Illusion: An Artistic Website Redefining Digital Space

Adriana de Barros' Illusion: A Fusion of Art, Design, and Technology

Illusion was conceived with a clear vision: to create a short-publication website dedicated to art and design, with a particular focus on optical illusions and trick photos. The inspiration for Illusion came from magic tricks and art displayed worldwide, resulting in a unique digital platform that celebrates creativity and innovation.

The uniqueness of Illusion lies in its design and functionality. The website was recently redesigned with a fully responsive layout, ensuring it is resizable for desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. This redesign was guided by the motto: less is more, reflecting in the site's minimalist and functional design that allows viewers to focus on the content.

The creation of Illusion involved meticulous planning and execution. The design mockups were done in Photoshop, showcasing each screen size, ranging from 320px to 2500px. The site was fully coded with HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript, demonstrating a seamless fusion of art and technology.

Illusion's design process was informed by extensive research. Over six months, the team reviewed heat maps to understand which sections of the site readers clicked on the most. Surveys were conducted to gather reader feedback, and the site was gradually upgraded based on these insights. The result was a simplified navigation system, fewer ads, and an overall improved user experience.

Despite the challenges posed by creating a responsive website, the team behind Illusion managed to overcome them. They conducted research, studied other site examples, and even re-coded and re-tested new features that didn't work well initially. One of the main challenges was incorporating advertising banners that were not supposed to be resizable for ad standards, yet making the site stretchable and visually appealing.

Illusion's success is evident in its recognition. The website was awarded Platinum in A' Digital and Broadcasting Media Design Award in 2014, a testament to its world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative design. Since its launch in 2008 by Scene 360 magazine, Illusion has garnered over 40 million visits, making it one of the most successful projects of its kind.