We’ve just entered August, which means it’s time for our monthly roundup where we select the best web design of the month.
This time, five projects have made it into the ranking. Some months the list is longer, others shorter—it all depends on the level of talent we spot. For now, there are no rules and no prizes—just inspiration.
Let’s dive right into August’s best web design ranking.
August Web Design Inspiration
Carine Roitfeld by Ask Phill
First up is the website that Ask Phill designed and developed for Carine Roitfeld.
Ask Phill is a web design studio based in Amsterdam, specializing in web design and e-commerce development for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands. Their portfolio includes collaborations with various brands across Europe.
Carine Roitfeld, on the other hand, is a luxury fragrance brand that embodies a passionate, unapologetic, and mystical essence.
Carine Roitfeld herself was a fashion editor at Vogue, a model, and a true inspiration for many.
The main goal of the website is to convey the brand’s unique essence to users—a tall order, but one that’s achieved by infusing every pixel with the luxury and elegance that defines Carine Roitfeld fragrances.
The second key objective is to sell the seven featured perfumes, and this is accomplished through a simple, intuitive e-commerce experience. With all the essential elements of a great online store in place, the result is a shopping journey where cart abandonment is nearly impossible—in fact, you might have to stop yourself from buying everything.
From a design perspective, the homepage opens with a seductive fullscreen video. As you scroll vertically, you move from one fragrance to the next, with large black-and-white images exuding elegance. The only color comes from the product shots—a classic technique, but highly effective.
Navigation combines vertical scrolling with shortcut buttons for direct access to different sections. The e-commerce layout is minimalist and functional, seamlessly integrated with the overall site design.
Crafted by Basic®
Next up is the website Basic® created for Crafted.
To introduce the agency briefly: Basic® is a web design and development agency specializing in brand creation.
The site’s main purpose is to showcase San Diego’s creative scene through a web platform designed to grow the city’s creative community.
What stands out most is its cutting-edge design. Fresh, bohemian-inspired images flow across the screen while bold, oversized typography anchors the message, giving it a strong presence in the layout.
Two dynamic elements really shine here: the use of large, elegant typefaces and beautifully executed, subtle transitions. The result is a dynamic, enjoyable journey—like a stroll along a winding river at sunset.
Elena Iv-Skaya by Robin Noguier
In third place for August’s best web design is the site Robin Noguier skillfully crafted for Elena Iv-Skaya.
Robin Noguier is a French creative specializing in interactive web design, working as a freelance designer under his own brand.
Elena Iv-Skaya is a model-turned-photographer with a unique perspective on fashion and lifestyle. Her images are striking, reflecting her experience in front of the camera.
Focusing on the site’s design, it’s fresh and elegant, with imagery taking center stage—as you’d expect from a photographer’s portfolio. Still, the design doesn’t rely solely on Elena’s photos; there’s plenty of white space and other visual elements to balance the layout.
Like a magazine, images are arranged in various positions and interspersed with brief project or image descriptions.
If you love photography as much as I do, you’ll find browsing this site truly captivating.
The site features two main sections: work and about. The portfolio is navigated via vertical scrolling, with clickable sessions for more detail—a smart choice.
Bauhaus 2.0 by Future London Academy
Fourth on the list is the website and development project Future London Academy delivered for the renowned Bauhaus design school.
The London-based multidisciplinary team at Future London Academy specializes in web design, graphic design, and education. Their diverse expertise allows them to offer clients a comprehensive, top-tier service.
This site is dedicated to a series of special courses that Future London Academy will be running over two weeks in London and California.
Design-wise, the standout feature is the bold use of two main colors: yellow for the background and black for the foreground—including typography, which here becomes a design element in its own right.
It’s a daring, avant-garde design that grabs your attention and won’t let go—one of my personal favorites in this month’s ranking.
Tarot-o-bot by Illô
Finally, a bonus entry makes the list for its creative originality: a self-promotional web design by Illô—a kind of landing page that showcases their unique vision for the future of web and digital design.
Tarot-o-bot is a landing page that presents some key ideas from the digital creative world in a highly engaging and original way. Through an interactive tarot experience, users are invited to see things from Illô’s perspective.
Design-wise, it ticks all the boxes for great web design. The color palette is wild and vibrant, with gypsy-inspired tones that immerse you in the mythology of tarot.
Animations and bold typography give the site a strong presence, ensuring its message leaves a lasting impression.
On the development side, the site is highly dynamic, with perfectly executed effects that deliver an outstanding user experience.
And the winner is…
Personally, my pick for the winner is the Future London Academy project—I love its simplicity and effectiveness. With a truly avant-garde design and flawless development, it’s my top choice.
Do you agree? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and start a discussion—we can all learn from each other.
If you’d like to explore this topic further, check out our article on web design trends for 2019 or our piece on graphic design trends for 2019.