Vintage-inspired designs, when done well, can end up looking even more current and relevant than an entirely new and modern design. Whether it’s only taking inspiration for your typography, color scheme, or other elements, or whether you create a design that would feel entirely at home in the 1950s, 1920s, or any point before, using vintage and retro styles can be fun and challenging.
Below are forty designs inspired by retro, vintage, and antique elements. They range from campy to completely professional, and everything in between. Use them as inspiration for creating your own vintage designs.
Here are more retro and vintage related articles we’ve previously published:
Full list after jump.
Antique and Pre-20th Century Inspired Designs
The most common eras antique-inspired websites take design cues from seem to be the Victorian era and classical Rome and Greece. The best designs tend to be formal-looking, and evoke a sense of propriety without looking stuffy. In some cases, they imitate broadsheet newspapers or other items from the times they’re inspired by.
The Dollar Dreadful Family Library
The Astonishing Adventures of Lord Likely
Early 20th Century Inspired Designs
The early 20th century (through WWII) has inspired numerous designs. Some are influenced by the Film Noir and detective movies of the 30s and early 40s. Others pull from Depression-era pop culture (including children’s toys and games). And others take their cues from WWII-era military and civilian artwork and posters.
The Ernest Hemingway Collection
Team Fortress 2 – The Sniper vs. Spy Update
Post-WWII and Later Designs
Designs inspired by the mid-20th century (post WWII up through the 60s) pull mostly from the popular culture of the era. Fonts inspired by the era are particularly popular, along with vintage color schemes. Fashion also seems to be a big influencer, as are vintage radios, cars, and televisions.
Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant
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Posted by hongkiat in Inspiration , at 11.26.09 |
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Comments
Kidino November 26th, 2009
Cool collection. What I like best is that some of the design aren’t just old-style retro. Some of them are good mix of retro-modern web design ie Media Ambassador, Rocket Club (Grunge-Retro-Modern).
Sure is a good list. Good source of inspiration.
ReplyWeb Ideas November 26th, 2009
This website totally cool -> Sensi Soft
Replydesignfollow November 26th, 2009
great collection, thank you.
ReplyDjDesignerlab November 26th, 2009
Excellent Collection. Thanks a lot
ReplyKevinChong November 26th, 2009
Nice collection for me. I love the design of them, most of them I love the fifth one. It give me the original pre-10 design of web pages.
ReplyKevinChong November 26th, 2009
Good list indeed.
ReplyNumoNumo.com November 26th, 2009
As usual…awesome selections by HongKiat
Replyh1brd November 27th, 2009
Love retro and vintage, great inspiration source :)
ReplyJosh November 27th, 2009
Hey thanks for the great collection!
ReplyForexnewshelp.com November 27th, 2009
Excellent Collectio
ReplyCassie November 27th, 2009
Vintage and retro are my favorite designs and this is one of the best lists I’ve seen yet. Thanks!
Replyelectronic November 27th, 2009
Vintage and retro are my favorite designs and this is one of the best lists I’ve seen yet. Thanks!
Replyweight November 27th, 2009
weight loss Hey thanks for the great collection!
Replycoach November 27th, 2009
Love retro and vintage, great inspiration source :)
coach handbags
Replychris November 27th, 2009
These are awesome! Great Web Design examples!
ReplyTaufik SM November 27th, 2009
awesome entry …. congra …..
ReplySoft Skills November 27th, 2009
That’s the design we got if the Internet starts to explode on 70’s
Replytallhat November 27th, 2009
Not HTML, but a recent vintage Flash site i did:
Replyhttp://www.misshavishamsattic.com
(and not wishing to start a Flash v HTML debate – client requirement! ;)
Ali November 28th, 2009
very interesting and its different post. well done
Replykim November 28th, 2009
really nice selection . my favorite is level2d even if i am not a fan of flash, this site is really cool.
ReplyBut could we include now in retro and vintage 60s and 70s. I will look for psychedelic, hippies websites.
pete November 28th, 2009
very cool list thank you!
this is impossibly cool http://www.sensisoft.com/
ReplyNumoNumo November 29th, 2009
Awesome collections
ReplyTaufik SM November 29th, 2009
googlebot dont like Flash ..huhu
ReplyThe Pro Designer November 29th, 2009
I love this style of design, it just a real class about it.
Cool collection dude…
ReplyRozy November 30th, 2009
Excellent Collection
ReplyIowa personal injury attorney December 1st, 2009
I like the retro look, sometimes I think it comes off a little forced, but some real winners in the list.
ReplyWeb Design Kent December 1st, 2009
retro is done a lot but seldom well, some great examples here though
ReplyNova December 1st, 2009
Aha! Classic, love your collections. As always, you roxx! :)
ReplyAdam Martin December 7th, 2009
Love the collections.
Thank you!
ReplyMiddbay December 8th, 2009
great collection!! thanks
ReplyElextra December 8th, 2009
cool!!! thanks
Replyweb designer egypt December 12th, 2009
wow
Replyamazing collection
thanks so much
CSS Gallery December 12th, 2009
Woooow. Cool great collection
ReplyBrian Jones December 19th, 2009
Wow – great collection and thank you for sharing. There is some great inspirational sites here that will be going in my morgue/inspiration folder
Replysiteler mutfak dolabı December 19th, 2009
sağol…
ReplyBap`NesS January 6th, 2010
Yeaah, Team Fortress 2 rocks!
Replybango January 8th, 2010
Great collection, thanks for sharing, check this one : http://www.lesfillesalaviolette.com
ReplyBen Stokes January 9th, 2010
Wow, great designs on the old retro style. Very much appreciated.
Replyrasalo January 20th, 2010
http://www.sleazyrecords.com
ReplyCanlı ve erotik şov,+18sohbet January 30th, 2010
woooowwww mükemmel myfirend
ReplyMónica January 31st, 2010
Muy buenas. Un diseño excelente.
Saludos!!
ReplyHenry Pandales February 3rd, 2010
Les Recomiendo http://www.AfroChoco.com
Muy buena
y estas excelentes
IDALMY MINOTTA TERAN
ReplyCamara, Comunidades Negras
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