Nothing Insightful

10 Great Twitter Designers’ vCard/Identity Sites

vCard and mini identity websites are an increasingly popular way of creating a facade for your web identity. These websites are characterised by their single page structure, where such little information is contained it is simply rendered to the page and hidden. If AJAX is ever used, it is more often than not to handle the contact form interaction.

The UI generally contains tabs and content is toggled by slick javascript animation. Most vCard website creators attempt to create a natural, tactile environment that barely resembles a web page at all. Information is available immediately, and the page never posts back.

The people I have chosen for this list work in a range of fields (UI design, icon design, graphic design, programming), but were all found using twitter. I have either been following them since day one, or found them through one of these contacts.

Tim Van Damme (@maxvoltar)

If imitators are an indicator of success, Tim Van Damme’s beautifully simplistic design is outstanding. Tim created a wall of shame for the long list of imitators who directly stole his code and design to use for their own vCard websites.

David McGeorge (@davymacca)

Okay, I admit I only found this one when I was writing this post — but I love it. The google maps integration, the subtle background and solid animation easing combine to form a slick UI.

Chris Rowe (@chrisrowe)

Like most of the people in this list, I began following Chris after finding him on other designers’ pages and friend lists. His vCard/mini-site uses a spatial layout to slide between content.

Matthias Kretschmann (@kremalicious)

This vCard website makes the list because it introduced me to the idea of the microsite. While the design may not be the best in this list, it’s use of animation is what got me interested in finally learning jQuery.

Mathieu White (@MathieuWhite)

The only paging on this mini site is between items in Mathieu’s portfolio.

Jonas Rask (@jonasrask)

Jonas recently hung up his mouse, but made this website as the final resting place for his work. It bears some resemblence to We Love Icons. Unfortunately this one does have post-backs, but because it embodies the simplistic design of identity design (and I love his work) I thought I would add it to the list.

Kenichi Yoshida (@kenichi)

While not an overly complex or stimulating design in itself, Kenichi’s website leads purely off the merit of his own work.

Jonatan Castro (@DDrDark and @bylinebreak)

This man and his work needs little introduction.

Janik Baumgartner (@kinaj)

Another Mac inspired single-pager. An instructional notification slides down from the top, explaining to use the left and right arrows to navigate through the portfolio. Clicking the name header toggles the “about” information panel.