Whether you code or not, there are now so many ways to get started with 3D in web design.

Flat design once dominated the web. Its standard grids of text and visuals certainly make it a practical and user-friendly approach, but web design can be so much more than a well-intentioned arrangement of columns and rows.

Adding 3D elements to your web design is a great way to create a memorable, interactive experience, and with modern no-code web design tools it’s now more accessible than ever before. We’ve pulled together some interesting 3D website examples to show how to apply the effect, and the different tools and techniques you can use to recreate it.

Using 3D on Your Website

Bringing together shape, form, and motion, 3D visuals stand out from the more static elements on screen. This juxtaposition creates a sense of hierarchy, capturing people’s attention and inviting them to interact.

3D features are a way to get people’s immediate focus, making them well-suited for:

Hero sections
Product showcases
Setting scenes in narratives/storytelling
Establishing mood or atmosphere
Data visualizations/infographics

That isn’t to say that 2D isn’t still an effective way to design a website. But 3D features can add a bit of excitement that piques people’s curiosity and inspires them to go further.

It’s worth mentioning that while 3D websites work well at fast internet speeds and on modern laptops and mobile devices, they can be a bit buggy on older gear. You’ll find that most 3D website examples don’t go for full-on VR-like experiences, but rather use 3D visuals to highlight specific moments and make them memorable.

Automotive tire, Grey, Wood — [image/graphic relating to above]

Though most of the web fits within the tidy confines of two dimensions, 3D websites go beyond the grid, carving out immersive experiences that feel exciting and new.

Essential 3D Website Tools and Resources

For those who know JavaScript, frameworks like three.js and babylon.js take care of the many low-level and fussy parts of coding 3D graphics with ready-made classes, objects, and functions. Working with geometry, applying materials, setting up lighting, and adding motion is streamlined with code that’s built-in. A-Frame is another option that works through HTML styled tags and syntax, with three.js working behind the scenes in rendering the graphics.

While you’ll find many 3D website examples built with frameworks, or even at the API level with WebGL, you don’t have to be a developer or have any coding experience to create multi-dimensional visuals. No-code tools give you the same capabilities, but instead of lines of programming, you can build 3D models and work with animations straight from your browser.

A few of the more popular no-code 3D animation tools include:

Spline: Through a familiar drag-and-drop UI and the option to export or embed your 3D creations, Spline lets anyone jump in and create something that looks good. If you’re using Vev, you can use the Spline component that lets you directly bring in your creations.
Womp:Womp lets you craft impressive 3D visuals through morphing liquid-like shapes and a simplified workflow that’s fun and accessible even for those with zero experience making computer graphics.

Many designers also find asset libraries helpful when building out 3D websites. Resources like CGTrader, TurboSquid, and 3DExport offer ready-made 3D models. Sketchfab also offers 3D image files along with an online editor that lets you make changes and adjust how they appear. Many of these resources have 3D models in the .glb format, and if you’re using Vev, the 3D object component lets import glb files, as well as add interactions like dragging and zooming.

3D graphics aren’t the only way to convey a sense of space. Other techniques for creating depth include:

Parallax scrolling: Offsetting the rate and direction that elements move creates a layered effect where images and text feel as if they’re stacked onscreen.
Skeuomorphism: Through drop shadows, brightness, and textures, skeuomorphism replicates the look and feel of actual physical objects.
Faux dimensional scrolling: Using a combination of layered elements, parallax, and gentle movement creates a feeling of 3D space.
Glassmorphism: Transparency, blur, and soft shadows mimic the look of frosted glass, without going too heavy on realism.

10 Stunning 3D Website Examples

Let’s step outside the two-dimensions of traditional design, showing you 3D website examples that experiment with depth and motion for user experiences that feel more immersive and alive.

Material property, Grey, Wall — [image/graphic relating to above]

Chirpley

Chirpley is in the business of matching up brands with micro-influencers through the power of AI. It’s a specialized marketing niche, with a design that matches the uniqueness of their business.

A big part of their branding is a wide-eyed red bird. Rendered in 3D, it’s playfully stylized and detailed. Along with other 3D animations, it pops out throughout, striking a nice balance with the more technical information explaining how Chirpley’s services work.

We love seeing 3D website examples where the visuals and branding are seamlessly linked together. Chirpley has plenty of personality, while still communicating the value of what they do.

Montfort

Montfort works in the energy sector, with a gorgeous website that shows the connection between the energy we depend on and the natural world.

Beginning with mist-covered mountain tops, scrolling takes visitors on a flight-like journey. There’s a scene of a ship on the ocean. Another that zooms out on the globe. Each section covers an important part of the company, with visuals tying right into what’s being discussed.

While many 3D website examples just go for one type of effect in creating a sense of depth, Montfort uses a clever combination. 3D models, parallax animation, and scrollytelling text come together for a user experience that evokes the global scale of their company.

8bit.ai

With its expanse of dark silicon-like gray, starry particles, and electric wormholes, scrolling through 8bit.ai feels like exploring a colossal supercomputer. Its futuristic and hyperspace-themed design is the perfect backdrop for discussing their work in AI and cloud computing.

Peter Tarka

Peter Tarka specializes in three-dimensional illustrations that are full of intricate details, eye-pleasing colors, and shapes. He has worked for some big clients including Spotify, and Electronic Arts, and also did the animations for Uplinq.ai in our last example. This is a showcase full of wonderful digital art and illustrations, showing what’s possible using web development frameworks like Next.js and animation software Cinema 4D.

What’s great is that Peter doesn’t throw his artistic brilliance at you all at once. Hovering over each project square materializes a preview. These glimpses show off his work in a way that’s quick and immediate.

With a portfolio, it’s essential to show off your best work and for it to be consistent. Peter comes through with a fantastic gallery of projects, with each one capturing his talents and sense of imagination. If you’re an illustrator, UX designer, or in some other visually-driven field, Peter’s portfolio is one of the most artistic 3D website examples we’ve seen that you should check out.

David Whyte

While 3D website examples are often highly polished, it’s refreshing to see them used in ways that feel a bit less refined.

The website for David Whyte, a writer, poet, and short filmmaker, feels organic. One almost forgets that they’re looking at a computer screen, with visuals of a quaint countryside appearing like cut-outs in a diorama and liquid colors spreading into papery textures. It’s brilliant in taking the 2D medium of painting and turning it into a 3D digital experience.

Cartier Watches and Wonders

Moving through Cartier’s Watches and Wonders feels like wandering through the halls of a high-end gallery. Every 3D room is expertly staged, with each Cartier piece appearing as if it’s part of an installation.

While it’s artful and sophisticated, it’s also a subtle product showcase. Along the way visitors can rotate each piece of jewelry, and further take in their sparkle and luster.

Kriss AI

Kriss is an AI Chatbot designed for dentistry. It automates administrative tasks, responds to patient questions and keeps them better informed about treatment plans and procedures.

Visitors navigate through different rooms of a dental office, with each showing how Kriss helps out in these different situations. With clay-like textures and flowing camera movements, it feels warm and personal, emphasizing the connections between patients and health care providers.

Cat Genius

This is definitely one of the more imaginative and fun 3D website examples we’ve come across. Cat Genius an AR-inspired game from the pet food company Opti Life, puts you in control of Simba the cat, in finding a bowl of food. Along the way, you’re quizzed about cats, with each right answer bringing you closer to lunch. If you reach the end, you’re awarded a discount code.

We’re fans of brands who find creative ways in offering things like discount codes to their customers. Opti Life makes getting one an educational and entertaining experience.

SBS

Featuring a city of glowing purples, yellows, and blues, this immersive and interactive design for Sopra Banking Software feels like an opening to a sci-fi film. This visual aesthetic reflects so well the realm of finance and high-tech that they work within.

As you fly over the buildings you’re brought to different landmarks. Each of these points explains something related to banking and Sopra’s software. There’s a wealth of content, and this animated journey divides it up in a way that makes it easy to explore and experience.

D2's 30 Under 30

As touched upon, using 3D design features in your website doesn't have to be all-encompassing. Subtle three-dimensional elements can create as much of an impact. This example made in Vev by D2 for their 2022 30 Under 30 report opens with a 3D animated globe of images showcasing the nominees.

As well as including one of the most imaginative 3D image carousels we have ever seen, the inclusion of clickable hotspots on the photos involves users from the get-go. This interactive approach allows you to reveal more information about the nominees by clicking the hotspots, creating a sense of excitement and also steering clear of being too text heavy.

Integrate 3D visuals into your web designs

Working 3D visuals into your web design is now easier than ever. No-code design platforms like Vev let you easily upload and integrate 3D objects into a fully-responsive design without needing to code a thing. Vev creates clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in the background as you design—and you can publish your site anywhere on the web when you’re ready.

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10 Striking 3D Website Examples (and How They’re Made)