Web design inspiration: 50 essential sites to save for design ideas

In the ever-evolving world of web design, staying updated on the latest trends and innovations is crucial. That's why we at KOTA, a Creative Digital Agency based in Clerkenwell London, have compiled a list of 50 websites that represent cutting-edge creative web design. These sites feature cinematic visuals, bold creativity, and immersive, interactive builds that set the bar for digital design inspiration.

Showcasing Award-Winning Sites

Awwwards and The CSS Design Awards are two sites that showcase award-winning sites with cinematic storytelling and immersive interactions. Awwwards, in particular, is known for highlighting sites that push the boundaries of design and user experience.

Agencies Blending Art, Tech, and Storytelling

Dogstudio is an agency that blends art, tech, and storytelling into sites that feel more like installations than pages. Their work is often immersive and interactive, creating a unique and engaging user experience. Similarly, Hello Monday is an agency that is playful, bold, and endlessly inventive, known for its cinematic web design and immersive builds.

Independent and Unusual Sites

HTTPSTER and Design Made in Germany are two sites that showcase unusual and independent sites. HTTPSTER, for example, curates a collection of unique and often quirky sites, while Design Made in Germany features bold, often unconventional projects.

Platforms for Visual Inspiration

Designspiration, Muzli by InVision, SiteInspire, and Collect UI are all platforms that offer visual inspiration for web designers. Designspiration, for instance, is a Pinterest-like visual search engine for design, while Muzli by InVision is a firehose of inspiration across digital design. SiteInspire is a clean, categorized, and addictive site that allows filtering by style, industry, or platform, making it easy to find inspiration tailored to specific needs. Collect UI offers curated UI inspiration by theme, making it an excellent resource for designers looking for specific design elements.

Resources for UX and Front-End Development

Built for Mars, Dribbble, Pttrns, and Brutalist Websites are all resources focused on UX and front-end development. Built for Mars is a plain-English UX glossary and resource hub with examples that demystify complex patterns. Dribbble is packed with glossy shots and playful concepts that are perfect for sparking ideas. Pttrns offers mobile patterns for days, making it an invaluable resource for mobile designers. Brutalist Websites, on the other hand, showcases raw, unfiltered web designs, providing a unique perspective on the industry.

Case Studies and Portfolios

Behance, Landingfolio, and Phantom.land are all platforms that offer case studies and portfolios. Behance is a massive platform for case studies, showcasing work from designers, agencies, and studios around the world. Landingfolio is an extensive library of landing pages and email templates with conversion in mind, making it an excellent resource for marketers and brand owners. Phantom.land reimagines portfolio browsing with an immersive sphere and floating panels showcasing work.

Pushing the Boundaries of Product Storytelling

Apple, Airbnb, Nike, and Monzo are all examples of companies that push the boundaries of product storytelling online. Apple's product pages are masterclasses in restraint, motion, and storytelling, while Airbnb's seamless UX with strong, emotional visuals sets a high standard for user experience. Nike always pushes the boundaries of product storytelling online, and Monzo proves that fintech doesn't have to feel grey and corporate.

Moodboards and Creative References

Niice and Hoverstat.es are both sites that offer moodboards and creative references. Niice offers moodboards and curated creative references, making it an excellent resource for designers looking for inspiration. Hoverstat.es, on the other hand, curates experiments in typography, layouts, and interactivity, providing a unique perspective on the industry.

A Starting Point for Web Design Inspiration

This list is a starting point for web design inspiration, featuring various sites, studios, and showcases. It's important to remember that this list is not exhaustive, and there are countless other resources available for designers, marketers, and brand owners.

The aim is to create something worth bookmarking, something that will keep you ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of web design. To help you with this, the KOTA web design blog shares sites, strategies, and creative experiments that keep you updated on what's new in web design.

In addition to this list, the article includes related articles and projects, such as '10 creative websites to inspire your next design (2025 update)', 'The coolest websites we've seen recently', 'Branding inspiration: brand design trends for 2025', and projects like 'UPP' and 'The Goat Agency'.

So, whether you're a designer, marketer, or brand owner, bookmark this list and stay ahead of the curve in the world of web design. Happy exploring!

Web design inspiration: 50 essential sites to save for design ideas