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In this inspirational showcase article, I collected a little bit different blogs – usually blogs serve for one purpose – design or function. Just a few blog designs fulfil both important tasks, I thought I will find a lot more design suitable for this article before I started.
Here you’ll find a lot of beautiful simplicity and functionality where design really works and matters! Enjoy and hope you will learn good things from those blog designs and implement in your own designs as well!
You will find just a few colors used in this layout, effectively used whitespace, cool hand-drawn illustrations and little icons. Unique concept.
Very clean landing page without any images, but visit his individual posts as well, you’ll see unique styling and change of navigation color!
What I enjoyed the most was a little touch with textured background and featured slideshow putting all main content above the fold. Only I think since middle section is so long, designer should have 2 column layout not 3 to give more space to actual article. It’s good to have the most important information on “above the fold” section though (RSS subscribe, newsletter, shop).
This blog has excellent header to show immediate creativity, not sure though if it’s not too big. Navigation is very interesting – when you scroll down, navigation cloud moves with you – idea is great, I felt a little bit disturbed since I am sitting on my laptop with little resolution, but this is a great way how to increase pageviews I think.
Here I enjoy the most little, silent Twitter,Facebook, Delicious and RSS buttons – every designer will notice and evaluate this approach!
Interesting approach – you can switch between grid/normal modes and choose which layout works better for you. At least for me – I feel appreciated, like I have some kind of modification possibilities and personal touch.
Great example showing how it’s possible to consume a lot of different information in good way. All those little icons, header and light typography just creates right accents and makes layout interesting.
Every site in Envato network is designed in smart and very effective way. Watch out how they put the most important information in above the fold section, but in the meantime they emphasize effect with big typo, self describing icons and cool mascot!
Beautiful simplicity – can retro style be any cooler? Excellent 3 column layout consuming a lot of information in visually appealing way.
Is it possible to be any more cleaner and grid based? Such eye-candy and so effective design!
Visually and content rich magazine type website – on index page you will find a lot of different articles to grab your attention in 3 column layout, but when you are in article, you’ll get even more space for article and just 2 column layout! Handy!
Very clean and textured French blog design – I enjoy social networking mouseover buttons and style throughout whole design keeping it clean, grungy – yet trendy. Visual beauty is emphasized with colourful “above the fold” header.
Close to perfection, Chris has many projects already and he advertised almost all of them in single landing page! Very functional website, only I think it needs more detailed sections, so people could find information more easier besides search and sidebar featured articles.
One more great dark design!
Very often it’s good idea to just keep layout clean to be effective.
Little rulers and transparent header creates an effective impression, I am not sure about sidebar but other than that – unique approach!
Besides colors, I enjoyed original footer and even more notice Search, which is only there! Good way of thinking – people scroll through site, don’t find what they want, but then notice footer and fat search button inviting to search for desired topic!
You can learn from this website, how to consume huge amounts of information and sections in good way.
Mashable’s great design is huge case of study more from functional point of view (I would give a little bit more artistic look to it, but it’s social news site, not design blog).
I include whole index screenshot, because I wanted to show how many ads and information is consumed here, how mashable promotes their all social networks and really dominate there!
Henry Jones has given this 3 column site some great functional and visual features – beautiful featured images and a lot of small thumbnails in sidebar to grab reader (designer) attention and it works!
One of rare exceptions where I really like dark design! Design could be more functional, but it always depends from specific project – for them, I think, suits perfectly!
Beautiful light and functional design which works using just monochrome, orange and green colors in the right sections!
Handcrafted pixels done effectively!
Little things matters and a lot of little things used in good way, create amazing website like this!
At first design seemed to be chaotic, but just after a moment I got a very good impression about its appearance and functions!
Amazing designer blog – extremely creative and surprisingly functional in the same time!!
Not a long time ago Envato changed their network site designs – big case study, interesting choice of navigation, sidebar organization and great icons to make good accents!
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Dainis Graveris is 23 years old blogger and designer, founder of 1stWebDesigner, now more silently managing everything behind the scenes. He usually hangs out in Twitter tweeting design related links and chatting with people. If you have any questions or feedback that's the best place to start! Cheers!
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 21:03
How Would you Like to have Unlimited Traffic to your website on Autopilot ? Hundreds and thousands of traffic to any website you want
Friday, March 23rd, 2012 20:54
wow.. thanks for this nice list! love 6. Creative Depart :D
Monday, March 12th, 2012 14:47
Great website designs! Keep it up.
Tips for innovative web design.
- Start with a Blank Canvas
- Don’t Use a Pre-Described Layout
- Quality content on your website
- Simple and Attractive Design
- Use clear, maintainable and easy navigation links
- Design for all screen resolutions
- Use thumbnail design for your website
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 12:16
Very great list…It is really helped me a lot for my work…
Thanks for sharing…..
Saturday, January 28th, 2012 00:07
I love that Web Is Love design; it pulls in snippets of graphics really well. The one thing I don’t like about so many blog themes is that they’re too text heavy (I know, is that ironic, since it is a blog, after all?), but there’s been a ton of research that shows that blogs with images keep people on the site significantly longer than blogs without (and blogs with stockphotos also convert so-so). Anyway, these were lovely to look at!
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 18:43
Hi. I just want to say you have a very nice blog, with helpful links and information as well. Thanks for sharing.
Monday, December 12th, 2011 16:06
Thanks for putting this together. They are really inspirational. My personal favorite is Freelenz and Skylab. Both have a beautiful, clean layout.
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 13:58
Great collection, thank you. I especially like the way you’ve taken the time to include screen grabs of the entire website, not just the top. Great stuff :)
Saturday, November 12th, 2011 12:20
Great list. Anyway for me personally i love nerdist[DOT]com old design really amazing. But now new design :(
Monday, August 1st, 2011 13:16
thanks nice its grat site and i have added in my favorites list
Thursday, May 19th, 2011 14:15
I was searching for best blog designs on Google. I land on it and found awesome blog post. I am PHP web developer and CEO of web development company eSparkInfo.
I want to start internal blog on my website on PHP technology. I also want to design very unique design for my blog. I suppose to design some attractive one and let you know.
I have forwarded this blog post to my web designer team. BTW: very nice blog and looking forward to read such a great blog posts like it.
Monday, February 7th, 2011 04:10
These designs are so Amazing! Thanks for this great and inspirational list!
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 19:31
Amazing designs.. Thanks for this great and inspirational list!
Monday, May 24th, 2010 16:30
Woah I don’t know how I missed this! Thanks for mentioning my blog. And sadly, I just changed everything up on it. I also noticed that the middle column was a bit small for longer posts and the blog is set to 2 columns now. I’m still weaking the blog and sidebars.
I totally appreciate you mentioning my site though. I’ll have to come back here more to check everything out here.
Saturday, April 24th, 2010 23:27
I always find posts like this so inspiring. There is so much creativity around and it is nice to see what people are doing.
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 09:59
I love these themes.. simple but exclusive :)
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 23:02
Hello Dainis !
Thanks a lot for the featuring I appreciate, really.
Good selection of blogs (I don’t speak about mine), I particulary like the few lines of comment you put for each ones.
Regards
;)
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 20:12
This is awesome awesome list !!!! 45Royale Design is one of the best :)
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 09:58
Thanks for this great list!
All of them are great designs, so it’s hard to have a favorite.
Monday, April 19th, 2010 16:46
Nice Selection ! Thx :)
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olybop
Monday, April 19th, 2010 16:46
Nice Selection ! Thx :)
Scott Webb
Monday, May 24th, 2010 16:30
Woah I don’t know how I missed this! Thanks for mentioning my blog. And sadly, I just changed everything up on it. I also noticed that the middle column was a bit small for longer posts and the blog is set to 2 columns now. I’m still weaking the blog and sidebars.
I totally appreciate you mentioning my site though. I’ll have to come back here more to check everything out here.
CSSReX
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 19:31
Amazing designs.. Thanks for this great and inspirational list!
Bill
Monday, February 7th, 2011 04:10
These designs are so Amazing! Thanks for this great and inspirational list!
Tom
Saturday, April 24th, 2010 23:27
I always find posts like this so inspiring. There is so much creativity around and it is nice to see what people are doing.
blackgown
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 09:59
I love these themes.. simple but exclusive :)
Manuel
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 09:58
Thanks for this great list!
All of them are great designs, so it’s hard to have a favorite.
cooljaz124
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 20:12
This is awesome awesome list !!!! 45Royale Design is one of the best :)
Auré
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 23:02
Hello Dainis !
Thanks a lot for the featuring I appreciate, really.
Good selection of blogs (I don’t speak about mine), I particulary like the few lines of comment you put for each ones.
Regards
;)
Nitesh Ahir
Thursday, May 19th, 2011 14:15
I was searching for best blog designs on Google. I land on it and found awesome blog post. I am PHP web developer and CEO of web development company eSparkInfo.
I want to start internal blog on my website on PHP technology. I also want to design very unique design for my blog. I suppose to design some attractive one and let you know.
I have forwarded this blog post to my web designer team. BTW: very nice blog and looking forward to read such a great blog posts like it.
reza
Monday, August 1st, 2011 13:16
thanks nice its grat site and i have added in my favorites list
Chris
Monday, March 12th, 2012 14:47
Great website designs! Keep it up.
Tips for innovative web design.
- Start with a Blank Canvas
- Don’t Use a Pre-Described Layout
- Quality content on your website
- Simple and Attractive Design
- Use clear, maintainable and easy navigation links
- Design for all screen resolutions
- Use thumbnail design for your website
Joni Cong
Friday, March 23rd, 2012 20:54
wow.. thanks for this nice list! love 6. Creative Depart :D
safia
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 21:03
How Would you Like to have Unlimited Traffic to your website on Autopilot ? Hundreds and thousands of traffic to any website you want
Sanjeeb Sahu
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 12:16
Very great list…It is really helped me a lot for my work…
Thanks for sharing…..
Natalie
Saturday, January 28th, 2012 00:07
I love that Web Is Love design; it pulls in snippets of graphics really well. The one thing I don’t like about so many blog themes is that they’re too text heavy (I know, is that ironic, since it is a blog, after all?), but there’s been a ton of research that shows that blogs with images keep people on the site significantly longer than blogs without (and blogs with stockphotos also convert so-so). Anyway, these were lovely to look at!
Shah Blogger
Saturday, November 12th, 2011 12:20
Great list. Anyway for me personally i love nerdist[DOT]com old design really amazing. But now new design :(
Walter
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 13:58
Great collection, thank you. I especially like the way you’ve taken the time to include screen grabs of the entire website, not just the top. Great stuff :)
Tony Kelsey
Monday, December 12th, 2011 16:06
Thanks for putting this together. They are really inspirational. My personal favorite is Freelenz and Skylab. Both have a beautiful, clean layout.
Foxie
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 18:43
Hi. I just want to say you have a very nice blog, with helpful links and information as well. Thanks for sharing.