Sightings: One excellent site each day.

Previous Sightings
April, 2001

eSolutions in eTime
This site is cool because it loads a cool background first and then the graphics are cool. "I like the grid system and collages, too." (Sighted by Elizabeth Johnson)

SAKE` new media agency
This cool site belongs to an italian new media agency. The Web site is inspired by Japanese culture. It's completely designed in Flash and features nice haiku preloaders. It's in Italian now, but an English version is shipping soon, we're told. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

Coastline Micro
For a manufacturer of computer peripherals and servers, these guys have a pretty cool Flash site. Take a view of the Shark Tank. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

ICON Ideas
The vertically divided design that this firm uses on its site is a great idea. They use an interesting "hidden" navbar too. Turn on the sound for full effect. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

dCTRL
It's interesting that a site with English navigational links can be entirely written in German. This Swiss design firm for "interactive media and motion graphics" uses an effective grid system to display its contents. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

Oddcast Virtual Host Workshop
Have fun with this site! After the virtual host welcomes you, go ahead and switch its gender, wardrobe, hair, and background. Even the message. Mail it to others. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

The Collective, Inc.
This game development studio has a nicely animated site created with Macromedia products. The site-loading graphic, sound, and interesting work around the axis are especially nice. (Sighted by Beth French)

Team Murray
This "brand mentoring" firm uses compelling photographs to convery its image and message. (Sighted by Stefan Gruenwedel)

Microsoft Xbox
No offense, but who would've thought the designers at Microsoft had a cool streak? The left menu of this game that's almost ready for release shows the nicest flowing menu we've seen in some time. (Sighted by Gregg Priest)

The Programmers Source
Michael Eaton's site, "dedicated to developers learning Microsoft's new .NET platform and tools," is pretty standard fare for his audience. But the sideways pop-out menu is a surprising addition. (Sighting by Stefan Gruenwedel)

16th Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema
The 2000 calendar of the 16th Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema shows delightful creativity, like a board game on acid. (Sighting by Stefan Gruenwedel)

Web Economy Bullshit Generator
Dack.com's Web Economy Bullshit Generator is a wonderful way to create marketing b.s. for whatever product you're trying to hype. Who hasn't wondered at the deep meanings behind such catchy phrases as "transform strategic channels," "orchestrate user-centric bandwidth," or "evolve efficient vortals"? (Sighting by Stefan Gruenwedel)

The Pot Noodle Website
For those already hip to the amazing power of this British junk food, this site will bring a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is hilarious. The best part? Click on the "Sweet and Sour" Pot Noodle to see what happens to those who eat meals that are "not of the noodle"! (Sighted by Erin Gannon)

Secret Admirer
Here's a fun site that can help hook up men and women anonymously through "secret admirer" e-mail messages. Find out if he (or she) likes you--without having to do it face-to-face. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Manic Xpression
At first glance you wouldn't think this to be one woman's personal home page, but she's an artist and a web designer--and a good one at that. Be sure to have a look at her fine art and photography on the Renderings page. Links to Project Cool and DevX on the third-party links page (called Sightings) is coincidental. (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

An Interactive Guide to Star Wars
Phantom Menace may be old news but this site is a must-see. Great use of Flash and Java. Be sure and try the Star Wars interactive timeline and the applet-based word search. If you're in a rush, go later; this site will ruin your productivity faster than you can say "Jar-Jar Must Die." (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

SiteMason
OK, yeah, it's a vendor site. But besides the fact that this company appears to have some nice, useful Web site utilties with flexible pricing, I like how the site lets you select each tool one at a time from the home page, or you can scroll through each interactively using the Quick Tour. Notice, too, how screen grabs, bulleted text, and easy-to-read pricing info all share space in the frame simultaneously. (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

The Nobel Channel
An elegant presentation graces the home page of the Nobel Prize. Find biographies of Nobel Laureates, recent Prize winners in all categories, and an easy way to search for content in the extensive rich media database. (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

Who's Alive and Who's Dead?
This one really isn't pretty. And it uses frames. (There's a non-frames version, though.) I just thought it was a pretty good idea for web site, plus you can search OR browse by relevant categories. The tiny GIF icons are a bit uh rustic, but they enhance usability. For what it's worth, I found it easy to find names I wanted to look up. (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

Typographic 56
If you're into fonts and typefaces this site will really inspire you. There are lots of articles that challenge designers to think long and hard about type design in interactive media. There are dozens of great demonstrations too. (Sighted by Lori Piquet)

Antra Music.com
Great use of sounds and Flash animation used together on this almost hypnotic music sight. (Sighted by Carrie Lechner)

Tribal DDB Worldwide
When the front page comes up, wait a few seconds to see what happens. Don't give up too soon on this very creative site, which belongs to an international marketing firm. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Cracked Crosswords.com
Not just crossword puzzles on this puzzle site ... check out the cow puzzle at the lower right, which has a timer to see how quickly one can solve it. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Prom-Dresses.com
Yes, it's a topical site for high school girls, but this one also shows a great use of a horizontal scroll when you click on the "dresses" icon at the lower left. Not a bad way to showcase products. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Billabong-USA
The hip Australian clothing manufacturer has a very "moving" home page, with mouseovers causing film to roll and other unexpected things to happen. Little "lightning" flashes in backgrounds are another feature. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Dreamworks Records
As a sales tool for a hip-music record company, this site leaves something to be desired, but it does have some interesting ways of packaging the product, such as "waves" coming out of a radio and a useful horizontal browser at the bottom. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Insomnious.com
No, it's not a place for those who can't sleep, but it does have an unusual way to navigate its contents. Check out the "box" at the lower left of the contents page. Grab a little square, drop it into the larger one, and you're off on the topic you want to read about. Put it back when you're done, and go on to the next. Requires Flash 5. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Interactive Edge.com
Very clever table of contents in this Web designer's site. Buttons seem to melt away when mouse-overed. Nice use of 3D graphics, too. Views much better in Flash 5. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

E3 Directiv
Nice Flash 3 opening to this site ... table of contents kind of spreads out right in front of you. Check out the "The Directiv" selection on the left for some impressive graphics. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)

Eye4U
This colorful site's like a rollercoaster ride! Relatively simple graphics and bright colors abound at this Web designers' location. You'll need Flash to view it properly. (Sighted by Chris Preimesberger)