Ever thought about the interactive landscape in a literal sense?  Where the web site is more like a landscape painting you might see in a museum?

Check out UK electronica group Goldfrapp’s web site. Whether the home movie clips that play immediately are authentic or artificially created (much more likely the case), the fact that it takes up every pixel of the screen immediately grabs the visitors attention. The clips are terrible — deliberately so. The camera wobbles, the lighting is too dark, the film is overexposed at points, the screen is pixellating at points and the subject is self-absorbed in her own exploration. Which is precisely what makes it so watchable.

The navigation information is pushed to the bottom or upper left corner, leaving a clean, unobtrusive viewing experience. Goldfrapp, centered at the bottom of the frame looks more like a signature, reminding me of a true canvas brought to life with interactive components: video, color, music, text, and so on.

The site eloquently exemplifies the philosophy of Jakob Nielsen (another Brit and web design legend in my book, although not all share my opinion):  all designs work in three main ways: visceral, behavioral and reflective.  The visceral level is the way the site looks.  You can love it or hate it, but either reaction means the design is working.  On the behavioral level — actual use — the site also scores pretty well. Information is straight-forward and easy-to-find.  As for the reflective level — what does it say about the brand (or in this case the band)?

Speaking of indie bands & web sites, check out the artists on the Ghostly label. If you are a design geek like me, there is a marvelous variety of web site landscape inspiration.  And the music is great too.

<Hat tip to my buddy, Dan Sicko for the info on this hot indie label.>