It’s more than just the name - which, if you ask me, is enough on it’s own. It’s the cunning design, witty content, and unique user experience implemented on the Chicago building’s website, www.thepeshtigo.com that really got me inspired.

Let’s start with the footer (yes, weird place to start – I know). I’m really loving the slanted neon yellow line. It was actually the first thing that drew me in to explore more. That line adds SO much to the overall feel of the site by creating some “un-perfectness” to the collection of straight-edged walls and precisely angled buildings.  Each page would definately be lacking something without it. I’ve noticed that line in other odd places that carry that little extra touch – like the loading bars, photos, and submit buttons.  It’s a very clever execution of a faint theme throughout the pages. 

I like their use of opacity and treatments to the photos throughout the site.  I’ve been noticing the opacity technique being used a lot lately as an interesting way to lay text over a photo. They also do a good job of mixing classic black and white photography with a contemporary style of font choices and neon colors.

I love how once a tab is selected, the dotted lines are drawn ramdomly (but intentionally), around the page.  Granite – it’s done in Flash – but you could create something similar in HTML. 

And last and least: What is up with their logo?  Why would they spend all of this time and money designing this brilliant website and then stick a half (excuse my French) ass logo up at the top?  Hmmm…

It’s 5:00pm on Friday afternoon and I’m sitting here daydreaming about being inside this website right now,  "surviving" my family vacation.  Despite it’s fun homepage and flashy intro, it’s really just a blog…which is very interesting to me.  Here are some quick things I’d like to point out that grab my attention:

  • I like the white text over the slightly darker shade box on the photo.  This is hard to pull off on the web, but  they did a nice job. 

  • I’m really digging the white and teal script font.

  • The brown gradient is a nice balance to the somewhat busy header. 

  • This is totally just a "extra", but I’m in love with the plane that flies off the page.  Too cute…

If you’re planning a family vacation and for some reason don’t think you’ll survive it - oooorrrr, you just want to take a look around their unique website, visit http://familyvacationsurvivalguide.com/

For some reason - and maybe it’s just me - I instantly had a flashback of getting in trouble for painting on the kitchen table when I came across this design. It’s the "spill-like" illustration on top of the wood grain. The unknown artist did a good job of combining natural with the abstract. My mind is churning for ways I can incorporate a tad-bit of this into my next project.

It would’ve been nice if they made the edges around the wood a little smother since the textures are so very different.  I can see something similar to this being used for a print ad with some nice typography added right into the sun rays.

10 Volt Media’s non-traditional website structure really gets me thinking about different ways to push the boundaries on what a homepage should look like.  Even though showing the Chicago skyline, if you ask me - is pretty overdone, they do it as an illustration so it gives their company a bit more personality than the next guy. 

Most of their work displayed inside is on the serious side, so the fact that their website is tad playful shows prospective clients they can design in a variety of styles. I also like how they carry the bushes along the bottom of every page.  This is a cool technique that doesn’t take away from the information on the pages themselves.  Check out their site at www.10voltmedia.com.

Do you believe in love at first site? After stumbling upon Firebelly Design - I do. The creativity in their work is rare and undefined and surprisingly, those two words can also be used to describe their office culture and agency website.

The team is unbelievably talented, socially responsible, and in “it” for the right reasons.  Their Work section is stocked full of great design techniques and unique solutions to both print and web projects.  This discovery gave me a second wind to make it through the work week.  Hopefully it will give you yours as well!