Four Top Private Schools With Web Design that Stands Out

When you start redesigning a website, the natural first step is to look around and see what else is out there.

Private schools are frequently tradition-bound places, and their websites and branding reflect that. There are two dominant colors: Navy, or a red on the scale between brick and crimson. And the landing page often showcases a carousel of images or a school montage video, ushering you around the campus facilities. It’s always nice to see top schools that have taken a decidedly different tack, embracing unique design and imagery. Here are four examples of striking landing pages that stand out. (To be clear: Gem Box Studio didn’t work on any of these. We just like them!)

Miss Porter’s School opened before The Civil War. Its branding honors its history—see sign that’s front and center—while incorporating a contrasting, bold palette that’s not afraid to be a little weird (what would you call that pea soup meets mustard yellow?). The interplay nods at tradition, but is welcoming, bright, and modern.

Avenues: As you scroll down, this landing page actually moves horizontally: You slide by a kid playing violin, one dancing, one holding up a book. Little taglines pop up. Very cool!

Riverdale has been around since 1907, and it looks like the school has an old seal, but this logo is quite new, and the typeface and colors are fresh and vibrant. This landing page does have a montage video, but it starts with footage of a field day, showing colorful lines of racing kids, emphasizing fun first and foremost. It’s a fantastic visual.

Andover: This single image manages to capture the entire campus. Can’t do much better than that. Love the quiet moment between students. Just a great choice.