Why OddCommon is Interesting

Something interesting about this site that I have never seen before is that the whole site changes depending on whether you are in full-screen mode or have it taking up half your screen. In the video above, I had the site taking up my full screen; below is a screen capture video of what it looks like taking up half my screen.

I have never seen a site do such a thing, and I am super impressed with it. This shows that the site has really been thought out in every way possible; they did not skip a thing! The information on this page is all the same whether you are in full-screen mode or in half-screen mode, which ensures the users that you are not missing any information.

After noting that, the rest of this review will be written as the site is full-screen.

What the Site Consists Of

OddCommon’s site functions as a digital portfolio, a brand statement, and a contact place all in one. The navigation menu keeps it very simple for users. On the front page, everything the user needs to have to navigate this site is at the bottom. From left to right: “Work,” “Expertise,” “Commoners,” “Careers,” and “Contact.” Each of these sections expands into a deeper story about who OddCommon is and what they do.

The Work section highlights case studies like The Vincent Van Gogh Experience, Agencie Rebrand + Website, LMI Rebrand, and more. Each of these project pages is cleanly structured, and they include visuals, texts, and short summaries that show what OddCommon provides.

Under Expertise, OddCommon breaks down its site for users to read. They break it down into 3 principles: “Just Enough Strategy,” “Allergic to the grand reveal,” and “Go big on craft.” All 3 of these explain their site, how to stand out to users, and focus on the experience of the site.

The Commoners page allows users to see who is behind this whole site. They don’t hide any of the team and allow them to be front and center from the producers, creative directors, head of design, and everyone else who helped make this site as cool as it is.

The Careers page is extremely transparent and honestly interesting to see since not a lot of websites do this. It breaks down each job and how much they would receive as a yearly salary. It shows all of the benefits from working here, from health insurance to 16 weeks of parental leave. Honestly, if I start looking for a job soon, I might just have to apply here! The benefits and perks are amazing!!

Under the contact page, users see two different emails. One is for New Projects, and the other one is for Media. They also include their two offices and their specific addresses; they have one in New York City and another one in London, England.

Accessibility

As for accessibility, OddCommon does very well in many ways, but it still could improve some parts of it.

What works well:

• Navigation is simple and consistent, allowing users to quickly find what they need.
• The site loads efficiently and responds quickly and smoothly to scrolling and clicks.
• Good contrast between texts and background, allowing it to be legible for users.

What doesn’t work so well and could be improved:

• Some of the animations with text overlays may create a challenge for users with visual impairments.
• Usually, websites have “reduce motion” or “accessibility settings” toggle; however, this website does not have that. For users who may be sensitive to motion or animation, the website could be extremely overwhelming with the transitions and effects
• There isn’t a search bar, which does make it more difficult to navigate. However, the site is very well organized, so it doesn’t necessarily need a search bar.

Overall, OddCommon’s website feels inclusive and is overall readable and direct for most users

Clear Message and Target Audience

OddCommon’s message is straightforward. They build creative digital experiences that help brands stick out. They don’t just straight tell you how to do it; they show you through every design on the site.

Their target audience is for businesses, agencies, and organizations that are looking for a high-quality design as well as to make their message known.

Their message works because they communicate it visually and verbally. All the headlines, photos, and animations contribute to the idea that OddCommon has built function and beauty within its site. They don’t use typical marketing jargon, but they let their portfolio do the talking.

This site is confident and approachable, which is kind of a rare balance in the digital world. OddCommon feels clear and humanized, but if other sites balance those two, it can feel cluttered.

Inspiration for My Own Site Design

Exploring the site made me think about my online design and storytelling. It’s a reminder that websites don’t have to just throw information at users, but you can create experiences for them

This site shows how simplicity can be powerful. The site doesn’t throw all these colors and fonts and pictures at you; it has a limited color selection, it uses minimal text with easy-to-read fonts, and everything is very well thought out.

They do a great job of showing rather than telling. They don’t brag about how innovative and interesting their site is; they just show us with their visuals and storytelling on each page you visit