Top Information Website Design Examples
Informational websites are characterized by their focus on content delivery, educational value, and resource sharing. To ensure all of these come at the highest level, the creators behind the best informational website examples employ a professional approach to website design.
Unlike e-commerce sites, which prioritize sales and product displays, or brand websites designed to promote a specific brand or company and are often more marketing-focused, informational website examples emphasize knowledge dissemination, often through articles, databases, and educational materials with a strong emphasis on visual branding, storytelling, and customer engagement.
According to web design statistics, informational websites are typically more content-heavy, educational, and less commercial.
As the leading web design developers, we at Fireart Studio always keep a close look at all industries tendencies and forerunners. So, let’s look at the best informational websites, assess their design, and see what makes the best inspiring and professional information website design.
Top 15 informational website examples
Numerous websites, from comprehensive encyclopedias like Wikipedia to specialized databases like PubMed, offer an array of knowledge catering to diverse interests and professional needs. Let’s explore some of the most influential and mission-driven examples of informational websites and the best information website design practices used in these.
Wikipedia
Website: https://www.wikipedia.org/
Launched in 2001 in the United States, Wikipedia is a free, crowd-sourced encyclopedia. It’s a global knowledge hub where volunteers create and edit articles, making information accessible and democratizing learning.
Design features: The color scheme is a simple white and blue, offering a neutral, academic feel. The design is minimalistic, focusing on text and information accessibility.
Internet Archive
Website: https://www.archive.org/
Founded in 1996 in the United States, the Internet Archive is a digital library offering free access to a vast array of books, movies, music, and web pages. Its mission is to provide universal access to all knowledge.
Design features: Utilizes a basic color palette dominated by blues and whites, reflecting its archival nature. The graphic design is straightforward and functional.
Crunchbase
Website: https://www.crunchbase.com/
Established in 2007 in the United States, Crunchbase is a business information platform focusing on private and public companies. It’s an essential tool for professionals, offering insights into industry trends and company data.
Design features: Features a modern website design with a clean, white background accented by green and blue elements, giving a professional and crisp appearance.
Britannica
Website: https://www.britannica.com/
Originating as a print encyclopedia in Scotland in 1768 and transitioning online in 1994, Britannica provides reliable, high-quality educational content. It’s a go-to source for in-depth articles and learning resources.
Design features: Employ a classic design with a white background and navy blue accents, conveying a sense of tradition and reliability.
IMDb
Website: https://www.imdb.com/
The Internet Movie Database, which started in 1990 in the United Kingdom, is a comprehensive resource for information related to films, TV shows, and celebrities. It’s a favorite destination for movie buffs and industry professionals alike.
Design features: The site uses a dark background with yellow and white text, creating a cinema-like atmosphere. The design is visually rich and media-focused.
PubMed
Website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Launched in 1996 in the United States, PubMed is a free search engine primarily accessing the MEDLINE database. It’s an essential resource for researchers and healthcare professionals seeking biomedical and life sciences literature.
Design features: The design is scholarly with a white and blue color scheme, emphasizing functionality and easy access to information.
Library of Congress
Website: https://www.loc.gov/
Established in 1800 in the United States, the Library of Congress is a vast repository of books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts. It serves as a research library for the U.S. Congress and a symbol of American knowledge.
Design features: The website uses a traditional informational website design with red, white, and blue colors, reflecting its national heritage.
World Factbook (CIA)
Website: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
Created in 1981 in the United States, the World Factbook provides detailed information on countries’ history, people, government, economy, and geography worldwide, serving as a comprehensive reference source.
Design features: Features a straightforward design with a blue and white color scheme, focusing on data presentation.
JSTOR
Website: https://www.jstor.org/
Founded in 1995 in the United States, JSTOR is a digital library for academic journals, books, and primary sources. It’s a valuable tool for scholars, researchers, and students, offering access to various educational content.
Design features: Offers a clean, academic look with a predominantly white background and green accents, focusing on readability and research.
Emonomy
Website: https://emonomy.xyz/
Emonomy stands out for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with brand marketing.
Design features: The website effectively conveys the enhanced potential of advertisements and marketing through AI, using a dynamic color scheme and seamless content transition effects for the best information website design.
Nerd Fitness
Website: https://www.nerdfitness.com/
Nerd Fitness uses a playful, comic-inspired design perfectly tailored to its target audience.
Design features: They incorporate easy-to-spot Call-to-Action buttons for events and logically organized blog articles, enhancing user engagement through a fun and interactive approach.
The Oatmeal
Website: https://theoatmeal.com/
The Oatmeal offers a unique mix of humor, education, and entertainment using comics, quizzes, and articles.
Design features: The website’s quirky, hand-drawn illustrations and minimalistic layout make navigation easy and engaging.
Canva Design School
Website: https://www.canva.com/designschool/
Known for its vibrant, bold colors and sleek, tiled layout, Canva Design School effectively uses visuals to enhance learning experiences.
Design features: The website features a design spotlight drop-down menu, an excellent support center, and easy-to-follow tutorials, making it a prime example of visual engagement.
Smithsonian Institution
Website: https://www.si.edu/
Started in 1846 in the United States, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It aims to increase and share knowledge through its extensive collections and exhibitions.
Design features: Uses a vibrant, image-rich design with various colors to showcase its collections and exhibits.
Khan Academy
Website: https://www.khanacademy.org/
Launched 2008 in the United States, Khan Academy offers free, high-quality education to anyone, anywhere. Its mission is to provide accessible learning resources in various subjects for self-paced education.
Design features: Features a friendly, approachable design with bright colors and clear, simple graphics to facilitate learning.
TED Talks
Website: https://www.ted.com/
Beginning in 1984 in the United States, TED Talks is a platform for sharing ideas in short, powerful talks, covering a wide range of topics from education and business to science and creativity.
Design features: Utilizes a modern, sleek design with red as a signature color, highlighting its innovative and thought-provoking content.
Project Gutenberg
Website: https://www.gutenberg.org/
Started in 1971 in the United States, Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works. It’s one of the earliest and most extensive collections of free eBooks.
Design features: The website has a basic, functional design with a simple color scheme, focusing on text and easy book access.
Google Scholar
Website: https://scholar.google.com/
Launched in 2004 in the United States, Google Scholar is a search engine for scholarly literature. It indexes various academic papers, making research information universally accessible.
Design features: Employs a minimalistic design with a clean, white background, similar to Google’s main search page, focusing on simplicity and functionality.
Stack Exchange
Website: https://stackexchange.com/
Established 2009 in the United States, Stack Exchange is a network of Q&A websites covering diverse topics. It’s a platform where users can find and share knowledge, from technical issues to general inquiries.
Design features: Features a clean, user-friendly design with a white background and subtle blue accents, focusing on community interaction and information exchange.
How do you approach an informational website design process?
When planning an informational website, it’s essential to consider its core sections as the backbone of your digital presence. Based on informational website examples from above, these sections typically include
- Homepage that introduces the website’s purpose and features critical content.
- “About Us” — background information about the organization or entity behind the site.
- Resources, including educational content, articles, or blog posts.
- Database or archives for websites like libraries or research platforms must be searchable.
- FAQs, gathering common questions and answers to them.
- Contact information, where visitors can find ways to reach the organization.
- User profile sections for personalized experiences.
- Forums or community boards for user interaction and discussion.
The development process should ensure that each section is intuitive, content-rich, and aligned with the website’s mission.
When searching for a vendor to create your best information website design, prioritize those with proven user experience (UX) design and content strategy expertise. Look for a portfolio with examples of informational websites that demonstrate their ability to handle information-heavy portals and pay attention to their approach toward SEO optimization and mobile responsiveness.
Equally important, choose a vendor who understands your vision and can translate it into a functional and engaging online experience that resonates with your target audience.
What innovative trends are used for the best informational websites?
While some of the informational websites examples above stick to the tried-and-true traditional structures and layouts, they use the latest web development trends and innovations at the backend, just like modern startups do. Enhancing your website’s functionality with machine learning, big data, information technology enhancements, and AI-powered personalization allows for a better customer experience, working for your website’s popularity.
AI and chatbots
These tools provide instant assistance and enhance user engagement. They can answer FAQs, guide navigation, and gather user feedback, making the browsing experience more interactive and personalized.
Interactive data visualization
Complex data is presented using graphs, charts, and interactive maps in an engaging, easy-to-understand format. This makes the website more exciting and informative, especially for data-heavy content.
Personalization
Tailoring content to individual users based on their browsing history, preferences, or demographic information. Best information website design can include personalized recommendations, content adjustments, and adaptive user interfaces.
Accessibility enhancements
Implementing features like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and adjustable text sizes to make websites usable for people with disabilities ensures inclusivity.
Voice search optimization
Optimizing content for voice search to cater to users who use voice assistants. This includes using natural language, question-based content, and structured data for better voice query responses.
Not looking for an informational website development right now?
Check out the roundups of the best web design for other industries:
Takeaway
Hope you liked the informational website examples and gathered some inspiration for your next project. Building a great informational website involves planning, design thinking, and organizing lots of info. At Fireart Studio, we’re good at making websites that are easy to use and look great, no matter what kind of business you have, including informational sites.
Our experienced web designers worked with many industries, so we know what we’re doing. Whether you’re looking to build a new informational site or revamp an existing one, Fireart Studio is equipped to bring your vision to life, ensuring your website informs and inspires. Come take a look at our portfolio and see for yourself!
