Recently, I saw a very nice collection of vintage ads posted by Abduzeedo (via Digg). Speaking of vintage design, I also have a nice collection of vintage websites that I dug up from my old bookmarks and Best Web Gallery submissions. I'm not a big fan of vintage design, but if you want to see more vintage inspiration, here are 23+ sites.
Warning: some of the sites that you are about to view might be very old (click at your own risk)
Travel & tour sites like vintage style?
I'm not sure if it is a trend or what, but vintage design seems to be very popular on travel and tour sites. Below are three great samples.
Visit Cascadia
This is one of my favorite sites. The design itself is not so "vintage" (in fact, very eye-catchy), but the designer did a great job on blending vintage elements with modern web design and coding technology.
Cottonseed Oil Tour
Another eye-catchy site. I particularly like the homepage and the highway signs.
Tennessee Vacation
The details spent on this site is extensive. Don't be shy to click around or you will miss out the inner pages (almost every page or section has a different layout).
Sexy models
One common subject, they like to use sexy models. Below are some samples.
Mouse to Minx
This is one of my favorite ecommerce sites. From design to coding, the overall site is nicely done.
Lana Landis (flash)
Ok, this is a very old site. If you have been in the industry for a long time, you have probably seen this site (it was quite popular back then). I first saw it back in 2003 - 2004(?), but she is still looking hot.
Target Scope (Flash)
Kretivia.com
Prahba.com (Flash)
Yesterday is Here
Vintage cars
Another common subject, beside sexy models they like to use classic cars.
Breeze Media
Jackson Fish Market
Verga Car
WebDesigner.ro
Collage
They also like collage style, torn paper and worn-out photo effect.
Sottocostoska
Avalon Rose Design (vintage design portfolio)
The Retrovert
Spadewerk
More...
Here are more vintage sites, enjoy.
Get Satisfaction
Hardees
Fisticuff Design
Lataka
Sauro Motel
Update (Jan 23, 2008)
Cameron Moll
Most of you is probably familar with Cameron Moll's website. Good use of CSS and typography, and of course very retro.
FortySeven Media
A newly launched retro design by Jonathan Longnecker and Nate Croft.
Media Boom
Big Rig Design
The Greg Brady Project
Prospect Denim
Don't forget to...
check out my weekly update Best Web Gallery for more inspiration.
Here are couple design agencies that have embraced the vintage style into their own web sites.
Big Rig Design NY – http://www.bigrigdesign.com
MediaBoom – http://www.mediaboom.com
Cheers!
Oh how refreshing after seeing gradients after gradients!!!
More on Vintage webdesign:
starry background images (preferably animated).
A huge (at least 500k) logo made with Xara 3D (made in less then 5 mins).
Pre-css style hyperlinks (blue is difficult to find on a dark heavy background).
Many dead links.
Filled with ani gifs saying the site is optimized for IE and netscape and such…
There should be a museum for this.
P
I’m liking this rebellion against the web 2.0 gradient fest we have been getting used to. I love the site for Michel Gondry’s new film Be Kind Rewind, where it erases the internet, and then recreates it out of cardboard and play-doh… genius.
good work!
Great Collection, thanks! Vintage Design can be really powerful and beautiful too.
hi, i want a comment box script!!!!!!!!!!
Great resource. I´m working on a vintage design actually and this is a great inspiration =)
It’s really great… thank you very much.
This sites have a nice graphic composition.
Cheerssss and sorry my bad english XD
Awesom collection of websites as usual.
wow. speechless, really a awesome collection!!!
Great collection!
You should have a look at Design Meltdown. They have three pages of web designs that use an old retro style.
I must agree on many of the comments…GREAT collection above!
I think Vintage Web Design separates the Real Web Designers from the guys that “think that it’s all in the coding”…incorporating and displaying excellent graphic design skill along with art and typography; which allows the designer to express his own flare for design.
http://www.skytemedia.com
Professional Web Design and Development
super site collection…
All of them are very interesting sites..
Thanks
Really cool, thanks for the post
most design are attractive but the content is not recognizable coz in the first view of the page all I have seen are images…
In Brazil, the use of advertising agencies very relances the years 30-50 to make their portfolios, perhaps by giving a classic touch of tradition to their work.
nice designs…thanx
websurffing made easier :D heh-heh