When it comes to creating a great website,

it’s really about balancing creativity with practicality. Think of a website as a living, breathing thing that should feel intuitive and welcoming to anyone who visits. First off, user experience is huge. You want a site that’s easy to navigate, where people don’t have to hunt for what they need. If the layout is clear and it works seamlessly across phones, tablets, and desktops, you’re already ahead of the game. And nobody wants to sit around waiting for a site to load, so speed is crucial—optimizing your images and making sure your code is lean can make all the difference.

Visually, the design should reflect the brand’s personality in a consistent way. Colors, fonts, and images need to work together harmoniously, and a clean, uncluttered layout usually does the trick. White space is your best friend here; it lets everything breathe and guides people’s attention naturally. Speaking of guiding attention, good design should also have a clear visual hierarchy—what’s most important should stand out without needing to scream for attention. And don’t underestimate the power of beautiful, high-quality visuals, whether that’s imagery, graphics, or video.

Content is another big piece of the puzzle. You want it to be concise and engaging while delivering real value to the user. Think clear headlines, strong calls-to-action, and content that speaks directly to what your audience cares about. But of course, all of this needs to be optimized for search engines too, so it’s not just about looking good—it’s got to be functional in the digital ecosystem.

Creativity is where you can really differentiate yourself. Unique interactions, smooth animations, or even an unconventional layout can turn heads if done thoughtfully. But creativity should enhance the user experience, not get in its way. And behind all the aesthetics and content, the site has to be rock-solid on the back end—secure, fast, and scalable.

What really sets great websites apart, though, is that they’re never static. They’re continually evolving based on data and feedback. Testing, tweaking, and improving based on how people are interacting with the site keeps it relevant and effective.

Inspiration

For finding websites with great web design inspiration, here are some excellent resources to explore:

• Awwwards: Recognized for its awards system that highlights exceptional web design, Awwwards showcases sites that push the boundaries of creativity and functionality.
• Behance: A platform for creative professionals, Behance allows users to explore a vast array of web design projects, complete with detailed filtering options to find specific styles or tools used.
• Dribbble: This community-driven platform enables designers to showcase their work, providing a rich source of inspiration through a variety of design projects and portfolios.
• SiteInspire: A curated gallery featuring a wide range of web designs, SiteInspire allows users to filter by style, type, and subject, making it easy to find relevant inspiration.
• Best Website Gallery: A highly curated collection of premium web designs, this site uses a tagging system to help users find inspiration based on style and functionality.
• CSS Design Awards: This site recognizes and rewards outstanding web design, offering a collection of innovative sites that excel in creativity and user experience.
• FWA (Favourite Website Awards): FWA showcases the best in cutting-edge web design and development, highlighting sites that are both functional and visually stunning.
• Webflow Showcase: A platform where Webflow users can share their projects, the Showcase features a variety of creative web designs that can inspire your own projects.
• Mindsparkle Mag: This site curates beautiful web designs, focusing on both aesthetics and functionality, providing a diverse range of inspiration.

Here are further websites which offer a wealth of inspiration, showcasing both aesthetic beauty and functional design principles that can be applied to your own projects.

• Webflow Blog: Features a list of the **16 best websites for design inspiration in 2024**, highlighting sites like SVZ Design and Wayside Studio, which showcase unique aesthetics and layouts suitable for various design needs.
• Hotjar: Offers 12 brilliant examples of web design** that emphasize user experience. Notable mentions include Airbnb and Shopify, which are praised for their intuitive interfaces and responsive designs.
• SPINX Digital: Lists 46 award-winning web designs** that exemplify innovative and functional design. This includes various creative agencies and individual portfolios that push the boundaries of web aesthetics.
• HubSpot: Compiles 39 of the best website designs** to inspire users, covering a range of styles and industries. This resource includes links to explore each design in depth, making it a practical tool for designers.