Design or Mistakes?
Last week we covered websites that were extreme in their design. We asked the question, “Are they good, bad, ugly or just different?” These websites broke virtually every web design rule in the book. But there was one thing that could probably be agreed on by most of us — they jolted our senses.

Traditional but with a Twist
In this week’s investigation of website design layout we’ve chosen a few that twist the rules a bit. You won’t find drop down menus in some of these examples, but the web layouts are quite intriguing and show what can be done by rethinking the design process.

http://www.wechoosethemoon.org/

It has been 40 years since the first human stepped onto the Moon’s surface. This website does one thing and it does it well - it chronicles the Apollo Moon mission and shows you how it happened through multimedia, flash, and animations. It turns history into a virtual experience. Space history buffs will really enjoy this website.
.
http://21722lab.jp/

What appears to be a large spinning multicolored icosahedron (globe comprised of many triangle facets) is actually the menu system for the Research Institute for Digital Media and Content at Keio University in Japan. Each panel on the globe links to a video.

The unique menu display may be too radical for some but there is an option to view it in a standard mode.
.
http://www.jeremylevine.com/

Architect Jeremy Levine is a specialist in designing homes that are Eco-friendly and modern. His website shows the various projects he has worked on and presents them in 3D flash animations. The site is clean, interactive, and fun to use.
.
http://thebigpicture.x3studios.com/

The people at X3 Studios decided to celebrate the 7 year anniversary of their design program by assembling an interactive photo mosaic of the company’s awards, history, people, and parties. Each little photo becomes highlighted as you mouse over the image. Clicking on any thumbnail presents a larger presentation with information. The design is simple and effective.

Good Ideas
The websites above took us into space and back to earth again through simple, well-planned concepts. They weren’t necessarily flashy or groundbreaking but they utilized elements that all web designers are familiar with. The way the content was packaged is what distinguishes them from other websites that may be over-the-top because they include too many design elements.

Sometimes simple is a good way to go when designing the layout of a website.

DID YOU LIKE THIS DESIGN POST? IF SO, PLEASE HELP US BY ADDING US AS ONE OF YOUR TECHNORATI FAVORITES AND BY ADDING OUR ARTICLES TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL BOOKMARKING SITES (BELOW)