14 Creative Splash Page Examples You’ll Want to Copy

The splash page is a good way to introduce your website and make a great first impression. Although it’s not obligatory to have one, many websites include a splash page for different reasons such as delivering a message or a warning, asking for a particular piece of information, or simply as a portal leading to the homepage. In today’s article, we will look at the different uses of splash pages as well as some excellent splash page examples.

Persepolis Reimagined: Enter website splash page example

What is a Splash Page and When to Use One?

The splash page, or a welcome screen, precedes your homepage or any page of your website. It’s the first page your visitors will see once they enter your website and they are obligated to view and interact with it before accessing the page they are looking for.

Splash pages include a very minimal copy, background image or video, and a link to the main website.

From a technical point, a splash page can be a hardcoded page serving as an intermediary or a full-screen popup. Whenever the case, it’s important to note that a splash page is neither a landing page nor a popup.

What’s the difference between a splash page and a landing page?

The purpose of a landing page is to convert visitors to take a certain action. They are stand-alone web pages, separate from your website, and specifically built for marketing campaigns with a single focus on their campaign goal, known as CTA (call to action).

In contrast, splash pages serve to convey a very limited but necessary piece of information. Unlike landing pages, they emerge as the first page the visitors see before exploring the rest of the website, no matter what page of the website they wish to visit.

Splash pages aren’t popups either

Although websites often use popup software and set up a splash page to appear immediately as if it was hardcoded, they are not synonymous.

Popups require a certain trigger for them to “pop up”. When you take a certain action such as exiting a page, clicking a button, or triggering a timer, a popup appears with a certain message, related to your action. Many blogs, for example, use full-screen popups to ask their readers to subscribe. These popups appear when visitors spend a certain amount of time on an article, in other words, trigger a timer.

Splash pages, on the other hand, don’t “pop up”. They are already there when you land on the page.

When to use splash pages?

There are many cases when including a splash page is appropriate and contributes to the user experience, or serves a specific purpose.

• Covey an important message or issue a warning: This includes disclaimers;  alerts for enabled sound; asking visitors to turn on speakers for the full experience; telling visitors how long it will take to load the website, etc.
• Ask for information: You can ask visitors to self-segment before entering your website by asking them to select their region or language. This is often used in eCommerce websites.
• Restricting access: Some businesses are required by the law to prevent certain demographics access their websites. This is often the case with online stores that sell alcoholic drinks, vape products, etc. In such cases, the splash page will ask the visitors to confirm their age. Splash pages that require login credentials also fall into this category.
• Direct traffic to a specific page: You can also use a splash page to promote certain important pages and direct users to visit them first.
• Highlight services: Splash pages are also a great tool to promote a certain product or service. Keep in mind that it should be brief and informative giving users the option to learn more. If you wish to convert users to take a certain action regarding this service, a landing page would be more appropriate.
• Aesthetics: Last, but not least, you can use splash pages to grab attention with some cool animations or anything that improves the overall design and user experience.

 

14 Splash Page Examples that Do the Trick

Without further ado, let’s look at some recent splash page examples and see what purpose they serve and how they achieve it.

1. Life of Sharaf Rashidov: Interactive Museum Entrance Splash Page

This interactive museum website is dedicated to the famous Uzbek statesman and writer Sharaf Rashidov. As expected, the splash page suits the concept perfectly with an interactive animation of entering the museum building.

• The splash page serves as a museum entrance.
• It benefits the design, making it more immersive.

Live website: Museum of Sharaf Rashidov │Designed by: Creative Team Production

 

2. Flyers: Creative Age Restricted Access Splash Page Example

New York City’s first-ever cannabis cocktail business with a very interactive website, rich in animations, parallaxes, and an overall fun experience. Unfortunately for visitors under 18, one can’t access the website unless they hit the Hell Yeah! to confirm they’re of legal age.

• The splash page serves to restrict access based on age. The user needs to confirm they’re of legal age.
• It benefits the overall user experience with a beautiful design that matches the website and fun copy for the button options.

Live website: Drink Flyers Non-Alcoholic CBD Cocktails │Designed by: Vaan Group

 

3. Sulkin Askenazi: Background Video Enter Website Splash Page

This website belongs to a Mexico-based architecture studio Sulkin Askenazi and opens with a simple splash page that contains a high-quality background video. A simple and effective way to make a great first impression.

• The splash page serves as a website entrance.
• It benefits the overall experience with related high-quality visuals.

Live website: Sulkin Askenazi Architecture Studio │Designed by: BITOPIA Digital Agency

 

4. SQURL: Give it a Spin for Unexpected Content

This one can easily into the category of splash page, homepage, and mini-website. It’s basically a fun discovery engine that requires you to hit the SPIN! button so it could generate a random small creative studio online business card. The engine collects resources gathered by the team at each small studio you come across.

• The splash page serves as a fun randomizer.
• Fresh and interesting thanks to the unpredictability factor.

Live website: SQURL Discovery Engine │Designed by: A Small Studio

 

5. DB: Self-Segmenting Splash Page Example

A classic example of a splash page asking the users to self-segment based on location. It makes browsing personalized which benefits the user experience.

• The splash page serves to redirect users based on location.
• It benefits the user experience by directing them to the closest store available.

Live website: DB Travel Gear │Designed by: We Make Websites

 

6. Mattia Cielo: Animated Website Introduction

The moving jewels of Mattia Cielo get a breath-taking splash page design with smooth parallax animations.

• The splash page serves as a website introduction.
• It benefits the experience with conceptual design and striking visuals.

Live website: Mattia Cielo Jewelry │Designed by: NOOO Agency

 

7. Parajanov Museum: Abstract Splash Page that Sets the Mood

This interactive museum website is based on one of the most popular museums in Yerevan, which showcases the artwork of Soviet Armenian artist and director Sergei Parajanov.

• The splash page serves as an entrance.
• It sets the mood with abstract visuals.

Live website: Sergey Parajanov Museum │Designed by: Concept Studio

 

8. Zonin1821: Access- Restricting Overlay Splash Page

ZONIN1821 distributes and markets fine wines and sparkling wines, which obligates them to restrict access to their website by asking visitors to confirm they’re of legal age.

• The splash page serves to restrict access based on age. The user needs to confirm they’re of legal age.
• This is an exemplary design for this kind of splash page with an absolute minimum copy and clean design.

Live website: Zonin1821 Corporate Website │Designed by: Pixel Crew

 

9. The Yemen Tribute: Choose What to Do First

This website provides historical context on the current war in Yemen Tribute and reveals the locations of coalition attacks on civilians on an interactive map. Its splash page gives you the option to choose what to research first.

• The splash page serves as a guide that gives users two options to explore.
• It introduces the severity of the situation with a terrifying image.

Live website: The Yemen Tribute │Designed by: Buried Signals

 

10. WIP Architects: Introduction with a Quote and a Background Video

This portfolio website belongs to an Athens-based architecture studio and greets visitors with an interactive splash page where you need to click and hold in order to trigger the animation and enter the homepage.

• The splash page serves as an entrance.
• It benefits the experience with a nice background video and small animated interaction.

Live website: WIP Architects Portfolio Website │Designed by: Giannis Taratitas

 

11. George Stevens Jr: A Slider Splash Page with Quotes

Another great idea to introduce your website with a splash page is to make it a slider. In this case, the George stevens Jr tribute website uses testimonials to prepare the visitors for the journey.

• The splash page introduces users to the journey ahead with a slider of testimonials.

Live website: My Place In The Sun │Designed by: Airnauts

 

12. Springs for Life: Atmospheric Splash Page

Sprigs for Life is a website that educates visitors by showcasing the natural grandeur of California’s forested watersheds. The atmospheric splash page uses beautiful background visuals that bring life to the overlay message.

• The splash page severs and entrance.
• It communicates its message by bringing a serene atmosphere with background video and overlay typography.

Live website: Springs for Life Forest Water Alliance │Designed by: Affinity Creative Group

 

13. Houseplant: Introduction and Age Restriction

Houseplant is an upscale ceramics, homeware, and lifestyle brand founded by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The eCommerce website has an age restriction.

• The splash page serves to restrict access based on age.
• It also manages to present the product with a high-quality photo of the brand’s package design.

Live website: Houseplant by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg │Designed by: Pattern

 

14. Umani Ronchi: High-Quality Conceptual Background Video

This website presents the prestigious Umani Ronchi, whose wines are recognized and appreciated all over the world. The splash page shows a beautiful background video of vine fields.

• The splash page serves as an entrance.
• It benefits the experience by setting the mood with a background video of vine fields.

Live website: Umani Ronchi Wines│Designed by: ATK+Lab

 

While still on the same topic, why not learn a few best practices and tips on how to design an effective splash screen for your app?

 

Conclusion

Splash pages are a way smaller and simpler than other elements of your website, however, they play a huge role in attracting the attention of your visitors; improving their user experience; issuing an important warning; or collecting important data.

In conclusion, there are a few things that stand out from what we could gather from these 14 splash page examples.

• Clean design: Keep your splash pages well-organized, with minimum copy and minimum design elements.
• Action-oriented copy: Be clear and make sure the user understands what to do next.
• Get creative: Don’t be afraid to use puns, or jokes if the tone of your brand allows it.

 

In the meantime, you may also be interested in some of these related articles:

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• 14 Effective About Us Page Examples (with Best Practices)