Of course you can’t just add a vintage design to any type of website; the design has to be a part of a story and has to fit the business domain; but when it does find its place, the results are stunning!

Retro-inspired web-design and new technologies

Get inspired by mixing old retro designs and new HTML5 and CSS3 to create responsive websites for spectacular results! Most of the websites presented are responsive, and have great features that set them apart from the crowd and make them an inspiring experience.

If you are a nostalgic that loves everything vintage, you will absolutely love our choices; here are 30 of the most beautiful retro and vintage design websites.

The Dollar Dreadful

The Dollar Dreadful is a family library that brings you amazing short stories. The website takes advantage of the brand’s history and manages to bring users a great vintage looking website!

Cirq

Cirq.com is a great looking vintage website built with HTML5. The retro design is a perfect choice for the grape and wine industry, as we all know good wine gets better with age. The website will be fully launched in this spring, so keep an eye on them for more vintage design inspiration!

Kitchen Sink Studios

A beautiful and awarded HTML5 website that features a retro design, great textures and typography inspired fonts. The design is really user-friendly; everything fits great and seems like the perfect for a creative design consultancy.

Bitfoundry

Great looking minimalist website inspired by vintage typography and retro design. I really liked the usage of design elements and keywords that suggest a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers.

Bean Exchange

Bean exchange is a perfect website for a classic and timeless coffee house. The vintage design is by far the best choice for this type of business, and gives the user a bit of the feeling he has wile drinking his coffee.

City dog

Cute and clever designed website inspired by vintage maps and designs, a great source of inspiration on how to match design and message.

Barleysgville

Great example for a how a vintage website for a business should look like. Each page of this website is a well thought out example of good design and it’s full of nice detail work.

Cascade Brewery Co

The illustrations look great and work well with the brand, and also the AJAX pop-ups are beautifully done, detailed and each one is unique. Love the way visitors can adjust the controls to customize a version of the site that best suits them. Great inspiration!

Forefathersgroup

Forefathersgroup.com is an example of great usage of the stylized typography and illustrations, all inspired by the Victorian Era.

Matthewdwilliams

A beautiful example of authentic vintage style used for a website’s design. All the visual elements fit great together and every detail has a maximum effect.

Shoshorov

A beautiful vintage inspiration website that gets it’s inspiration from the print design world, but functions perfectly in the online interactive medium. It’s a great example of fundamental principles of design successfully implemented for web, and it also makes effective use of practical web technologies.

Castirondesign

The web-design was inspired by the company’s namesake, the cast iron skillet. I love the subtle textures incorporated in all design components that give it the retro look.

Von Dutch

The fashion brand Von Dutch’s website is inspired by grunge and looks amazing; it’s a great source of inspiration. The website uses a series of eye popping images to add a 3d effect.

Barcampomaha

A unique looking website inspired by old computer game design. The beautiful details certainly make it one of the most inspiring vintage web-designs out there.

Handi Email

Great example where this vintage style fits like a glove! Handiemail actually sends handwritten letters in your recipient’s mail box, so its target audience is surely to appreciate the retro design.

Brooklyn Soap

Amazing example of the recent trend of full background photography’s used in web-design. The large image is a great tool for grabbing the viewer’s attention and allows the content to be kept simple and elegant. This design combines the vintage look and the full background photography trend in a really cool way.

Caava Design

Beautiful Retro inspired website design with great attention to details.

Mercer Tavern

Really clean and minimal vintage inspired web-design with a touch of creativity. I love the horizontal display, it fits the ensemble.

Jackson Fish Market

Jackson Fish Market – a really creative name for an online consultancy website. The retro design gives it a unique approach.

Hypstery

A great collection of vintage-inspired designs gathered together in a vintage-inspired website.

Ernest Hemingway Collection

If you are also a fan of Ernest Hemingway, you will love the Ernest Hemingway Collection. The retro inspired design adds a touch of mystery and credibility with a series of really simple elements.

This Land is Hovland

Great visual experience, every detail has its place and contributes to the design’s effect.

The Vintage Catering Company

Here’s a beautiful minimal design example for The Vintage Catering Company. The full-size slideshow looks amazing and enhances that vintage look by displaying beautiful pictures of old cars.

Dunlop Tire

The Dunlop website takes you on a virtual time-travel trough the history of the brand. It has a beautiful way of displaying key moments on a time-axis, using visual elements to remind us of that age’s feel.

Walking Wall of Words

A web site in retro style – the background image is selected in order to create a special retro atmosphere and manages to recreate a vintage feel without using too many elements.

Austin East Ciders

Here’s a great example of how really simple structure and a clever combination of different fonts and retro designs can create a great looking effect. All the elements match the textured background and create a cool vintage look.

Somersby Cider

Beautiful new retro inspired website for Somersby Cider, a cider brand from Carlsberg. The site is designed as a ‘one-page site’, looks really clean and the colors are a perfect choice.

Amazee Labs

Here’s a more colorful approach of the vintage-retro inspired web-design trend. It recreates a sense of the old days, with a lot of different elements that fit well together.

Richard Photo Lab

Forty One Twenty

For today I thought that’s a good idea to share with you some amazing flower logos that can be a good source of inspiration for a startup company. If you have in mind a business like a flower shop, a flower delivery, a spa center or home & garden activities, this post will help you out with some great logos from excellent designers. Please make sure that you visit all their work and give them credits for what they do.

All flowers have a meaning. Each flower expresses a feeling and communicates a message. Flowers symbolize emotions and can be used well as creative design elements. Before you use flowers in your designs make sure you do a research first about their meanings. Probably the most eloquent example is the red rose that symbolizes love, romance and passion.

Creating a flower logo concept may be difficult to achieve sometimes. But with some good inspiration and visualization of others work you’ll find that unique approach for your own work. I truly believe that you can do it. Keep in mind that a timeless logo must be simple and appealing to the eyes of the customers so that it can be easily remembered.

This article will inspire you with 40 amazing flower logo designs that can boost the overall presence of your the business.

Flower Logo Designs

Welwer

Flowers For The People

All Flowers

Green Rose

Sunflower Photo Booth

DK Logo

In Flora

Beer Garden

Daisy Kat

Rachele Rose Day Spa

Floral Dentistry

St. Valentine

Flo

Amarilli

Restaurant Farid

Flor de Amor

Flora Chat

Posey

Dobra Book

Rosepark

Florist

Pocket Garden Press

CO2 Logo

Flower Shop

Corleone

ZipCoin

With a Bouquet

Baby Breath

Flower Face

Mayflower Inn & Spa

My Cafe Garden

The Montpellier Practice

Flower Shop

Flower Shop 2

Lotus Center

Luckey

Logo Concept

Fall

Flower Guys

Twigs & Posies

If you like this flower logo selection please share it with your friends.

You’ve probably had some clients by now asking you to create a site that shows perfectly on a desktop as well as on smartphones and tablets. So this is where Ethan Marcotte came up with a clever solution  called responsive web design. Instead of creating several different site versions for each device, just build a single website that adapts to each device. But how is that possible exactly?

With the help of responsive web design, web designers can create sites that have the ability to detect the device someone is using to access a site and react accordingly providing him with a better navigation and readability. To be more specific, responsive web design refers to the use of grid and layout systems, optimized images and CSS media queries.

So, if you’re already noticing an increasing number of visitors using mobile devices to access your site, it’s important you embrace it and react with no delay. To help you in your quest, here’s a collection of 30 websites following the principles of responsive web design.

30 Examples of Responsive Web Design

1. Deren K

2. Clear Air Challenge

3. Andersson-Wise Architects

4. Illy Issimo

5. Ribot

6. Do Lectures

7. About.com

8. Stephen Caver

9. New Adventures In Web Design Conference 2012

10. Sasquatch Festival

11. Sparkbox

12. 320 and Up

13. Earth Hour

14. Food Sense

15. The Modern Gentleman

16. FlexSlider

17. Launch Kit

18. Naomi Atkinson

19. The Boston Globe

20. Splendid

21. Converge SE

22. Robot or Not?

23. Authentic Jobs

24. Sleepstreet

25. Think Vitamin

26. Alsacréations

27. Simon Collison

28. Sweet Hat Club

29. Internet Images

30. Spigot Design

What is your take on responsive web design? Let us know in a comment below.

So, what’s so special about HTML5? The most important thing is that you don’t need a plugin to get video support or embed videos because your browser already supports that. It also includes storage for offline web applications. Bottom line, if you’re on a deadline, these HTML5 web apps can really come in handy and help you work faster and get things done in time.

In this post you will go through a collection of 20+ HTML5 web apps, such as animations, time management, chart creating and more, that can save you lots of time, while you focus on other pending tasks.

Want to see some  HTML5 stuff in action or maybe learn more about it? Why not check out these useful posts below?

• 30 HTML5 Websites for your Inspiration
• 40 Useful HTML5 Tutorials

20+ Powerful HTML5 Web Applications

1. Twimbow 

Twimbow is a HTML5 web application that helps users manage their social network of choice more efficiently. It’s very colorful and this is what differentiates it from other apps like it. You can mark important conversations or people with a color of your choice.

2. Aviary

Aviary includes several tools from image and vector editors to audio editor and image markup. So, if you need to add some effects quickly and don’t want to waste time downloading and installing software, this is a quick solution to get the job done.

3. Gabereiser

This is a HTML5 web application that you can use to browse photos easily.

4. Body Browser from Google Labs

You’ve probably checked out the Body Browser from Google Labs. It’s a great application for students that want to learn more about the human body, as well as for professionals. It’s very easy to use and a must-see!

5. Coolendar

Simple organizer that you can use to plan your tasks, appointments and other activities.

6. CSSWARP

CSSWarp is a time-saving alternative to generate HTML code from text. Comes in very handy when you’re on a deadline.

7. Hootsuite 

hootsuite is a web app for those Internet savvy that are constantly checking or updating their statuses on social networks. You have access to all your social media stuff in a single place.

8. CSS 3.0 Maker 

This is a simple to use HTML5 web app that helps you create CSS3 code using a visual designer.

9. MugTug 

MugTug is an online drawing application that you can use to improve you drawing skills or just edit images online. You can use it from your PC, tablet or netbook.

10. Scribd in HTML5

Scribd also has a Flash version but now they’ve added a HTML5 one. If you’re looking for information on a certain topic, Scribd is loaded with data and reports so you’ll probably find great resources here.

11. Citicles 

If you want to find out more information about a particular city, look it up on Citicles. It’s actually a pretty interesting and interactive HTML5 web app.

12. Colorzilla 

This is an alternative to Photoshop. You can use it online, so you don’t need to download or install anything and it’s also more user friendly than Photoshop, which means it’s a lot easier to use.

13. DeviantART Muro 

Muro is a HTML5 web app that you can use to work on your scketches. No need to install any plugin but you do need a DeviantArt account if you’re skilled and want to have access to advanced features.

14. X-Worlds

This application can be used by both kids and professionals. Draw a character and then see it being transformed into a great illustration.

15. CloudCanvas

Cloud Canvas is a HTML5 web app where you can edit images online and then save them on your own cloud (Google Documents, in this case.)

16. Lislis Painter 

This is yet another image editing tool online based on HTML5.

17. LucidChart 

Use this HTML5 web app to create charts and diagrams online, and then share them with your team members.

18. Diagramo 

With Diagramo you can create diagrams, charts and graphs and save them for as long as you want.

19. Tiny Fluid Grid 

Generate a grid framework and then preview it to make sure it looks as you want it to. It’s a simple tool so you’ll have no trouble using it.

20. Bomomo 

Bomomo is a HTML5 web app that allows you to create artwork online – whether it’s a wallpaper or just abstract drawings.

21. Iconza

With Inconza you get a free collection of icons that you can edit to fit your exact requirements. You can change their color or size to match your designs.

22. Vintage JS

This is an interesting online tool that you can use to give your images a more vintage look.

23. Was it up?

Like the name says, this application lets you know when your site goes down.

Is there any other cool HTML5 web app that you’ve used and think should be on this list? 

If you’re into photography, you might also want to check out these posts below:

• 40 Beautiful Fall Pictures
• 30 Best Macro Photography Shots
• 30 Best National Geographic Photos 2011
• 25 Examples of HDR Architectural Photography

Amazing Winter Photography

1. Aurora Borealis

2. Snowy sunset at Lakeview Park

3. Winter Meal

4. Ice Drapery

5. Crater Lake

6. Winter’s Grip

7. Siberia. -37°C (-35°F)

8. Cold and Alone

9. Over the top

10. Snowy morning

11. The Endpoint

12. Snow bales

13. Up

14. Snowfall in Eden

15. January

16. Trace

17. Couple

18. Winter

19. Right of Way

20. Winter Sunset

21. Midwinter Dream

22. River of Ice

23. Misty

24. Midwinter light

25. The Neigborhood

26. Winter Wonderland

27. Winter Sunset

28. Spirit of Adventure

29. Warmth – cold

30. A Winter Road

31. Wallberg-chapel

32. Winter’s Long Walk

33. Winter Dream 

34. Winter Crater Lake

35. Winter Surprise 

“For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia,” says the protest message on the Wikipedia site.

Wikipedia, along with Reddit, WordPress and a lot more popular websites have gone black in protest of the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA). Here’s how 10 of the most popular websites looked like today:

1. Wikipedia

2. Reddit

3. WordPress

4. Mozilla

5. Wired

6. O’Reilly

7. Explosm

8. Digital Public Library of America

9. Digifreak

10. Twitpic

Have you joined the strike or protested in some way?

Lately, we’re seeing more and more remarkable CVs that are personalized to the position people are applying to. This means a lot more work but if you’re really serious about landing the job, it’s worth the effort. To help you out in your research, I’ve gathered a collection of the  25 most creative resumes I could find on the web that are going to make you rethink yours. Take a look and don’t forget to share them with others.

1. Sarah Odgers – Graphic Designer resume

A neat 3D resume designed by/ for a graphic designer. It includes all the information about the candidate, but its design is far from traditional.

2. Mohammed Mahgoub – Web designer& Developer resume

Simple yet attractive resume where the designer uses the little space available to present its skills and experience.

3. Blog Sociale t-shirt resume

What better way to advertise your services than putting your resume on a t-shirt for everyone to see? Very cool idea!

4. Mike Jones – Graphic Designer resume

As a graphic designer, your resume’s design might as well “sell” your services and convince an employer to hire you. Mike got it right, wouldn’t you agree?

5. Michael Anderson resume

Infographics are an interesting way of presenting one’s skills and experience. I especially enjoyed the Daily intake& output.

6. Pau Morgan – Graphic Designer resume

Here’s another neat graphic designer resume where a pinwheel is used to describe his professional background. Short, colorful and to the point.

7. Graphic Designer resume

No surprise that graphic designers are the ones coming up with such cool ideas for their resumes. This one is no less creative – it looks like an emergency toolkit and probably includes all kind of interesting information about the designer that could help him land the job.

8. Jonathan Kaczynski resume

Yet another interesting approach for a resume, using the route of a metro to present his work history and skills.

9. David Young Vintage resume

Some prefer a more vintage look like this candidate here. He has designed his CV just like it was done in the ’60′s.

10. Tudor Deleanu – Web Designer resume

This is a more modern resume design but comes in very handy because it’s small and you can have it on you anytime.

11. Steven Duncan resume

Very attractive resume although it might be a bit complicated to follow.

12. Sunny Black resume

An eye-catching resume that presents skills and experience.

13. Sid Santos – Graphic Designer resume

This guy is specialized in 3D modelling and packaging design so he got the neat idea to turn a simple cup in to his personal resume. Not bad, not bad at all. You might notice this CV was designed in 2009 so kudos to this guy for being so creative back then.

14. Matthew Villalovos – Waiter

If you’re not a designer that doesn’t mean you can’t get an awesome resume. Check this guy’s resume out – he’s looking for a waiter job and his CV fits just perfectly.

15. Interactive Media Design resume

This is such a cool and minimalist resume that it’s impossible not to get your attention. However, as an employer, I would’ve liked to get more information not just a few titles.

16. Robert Berg – Contractor resume

Here’s a simple resume for a contractor. Added to his experience is also the design of his resume, which comes to prove his skills.

17. Mary Ann – Graphic Designer resume

A very modern looking and detail oriented resume. Wouldn’t expect less from a graphic designer.

18. Web designer resume

Simple and attractive resume of an advertising designer. I especially liked the comics from the Aptitudes, gives it a relaxed and humorous touch, making it less formal than it usually is.

19. Adam Balazy – Designer resume

Here’s a resume design with the basic skills and work experience information included but what makes it attractive are the design elements.

20. Riccardo Sabatini resume

This is one of the resumes I really liked. Not only is the design very cool, but the copy is also catchy and very convincing. Moreover, it also includes call-to-action. Take a look.

21. Robbie Bautista – Graphic Designer resume

Interactive resume design of a freelance designer who calls himself a “creative dork”.

22. Joe Kelso resume

I’m not really fond of resumes where people don’t say exactly what they’re good at or what they specialize in. This is the case, but the image and the message it sends are just awesome.

23. Daniel Wojcik resume

Yet another resume with a cool design but very few information about his skills.

24. Wallplanner resume

This is a web designer that’s planning to move to Sydney and is looking for a job. So, he came up with a very detailed and catchy resume that includes information about his experience and lots of samples.

25. Photographer resume

The last one is a photographer resume with camera lens as a central design element to get the attention.

Which one is your favorite? Or, better yet, why don’t you show us your creative resumes?

However, even if we’re subjected to seeing ads everywhere we go, you must admit – some are truly amazing and worth looking at. That’s what today’s post is all about – not the ads that you’d rather skip without blinking, but the ones that are so creative you’d probably stop and stare for a minute or two.

This is a collection of 30 ads that go beyond creative and I just know you’re going to enjoy them.

30 Creative Ads

Delsey Luggage: Tarmac

AirWick: Bucket

Pastorini Toy Store: Pilot

Avis: Reunion

Pampaverde: Extra big burger

Smart: Pollution

Buggy Shoes

Bosch

Tetris

Softlan

Wonderbra

Mini Cooper

Denver Water

Fedex

Rejoice

Burger King

Durex XXL

McDonald’s: Night Light

Nivea

Gillette

The New Kia Sportage With Rear View Camera

Sanzer hand gel

McDonald’s McCafé: AM–PM, Guy

Image Hair Group: Hairbeard

Deichmann Graceland: High Heels

Athena Underwear: Sprint

OHL

Iam Haircare: Necklace

Pilates With Gerda: Butt Bag

Fedex: USA-Brazil

Any ad we might have missed that you think should be included in this collection? Share it with us in a comment below.

What would a day without Facebook be like? What are the craziest Black Friday states? What social networks do small businesses use, or do they use them at all? How profitable is mobile marketing? Or what does it annoy people about the emails they get? These are just a few of the questions answered below in a couple of infographics that went viral this year.

So, go ahead and check out the top 10 infographics of 2011 that people shared on the web.

Top 10 Infographics of 2011

A World Without Facebook 

Many people check their Facebook accounts the minute they wake up. Can we imagine a life without Facebook? If not, then check out this infographic.

Source: singlegrain.com

An Average Day on Facebook 

Curious to see what your friends do on Facebook on a regular day? Find out from the infographic below.

Source: jess3.com

Facebook vs. Google 

We all know about the launch of Google Plus and the rumors that went around claiming it would take Facebook down. But was there really a battle between the two? The answers in the infographic below.

Source: singlegrain.com

“Craziest” Black Friday States 

Who went crazy on Black Friday this year? And what did people buy last year? See in the infographic below.

Source: blackfriday2011.com

The Anatomy of a Fan 

Every brand out there wants more fans. But do they know their fans or have any idea on how they behave online? This infographic might give you some ideas.

Source: moontoast.com

Mobile Marketing 

How big is the mobile market? Is it really growing that fast? How can you use that to grow you business? Check some facts in the infographic below and see how you can benefit from it.

Source: marketingpilgrim.com

Social Media Marketing By The Numbers 

How much money do advertisers spend on social media marketing? Is it worth advertising on Facebook or is it just a huge waste of money? Find out more from this infographic.

Source: hubspot.com

Social Media: Bridging The Gap  

Do businesses know how to use social media to interact or get more clients? Check out this infographic to find out.

Source: exploringsocialmedia.com

Email Irritations: What Annoys People About Emails? 

Why are we so annoyed about the emails we get?Is it because we’re receiving too much or is it because most of it we find to be useless? Or is it both? See the infographic to find out for yourself.

Source: ccloop.com

Where’s Google Making Its Money? 

With so many free tools and application, how in the world is Google making so much money? Curious? It’s all in the infographic below.

Source: kaiserthesage.com

Now tell us – which one of these graphics you found to be the most useful?

So, today we’ve decided to showcase a collection of 25 attractive bottle packaging designs that are impossible to get unnoticed.  Some are beautiful, others are truly innovative so you can easily use them as inspiration for your future projects.

Bottle Packaging Designs

1. Ferrarelle

Clean and minimalist design for a water bottle. Great packaging for a simple product.

2. Infuzions

Impressive packaging by Parker Williams Design.

3. Vodka Samurai

Interesting concept designed by Arthur Schreiber, a Russian art director.

4. Rawganical

Creative packaging design with a minimalistic design and a new wood lid, created for an organic products line for a hotel.

5. PURE Water

Surprising packaging for a bottle of water. Simple, transparent yet with a touch of playfulness.

6. Village

Packaging design for a variety of olive oil flavors.

7. Exotiqué

This packaging design is the concept of a student.  ”Exotiqué emphasizes on quality, style, authenticity and needed a distinctive visual and structural style to evoke the brands personality and tone.”

8. London Dry Gin

Packaging design signed by a student in Australia.

9. Blitz

The packaging design is the work of a French student. Here’s how he describes it: “The label design is clearly influenced by Bauhaus and Art Deco, with the stork as a feminine element to counterbalance the otherwise very masculine typo.  The bottle was inspired by the very Mexican Corona bottle, but with sharper edges as a reminder of its German origins.”

10. Mezcal Mano Negra

Very original packaging design for an ancient distilled spirit. The color scheme is very bold and the black hand print gives is an amazing element.

11. Mystique Cider

Yet another student artwork for a cider bottle. The packaging design is simple, yet very attractive.

12. B

Elegant packaging design for a new liquor brand. “Sophisticated bee design from body to capsule, pulling together the honey-colored beverage.”

13. Samoa Pure

This is another packaging design for water. It also focuses on clarity and transparency when it comes to design elements.

14. Innocent Bystander

Packaging design that expresses exclusivity and high class through the use of elegant typography.

15. Klein Constantia Grappa

A packaging design that tells a story. The design is simple, yet the font used translates to premium, a gift that one would be honoured to receive.

16. Salve Mineral Water

This is a packaging design that supports an important message. The numbers are meant to get people’s attention and determine them to take action.

17. Ness

For Ness Whisky Brands, minimalism was preferred: the die combined with the big white label emphasize on the idea of classic product with a hint of modern.

18. Kirin

Simple yet creative packaging design for the re-launch of Kirin in Australia.

19. Salud Wine

Lively packaging design for a wine bottle.

20. Loimu

Glamorous packaging design that focuses on the idea of “vintage”.

21. Snake Blood

Packaging designed by a couple of student in Moscow. The snake element is so bright, it’s impossible not to get your attention.

22. Tap Water

This packaging design for is very creative. Although some might think it’s too much for a simple bottle of water, it works.

23. Warm Hearts

This is lovely packaging design with fun handmade fonts created for wine bottles.

24. IVI Classic

Good looking bottle packaging design that combines old and new design elements.

25. Zubrówka Vodka

Impressive packaging design for a vodka bottle. It’s very cool how it also gives the impression of a medicine bottle.

Did we miss any bottle packaging design you love? Share it with us in a comment below.