If you want to make a great first impression online, one of the best ways to do it is through the use of a custom site design. More often than not, this is quite easy when using WordPress to create a website or blog. Since there are millions of free, premium and custom themes to choose from, it’s not hard for the average person to take some time to customize each theme to make their site look just the way they want. This is especially true if you are already a creative artist or graphic designer. In short, your main website or blog should never disappoint.
That is exactly what we are going to be showcasing in this article today. Not only will you see completely original site design and cartoon work from some of the world’s greatest designer, you should also be inspired in the process. After seeing these amazing site designs and original artwork, you are likely going to want a site redesign of your own!
Stephen Collins Illustrations
While there are many illustrators and comic creators in the world, only a small portion of them actually put in the time and effort to create websites that really bring their artwork to life. A perfect example of this can be seen at the website of Stephen Collins. The main page of the site is extremely clean, fun and unique. Should you click on any of the featured images, you would then be sent to a deeper portfolio of his work and original designs. In addition to the original work found on his site, you will also find a “Stephen Collins” cartoon strip in The Guardian online news site.
Thrillbent Comics
When you think about content on the internet, you usually think of text to read. Finding the perfect mix between site design, text articles, and actual content is a very tough feat. In the case of Thrillbent, you will find just that. Nearly all of their website is made up of graphic design but is read just as if you were flipping through the pages of a comic book in your lap. Check out the site and experience comic book reading right on the internet.
The Oatmeal
As one of the largest humor and entertainment sites on the internet, The Oatmeal (created by cartoonist Matthew Inman) has been able to pave the way for other cartoonists and creative designers to follow. According to Wikipedia, “In 2010, the Oatmeal got more than four million unique visitors a month. As of 2012, its annual revenue was around $500,000; three-fourths of that was from merchandising and the rest was from advertising”. These are some serious numbers for just posting a few daily cartoons and quizzes to a website! Imagine what those numbers look like today!
Like a few other designs in this collection, The Oatmeal is a perfect example of how an original and fancy looking site design simply isn’t required. For the most part, the site design is quite simple… it’s the original artwork, color, and branding that brings it all to life.
Rebecca Miller
Not every artist website needs to be completely original in design, it just needs some artistic touch. Even though Rebecca Miller has an amazingly clean site design, the overall look and feel is perfect for the goal and use of the site. With a super clean white background, Rebecca’s artwork just pops right off the page. View the main page of her site for a unique design, then head of over to the portfolio page to see where it really all comes together.
HagbomHou
When it comes to a simplistic, yet amazingly unique design, HagbomHou is a perfect example to follow. Not only does the site feature original drawings of cats (which everyone loves), the site is also completely made up of original design work from the artist. To top things off, to go along with a fun and creative design, the site also plays music when you first visit the page. If you want to pause the music, all you need to do is click the little green button on the top right corner.
Charles Bongers Illustration
Another original artist, Charles Bongers has a custom design on his site but still has that clean and simplistic feel that still puts the focus on his artwork. In addition to each of his drawings being featured in nearly full size on the main page, also take note of the custom navigation menu at the top of the page. This is a perfect example of the little things that make a big impact.
Mailboxing Post-Soviet Madness
To finish off the list, we can take a different approach and look at MailBoxing, a mobile gaming application. Instead of featuring another artist and their portfolio of work, we can simply take a look at an existing mobile application website that is completely designed with a cartoon look and feel. While the site design may seem strange or confusing at first, it’s ideal for the site and business, as it’s the same exact way the mobile application looks as if you were to play it on your phone.
The Importance of a Great Design for Your Site
Now that you’ve seen some of the creative ways artists, cartoonists and brands are designing their own sites, have you thought about possibly redesigning your own? As mentioned earlier, the great thing about starting a website or blog with WordPress, is that there are plenty of existing themes out there that you can already choose from. For example, the theme that we are using on Blogging.org, is a premium theme available from MyThemeShop. Even if you don’t have any money to spend on a premium theme, they have a handful of free themes available through their site as well.
At the same time, your site design shouldn’t be something you think about just when “starting” your site either. A complete redesign or facelift of your existing site is something every site owner, blogger, and brand should consider as well.
“A redesigned website is a great way to showcase your personal brand, promote your business and build awareness for your products or services,” explains Todd William, founder and CEO of Reputation Rhino, an online marketing company in New York City, “integrating video, cartoon art and highlighting your brand’s creative portfolio are just some of the ways web designers and developers are helping their clients get the most out of their website.”
As more people are now accessing your site and it’s content through social media and mobile devices, it’s important to not only make sure it’s viewable on all platforms and devices but also that your site delivers the type of content people are looking for. Online video is a perfect example of this, as it’s now one of the most sought after content types in the world today — thanks to the growth of Facebook and mobile internet usage.
With all of that being said, take a look at your existing website and how it allows your audience to find content online. Are you delivering a powerful first impression that stays in the mind of your audience, or are they simply just visiting another site on the internet?