they too can have a fun packed holiday, doing all the things they enjoy to.

We can help you organise whatever is needed and give our advice on where to go, what to do and what to see.

Provided Services
Web Design
Web Developing
Custom CMS

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