I recently came across some stunning examples of animated websites, like those from SOTD, Igloo, and Lusion. They seem more like works of art than typical web pages! This got me thinking about what it actually takes to create something similar. I'm curious about the skills, tools, and technologies involved in building such sites. Are these projects feasible for individuals, or are they typically created by teams at large agencies? How much time and effort would someone need to invest to achieve a comparable level of design?
2 Answers
You can definitely build visually dynamic sites with just HTML and CSS! There are tools like Nordcraft that can help streamline this process. For 3D elements, options like three.js or spline.design are also great choices. They make it easier to incorporate those cool animated features without overly complex setups.
For creating animated and dynamic sites, technologies like Three.js and custom WebGL shaders are commonly used. These sites often resemble video games more than traditional websites. However, be cautious—while they look great, these sites can be quite slow to load and aren't always user-friendly. Performance issues can lead to frustrating experiences for users, especially regarding accessibility. It's essential to consider if such an approach is worth the time and effort given these challenges.
I think it's possible to create engaging sites that are both accessible and performant by using HTML and CSS, with JavaScript only for specific animations.

Thanks for the insight! Are there any techniques or tools that could still integrate animated elements but are more efficient in terms of performance?