Let's take a stroll down memory lane through the ever-evolving world of web design. Remember the days of black screens and neon pixels? Ah, the Dark Ages of web aesthetics! 

Then, in strolled the '90s tech bros with their sleek white backgrounds, ushering in a new era of digital minimalism.

GIF Source: Giphy

Fast forward to today, where HTML, Javascript, and CSS have shaped web design into dynamic playgrounds of creativity. From minimalist chic to daring neo-brutalism and mesmerizing animations, web design has seen it all. 

But hold onto your hats (or headsets)! Now, we're in the era of interactive website design.

Interactive design isn't just about pretty pictures; it's about engaging your audience like never before. Think micro-interactions that make users smile, dynamic scrolling that keeps them hooked, and video backgrounds that tell your brand's story in seconds. It's all about creating a web experience that's not just seen but felt, translating to more conversations on your site and (ideally) more visitors. 

So, ready to take your website from static to sensational? Here’s a handful of examples to ‘webspire,’ I mean, inspire you:

11 interactive website examples you can learn from

Like precious-stone miners, our team went into the depths of the digital world to fish out these examples. 

The sites you’ll find below embody what it means to be interactive. 

They’ve got breathtaking designs. Engaging elements. And features that’ll just make you go ‘wow.’ 

Let’s get down to it.

Example #1: Late Checkout Studio

LCS for short, this digital marketing agency is on a mission to build community-based products. 

The first thing you see is a digital community that’s a replica of your typical neighborhood map. So you get intrigued, wondering what it’s about…subtly encouraging you to keep exploring.

Image Source: Late Checkout Studio

The interactive features on this site include the hover effect that displays pop-up texts about a service the brand offers when you hover over a building. And that makes navigating the site easier.

There’s a small menu bar at the top-right corner of the site that also simplifies navigation.

In addition, you can double-click to move the ‘neighborhood’ around and just explore the site at a convenient pace. 

In a nutshell, LCS combined several interactive elements to make the site solid, including 

• Animations and 3-D elements to make it attractive.  
• Micro-interactions for easy navigation and access to the site’s services. 

Key takeaways: 

• Ensure any interactive elements you use reflect your services. 
• Keep your elements genuinely interactive. 
• Sometimes, less content is more when building an interactive site.

Example #2: Webflow

Videos that come alive when you scroll and pause when you scroll past it is what welcome you to Webflow’s web experience. 

Image Source: Webflow

As you go further down the website, you’re met with several clickable elements that make the experience more engaging. 

You click on them and the image beneath them changes. This way, you’re not just viewing passively but actively exploring the site. 

Some of these clickable hotspots even allow you to preview what a localized version of a Webflow site looks like, making you experience their features in real time.  Without actually using them. 

Another thing you’ll notice with Webflow’s site is that it’s black-themed, with classy color palettes like white, blue, and purple to make the design pop. This helps improve navigation and readability and strengthens the brand identity. 

Cool combos for an interactive web design.

Key takeaways: 

• Pair black themes with bright colors so you have a solid design and make it more accessible. 
• Visitors should know what your site is about from the get-go.
• Keep a balance between interactive elements and important content.

Example #3: Cyclemon

Cyclemon’s engaging experience starts with a rolling wheel instead of the typical loading sign when you log on to the site.

Image Source: Cyclemon

You’re then greeted with a colorful homepage. Making you wonder if that’s all the site has to offer. 

But as you scroll down, you’re met with the good stuff. 

An array of cycle posters for the bad, the good, and the ugly. *Our words, not theirs.*

The site has just one interactive element — parallax scrolling. 

And that makes the site quite engaging as it keeps visitors focused and encourages them to keep scrolling through. They’ll want to see the next fun thing. It’s almost like you’re being taken through different bicycle stores. 

Key takeaways: 

• Your site can be great with just one interactive element. 
• Complement it with cool fonts, colors, icons, etc., so it’s more engaging.
• You don’t need loads of text to build a solid interactive site. 

Example #4: Mixpanel

Mixpanel opens with a short heading alongside images and GIFs of data graphs that immediately communicate their services (data analytics) to visitors.

Image Source: Mixpanel

Then, there’s a high-quality GIF of a rocket taking off into space, enhancing the site’s storytelling of how the tool’s so good…it needs to go global.

Mixpanel’s standout features are the product demo video showing how the tool works and parallax scrolling

Now, parallax scrolling is generally known to provide an engaging user experience and draw people’s attention. 

But here it was used to show visitors the different use cases Mixpanel is applicable. And so, just after the site’s header, visitors are gradually ushered into this out-of-space graphic animation. 

Key takeaways: 

• Understand your audience so you know what elements work for them. 
• Give users the option to switch between motion on and off.
• Ensure your site looks great even when the motions are off. 

Example #5: Because Recollection

Because Recollection is a music interactive experience site where visitors can enjoy their favorite songs and interact with them by holding the spacebar button. 

Image Source: Because Recollection

If they press the spacebar button once, they’re taken to the homepage. With music playing in the background. 

And if they hold the button down, a new artist comes up alongside their sound. 

Now, here’s the fun part:

The music doesn’t play unless the user follows the on-screen instructions. It could be to press H on your keyboard till the bomb explodes. Or roll the pillar for the rhythm to play. 

Overall, Because Recollection’s design is pretty astounding with colorful texts, icons, and innovative interaction that’ll keep visitors engaged for hours.  

Another important element of their experience is its intuitive approach…users know what to do without requiring additional assistance.

Key takeaways: 

• Let interactions reflect the industry you’re in and your audience’s preference. 
• Ensure your interactions are intuitive. Users shouldn’t have to think hard to know the next step to take. 
• Include keyboard shortcuts in your interactions. 

Example #6: NASA Solar System

NASA’s solar system site gives users a sneak peek into what goes on in outer space. However, not with pictures or traditional videos but with a live visualization of the solar system.

Image Source: NASA

With this 3D map, users get to interact with the solar system using only their mouse. They can click on any of the planets to get a large view and scroll in or out to zoom in and out. 

The approach NASA used here allowed visitors to visualize and engage the solar system better than they’ve ever done. This way, they understand the whole concept better and make it easy to remember. 

Key takeaways: 

• An interactive site can have interactive elements in just one section.
• Great copy and content can keep users engaged too.
• If you aren’t using lots of interactive elements, throw in more media content.  

Example #7: MakeMePulse

MakeMePulse is an agency that helps brands create immersive experiences across different digital platforms or devices. The first thing you see when visiting this site is the texts: ‘global’, ‘creative’, and ‘studio’... which gives the page a dynamic feel. 

Image Source: MakeMePulse

Nothing so special or interactive about that, right?

Eh, wrong. ❌

When you hover over those texts, you’ll see glimpses of images and animations. 

Scroll a bit further down and your cursor partners up with a white circle ball over some catchy animations. 

There’s also a product demo video of MakeMePulse that blends so well with the background, giving visitors an immersive experience on the site. Watching it almost feels like you’re in a movie theater. 

Overall, MakeMePulse is a kind of interactive site that keeps users scrolling to see what’s next. 

Key takeaways: 

• Plain solid colors are important elements when building interactive sites. 
• Sharing your client stories with animations can make visitors more intrigued. 

Example #8: Superside

Superside opens its interactivity game with static animations alongside a clear copy of its offer that immediately captures visitors’ attention. It makes them curious about what comes next and just sets the tone for the rest of the site’s experience. 

Image Source: Superside

Just after that, there’s a video detailing what Superside is about. 

Then, comes a cartoony animation block. A horizontal scrolling gallery highlighting Superside’s services. 

And motion visuals right after that, enough to motivate web users to keep scrolling. 

Essentially, you get delighted visiting this homepage as Superside effectively leveraged interactive elements to create an engaging experience. 

They balanced clear messaging and visual appeal by merging colorful texts with captivating images and animations to achieve user engagement.  

Key takeaways: 

• The first thing a visitor sees on your site is super important. It needs an allure.
• Visuals (static and animated) are crucial in getting users to engage with your site.  
• Interactive elements are great for your site. But don’t let them be so much that visitors forget why they came. 

Example #9: Basetis

Plain colors, weird line shapes, and oddly placed service menus are what define this ICT site. They spark curiosity, draw users' attention, and encourage them to explore the site further. 

Image Source: Basetis

But what makes it an interactive website worth your time?

The first bit is the ‘Services’ section. 

Looks boring initially but when you click the services the animation changes. 

The other part is their ‘About Us’ section. 

They included an array of Basetis’s employee photos. All static at first glance. 

But as you hover over each image, it changes to a different pose. It’s actually fun and could keep visitors engaged for quite a while. 

In a nutshell, Basetis’ interactive web design showed that creating interactive web experiences doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as having a clickable gallery or a little splash of parallax scrolling. But the goal should be to keep users engaged. 

Key takeaways: 

• You can add interactive elements to any kind of site. Sophisticated, complex, and even oddly simple — like this one. 
• Interactions don’t have to be complicated. They can be simple and effective. The idea is for users to engage with your site through them. 

Example #10: Dribbble

Of course, it’s Dribbble, you shouldn’t expect anything short of a great interactive site from the world’s destination for design. 

Dribbble’s designers went for a simple, yet interactive interface when building their site making it easy for people to navigate and be ‘designpired’.

Image Source: Dribbble

The first thing you’ll notice is the horizontally scrolling gallery of static and moving visuals of designers, introducing viewers to their top designers. And perhaps, Dribbble’s way of telling visiting designers, “Welcome home.” 

The next interesting bit is the website portfolio section. 

Considering there are so many designs to explore, they made exploring this part fun as just hover over any design triggers an interaction. It comes alive and you can save or like it without accessing the full design.

Then, Dribbble’s homepage closes out with another horizontal scrolling.

Key takeaways: 

• A single color scheme can ensure users have a smooth transition when scrolling your site. 
• A few animated elements can function as the curiosity light bulb your users need. 

Example #11: The Goonies

The Goonies’ website opens with an image of the Goon Docks where the movie was set. 

You’d almost think you were watching the movie. 

Image Source: The Goonies

As you scroll down, the site draws you into the settings of the movie. In an interactive way, of course. 

You go from the plot to the movie cast. 

With the user interface looking like you’re being guided through how the movie went from start to finish. 

The designers used two main user interactions for this webpage: 

Parallax scrolling and a story map. 

The parallax scrolling helps draw people into the content, guides their focus, and makes their experience more immersive. And the map was a nice addition to boost user engagement as visitors have to click a dot on the map for the next location to appear. 

Key takeaways: 

• Remember that one of the main goals of interactions is to increase user engagement. If that’s not happening, what’s the point?
• Riddles, quizzes, and games would be a cool addition if you’re aiming for engagement. Buuut, you want to keep it on the down-low.  
• Your landing page is where you have the chance to make magic happen. Give it your best shot. 

***

Alright, The Goonies was the last interactive website design example on our list.

With that said, it’s time to close the curtain on this guide.

Start building your interactive website

Talking about some of the best interactive website examples is all well and good. 

You’ve probably gotten a bunch of ideas already. 

But the part that’s a little hard to reconcile is how to build your interactive site. 

Well, guess what?

That’s not a big deal. 

Especially with Ceros in your corner. 

Yup, Editor (the design guru) can help add interactive content to your site. 

You’ll even have access to templates so you know just how to get your web development project started. 

Hard to believe, yeah?

So, how about you schedule a free demo with Ceros to get the hang of how the system works? 

And if you like what you see, you know where to find us.