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2009 - Sites of the Year
This year we've featured a lot of great sites, I mean, a bunch of sites every single week! And I know you love this serie of posts. Thinking on it, and to bring to the memory the best sites we shown you in 2009, I've selected 60 of them to remember. It's time do inspire your eyes again, or if you had not seen some of them yet, now it's your chance! Enjoy, and Happy New Year guys! Carsonispace - space.carsonified.com Carsonified, a creative web company, is renting out five desks in our office in beautiful Bath, England. Pallian Creative - pallian.com Adarsh Pallian is the founder of Tweetizen and the creative force behind Pallian Creative. With over 10 years of experience, he has the passion, creative flair and technical expertise to deliver innovative websites and web applications with a unique user experience. Is It Normal? - isitnormal.com Are You Normal? Curious how others might perceive your situation? Submit your story today and find out what others think... Ui Tuneup - uituneup.com Smart, low-cost re-design in less than a week. We'll simplify your most complex webpage, and make your site elegant and easier to use. Your users will thank you. Ciriljazbec - ciriljazbec.com CirilJazbec Photography. Matthamm - matthamm.com My name is Matt Hamm. I am co-founder and Creative Director of Supereight Studio. Pete Orme and I started the company in March 2009 after working together as web designers at Kyan. Deluge Studios- delugestudios.com In short, the web is opportunity. Opportunity to solve our client’s problems. Opportunity to reach people in unexpected ways. Opportunity to design, to create, to collaborate & engage. We love helping our clients succeed, and the web is our opportunity to do just that. The 99% Conference - the99percent.com Behance is partnering with Cool Hunting to host "99%." A conference that focuses less on inspiration, and more on how idea generation and organization come together to make ideas happen. KISSmetrics - kissmetrics.com KISSmetrics not only measures results, it helps you improve them. The initial product, a metrics solution designed for developers, product managers and marketers is almost ready. Enter your email address below to get on the beta launch list. LE CAID - lecaid.com Le Caid was founded 2001 in hamburg. Specialized in corporate design & web. We are driven by the ambition to always learn new things and to gain experience. IconDock - icondock.com IconDock is brought to you by N.Design Studio. We know your time is valuable, that is why we offer stock icons in vector and pixel format that you can quickly snap in your projects to speed up the development. Mailchimp - mailchimp.com MailChimp manages over half a billion subscribers for over 60,000 users, and we deliver millions of emails a day. We strive to make MailChimp easy and affordable enough for a small business to get started, but powerful enough for a large company that's looking for an enterprise level solution. Kraft Foods - Food & Family - kraftfoods.com/foodandfamily The new digital edition of you favorite food magazine is now online! Creative State - creativestate.com Creative State is built by people who know what it means to bring an idea to life. We live it and breathe it, and we have the experience to back it up. We know the web. We know brand. We know user experience and information architecture and user interface design and graphic design and database design and content management. And we use that knowledge in a collaborative environment to provide you with a nearly endless set of possibilities for your ideas. Starbucks - starbucks.com What we are all about Starbucks purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees and sells them along with fresh, rich-brewed, Italian style espresso beverages, a variety of pastries and confections, and coffee-related accessories and equipment -- primarily through its company-operated retail stores. Tuts Plus - tutsplus.com From graphics to web development, audio to video and more, get the skills you want from our family of tutorial and resource sites. Need more? We also offer a Plus program where you can access source files and bonus tutorials. Tank - withtank.com Tank is a clean, simple and fun way to build a website. Postbox - postbox-inc.com A new way to work with email messages and content. Postbox helps you make the most of your email, offering powerful new ways to find, use, and view email messages and content, organize your work life, and get stuff done. Krop Creative Database - krop.com/creativedatabase Quickly organize your work in our beautiful template. Designed for creatives with impossibly high standards, and built to the specification of creative recruiters at companies that already use Krop to find talent. (including Apple, Gucci, Nike, Mtv, etc.) Sarah Longnecker - sarahlongnecker.com I am a graduate of Pellissippi State Community College with an Associates Degree in Video Production and a Certificate in Video Editing. My love for video production came during my high school years with numerous projects in History, Spanish, and various other classes. Clearleft - clearleft.com We create sites that are elegant, engaging and easy to use. We have Big Agency skills but small agency flexibility and you’ll be able to remember all our names. We can work with you. We are Clearleft. Basecamp - basecamphq.com The Better Way To Get Projects Done. Trusted by millions, Basecamp is the leading web-based project collaboration tool. Transparent House - transparenthouse.com TRansparent House, we create the reality. Carrot Creative - carrotcreative.com Carrot Creative is a new media agency located in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY. We specialize in social media, application development, and user experience, all in the name of brand development. Invoice Machine - invoicemachine.com The Invoice Machine is an online invoicing service which simplifies your invoicing and makes it beautiful. 45royale Inc. - 45royale.com 45royale is an enthusiastic web design studio located near the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia. We promote web standards and bring energy and commitment to our work every single day. The work of Nick Jones - narrowdesign.com Freelance Flash designer / actionscript / animator. Hellomonday - hellomonday.net Hello Monday is a Flash-revolutionizing, identity-building, talent-cultivating, image-moving, illustration-loving, campaign-developing, fun-sharing, idea-growing boutique "designery". Twitshirt - twitshirt.com Ever wish you could wear a Tweet? For $20, we can turn it into a comfy Twitshirt! And each time we sell one with your Tweet on it, we give you a cut. rw/2 studios - rw2studios.com rw/2, (formerly rushwade2) is a studio capable of taking on productions of any size. Located in the midwest, rw/2 is a collective of photographers, producers, retouchers and a talented team of professional support staff. Our photographers have produced work for hundreds of national ad campaigns for some of the top advertising agencies and their fortune 500 clients, along with numerous national magazine editorials. StackOverflow - stackoverflow.carsonified.com A full day of inspiration and learning for developers, brought to you by the team behind StackOverflow.com and FogBugz. Lunch is provided so you’ll have plently of time to hang out and meet other developers. Hope you can join us! Ecoki - ecoki.com Ecoki.com is a fresh, new eco-lifestyle community filled with enthusiasm for all things eco-related. At ecoki.com, we’re passionate about all things green - whether it’s the latest in scientific research, the newest eco-fashion fad, or an update on organic foods. Regardless of your interest(s), ecoki.com strives to provide you with up-to-date news, great green tips, or even a recipe for dinner. Thumbslap - thumbslap.com Arrange & find game nights to play in Thumbslap makes it easy to arrange game nights with your clan, friends or other players whether it's for Xbox 360, PS3, PC or Wii. Finch - getfinch.com Finch is online presence of Francisco Inchauste. He is an "insert buzzword here" designer of finely crafted pixels for web and interaction. During the day he is a UX Specialist for the finest purveyor of RIAs around, Universal Mind. At night he is a design-addict scouring the world for beauty in type and color. Good - good.is GOOD is the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. We are a company and community for the people, businesses, and NGOs moving the world forward. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community. Krop - krop.com Krop is a Job Board and career resource website for creative professionals. Whether you’re looking for job, or hunting top-notch talent, Krop’s simple and powerful tools are geared towards connecting the worlds brightest minds with the best companies. Odopod - odopod.com Walk into our studio. You’ll meet experts of all sorts – designers, developers and strategists. We’re refugees from the worlds of advertising, product design, branding, gaming and beyond. We’re happy collaborators, bringing our diverse, original perspectives to bear on every problem. What do we share in common? Endless curiosity and a deep love for all-things-digital. Inkd - inkd.com We are an experienced team, working hard to create the world's first online marketplace for cutting edge print designs. This marketplace is targeted at the business sector. We know we can’t do this without great designers, and this platform is designed to help the best designers find new outlets of revenue and commissioned work. 37signals - 37signals.com A Better Way To Work. Over 3 million people use our web-based apps to get things done the simple way. Web-based means it works right in your web browser. You don’t have to download, install, or update anything. No “IT guy” required. EveryBlock - everyblock.com EveryBlock filters an assortment of local news by location so you can keep track of what’s happening on your block, in your neighborhood and all over your city. We Choose The Moon - wechoosethemoon.com Wechoosethemoon.org is an interactive experience recreating the historic Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in real time. Once where only three men made the trip, now millions can. Live event begins 9:32 AM EDT July 16, 2009. Exactly 40 years after Apollo 11 lifted off. Spoon Graphics - spoongraphics.co.uk By now I’m sure you’ve gathered that I’m a creative designer, an avid blogger and that I’m generally crazy about pretty colours and shapes. If you want to know more, grab a warm drink, light the fire and cuddle under a soft blanket while I condense my life story into a few paragraphs. Carsonified - carsonified.com At Carsonified we believe in treating other people like we want to be treated: with friendliness, patience and respect. We believe that the web industry is one of the most exciting places in the world, and that it's an honor for us to connect, encourage and train that community through our events. We believe in being more creative than we need to be and having fun while we're at it. Nike + Dashboard - nikerunning.nike.com Nike Running Tapbots - tapbots.com Tapbots are utility robots designed and engineered for your iPhone and iPod Touch. Our applications are easy to use, focused, and lots of fun. These amazing little robots are dreamed up and brought to life by Mark Jardine and Paul Haddad. We slave the night away creating—not to make a quick buck, but because we love software (particularly Mac and iPhone/touch software). We hope our robots will create the same love for software that we have. Josh Puckett | 55Eleven - 55eleven.com Welcome to 55Eleven.com, the portfolio of Josh Puckett. I'm a visual designer, and I create beautiful and functional websites, logos, printed media, and more. I'd also love to work with you. wellknown.as - wellknown.as Business opportunities through social engagement. We are a bunch of folks working hard on a new idea: a new concept of social engagement for the mobile professional. Fever - feedafever.com Your current feed reader is full of unread items. You’re hesitant to subscribe to any more feeds because you can't keep up with your existing subs. Maybe you've even abandoned feeds altogether. Fever takes the temperature of your slice of the web and shows you what's hot. Huxley Prairie Fest - huxleyprairiefest.com Prairie Fest is back and is bigger than ever. Get the latest info on all of the returning events as well as the new ones you and the entire family will enjoy. Area 17 - area17.com AREA?17 is located in New York City and Paris, France. We take an interdisciplinary approach — blending the practices of design, technology and branding — to create modern interactive systems. Analog - analog.coop Analog is a company of friends who make web sites. It’s a co-operative where imagination, design, and engineering thrive; good people doing good work.Nocturn - nocturn.ro We are a small group (population: 2) of design enthusiast offering mainly design & creative solutions to our clients, partners and friends. We are currently covering a large area of interest such as: identity (starting with naming and logo design, reaching out to implementation campaigns, developing detailed visual identity manuals etc.), print (from small flyers to large outdoor banners, both design and dtp) and web services (from layout and implementation until seo and online marketing campaigns).Less - lesscss.org LESS was inspired by its predecessors—especially Sass, a ruby project which provides an ingenious solution to a lot of the common problems CSS designers and web developers face when developping large websites.Adhemas Batista - adhemas.com/ Adhemas Batista - I'm Selling ColorsZee - zee.com.br We work with the internet, develop web projects emphasizing design and technology exploring creativity, user satisfaction and an honest and open relationship with our customers. Electrolux Infinity - electrolux.com.br/infinity/ Electrolux Infinity Project 365 - project365.co.uk We are a cutting edge design and marketing company who specialise in maximising your ROI. We create stunningly designed landing pages and deliver traffic on a CPM, CPC or CPA basis. Whichever way, the results are the same, with us its all about sending the right people at the time to the right section of your site…oh and did we mention we make it look good too? Fontanel - fontanel.nl Fontanelle is an online magazine that focuses on the latest developments in the design world with a focus on the young, talented and upcoming generation. (via Google Translate) Authentic Jobs - authenticjobs.com Authentic Jobs is a targeted destination for web & creative professionals, and the companies seeking to hire them. Haystack - haystack.com Haystack helps you find the best Web Designer for your project. If you're like most web designers, you have a great site but you're having a hard time getting qualified leads to visit your site. Haystack is here to help drive potential clients to your site. We promote Haystack to thousands of businesses, they find your work on Haystack, and then we direct them to your site so you can finish wowing them. Haystack helps them find you so you can do your magic.
Beautiful Hand Drawn Websites
Illustrations are a nice way to give to your site a less formal style. With hand drawings, the style gets even less formal and also it gives to the site a super unique feel, allowing the designer to show off his/her skills. This type of element can be used for small details or even for the whole site layout. One thing is almost certainty, hand drawings will make your site looks more friendly, however it's very important to find the balance and make sure that they fit with the theme and subject of your site. In this post I will show you some beautiful hand drawn websites. They push the style close to the perfection, in my opinion, and I'd like you to pay attention to the usage, as I said, in some cases they use the hand drawings just for details, while in others, it's the whole site. I hope you like them