Unmatchedstyle.com

Cork’d

Created by Tundro, the collaborative design team of Dan Cedarholm of SimpleBits and Dan Benjamin of Hivelogic, Cork’d was blessed from the start. As the site boasts, it’s “a free service for wine aficionados.” What the designers behind Cork’d might not have realized, however, is the overwhelming response the site would have among design aficionados.

Besides the fact that Cork’d has a wonderful color scheme (I can’t recall seeing red look so hot on a website before) and a beautifully simple, yet effective layout, what really clicks for Cork’d are the creativity and attention to details. Those added touches, like the cork beside the active page on the navigation, make the website feel not only homey, but more fun to use as well. At the same time, the fancy headings compliment the color combination while reiterating a dignified, pristine feeling, similar to that of drinking a glass of finely aged Merlot or Pinot Noir. Very well executed on the designer’s part.

It would also seem that the creators of Cork’d and I share a similar philosophy with regard to their work: adding some comic relief. The added commentary and unique drawings make you smile as you browse the website, a seemingly uncommon feature these days. (Tip: The best use of this is on the “Create an Account” page.) By adding some fun to the website, the designers have given Cork’d’s users a great experience with its main features (member profiles, “Drinking Buddies,” etc), and we designers can enjoy the design that little extra bit, too.

To top it off, Cork’d really nails the typography. A classic combination in the design realm, Lucida Grande and Georgia really play nicely with one another. The website is unbelievably easy to read and scan at a variety of text sizes. Another plus for Cork’d is the scaling abilities of the website; headings, paragraphs, and more importantly, navigation, scale beautifully while holding to their true designs. Nice work, guys.

Overall, Cork’d balances design creativity and usability in one of the most well-executed ways I’ve witnessed. Cork’d uses your average design touches (i.e. a Photoshop shape for under those headings) and takes their website above and beyond others in terms of design and experience. It’s those features that make Cork’d a winner and a stand-out in the design community.