404: I'm Not Lost, You're Lost!

I love really well crafted 404 pages (I also love well thought out cookie pop-ups—will save that for another article) that helps the user recover. I found some really inspiring ones while surfing muzli today.

Most people actually don't think about 404s, but next time you're working on a website, here are some considerations for that 404 page. To focus on both clarity and helpfulness, it's key to have:

• Clear Messaging: Clearly communicate that the page couldn't be found. Use friendly and concise language to explain the situation.
• Visual Elements: Incorporate visuals like images, illustrations, or icons to make the error page more engaging and less intimidating.
• Navigation Options: Provide links to popular pages, the homepage, or a search bar to help users find their way back to relevant content.
• Brand Consistency: Ensure that the error page maintains the same look and feel as the rest of the website to maintain brand consistency.
• Humor or Creativity: Adding a touch of humor or creativity can help alleviate frustration and make the error experience more memorable.
• Helpful Information: Offer helpful resources or FAQs to assist users in resolving their issue or contacting support if needed.
• Responsive Design: Ensure the error page is mobile-friendly and displays well on different devices and screen sizes.

You can create a 404 error page that effectively communicates with users and helps them navigate your website despite encountering an error. Here are some that I enjoyed:

Here are some resources for further inspiration:

• Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/tags/404
• UXPin: https://app.uxcel.com/lessons/best-practices-for--pages-112
• 10 Error 404 Page Examples for UX Design: https://uxplanet.org/6-best-practices-for-404-pages-with-killer-ux-d9305db19ad9

Have you came across any great ones?