At Pivot Creative Media, we’ve learned this: some of the best website stories start with the words “This might sound weird, but…”
Clients have asked for all sorts of surprises — from disco-ball animations to secret recipe easter eggs. Sometimes we raise an eyebrow at first… then roll up our sleeves and find a way to make it happen.
Not every oddball request makes sense to build — but when it does, it can turn a forgettable website into something visitors love to talk about.
Here’s a peek behind the curtain at how unusual ideas come to life — and a few fictitious but very real-to-life examples inspired by our years of saying yes to the weird.
A Few Fun (and True-ish) Examples
🎩 1️⃣ The Invisible Menu Puzzle
One brand wanted an ultra-minimalist homepage: no visible nav, no clutter, just the logo. The twist? You could only reveal the menu if you clicked a hidden spot three times — like an online Easter egg.
We designed a tiny hitbox, tested on touchscreens, and added a soft vibration on mobile so users knew they’d “unlocked” it.
Most visitors found it fun. A few called it annoying. But it definitely got them talking.
🦌 2️⃣ The Woodland Loading Screen
A children’s bookstore asked for a custom loading animation: a sleepy fox that slowly woke up and wagged its tail while pages loaded.
Simple enough – but then our client wanted to add a rain hat on the fox whenever it rained – after we explained the cost of integrating a weather API, the client decided it wasn’t worth it, so the rain hat stayed on the drawing board.
🎉 3️⃣ Disco Mode Easter Egg
A boutique event planner dreamed up this gem: “I want something wild — like if someone types ‘partytime’ on my site, confetti falls and a disco ball spins.”
Challenge accepted. We used a hidden JavaScript listener: enter “partytime,” and boom — disco lights, sparkles, and a cheeky pop-up saying, “You found the secret party!”
Not necessary. Totally on brand. Visitors adored it.
🧁 4️⃣ Secret Recipe Click-Quest
A local bakery wanted a playful way to share a beloved family recipe — but only with true fans.
We hid clickable ingredients throughout the site’s product pages. Click them all in the right order? A secret page unlocks: Grandma’s Cinnamon Swirl Muffins.
It turned casual browsers into giggling treasure hunters.
How we react
When we hear a wild idea, we don’t immediately say “no.” We say:
“Tell us more. What’s the vibe? What are you hoping this does for your visitors?”
From there, we figure out:
- Can we build this with current tech?
- How will it affect page speed and usability?
- Will people actually enjoy it?
It’s a blend of playful brainstorming and technical sanity checks.
Why We Sometimes Say “Yes” to the Weird
Oddball ideas can:
✅ Make people spend more time on your site.
✅ Turn your brand into a story people share.
✅ Help your team learn fun new dev tricks.
But here’s the catch: we always weigh the fun against function.
If a feature slows your site to a crawl, confuses visitors, or breaks on mobile? We’ll brainstorm something better that keeps the quirky vibe without messing up your core user experience.
What We’ve Learned (And What We Tell Clients)
- Clear is kind. If a request is vague — “make it pop!” — we ask, “Can you show us what you mean?”
- Test everything. That hidden menu might sound artsy… until Grandma can’t find the Contact button.
- Fun features deserve an off switch. If we build auto-playing music, trust us — there will be a mute button (*we most likely will never agree with auto-playing music*).
We promise: we’ll fight for your big ideas and your site visitors at the same time.
Lessons for Fellow Creators
Every odd request teaches us:
- Keep an open mind.
- Prototype before committing.
- Show mock-ups and get buy-in.
- Don’t sacrifice speed, SEO, or accessibility for a gimmick.
A sprinkle of whimsy? Great.
A full-on mess that drives people away? Not on our watch.
Final Word
Weird requests are the spice of our work. They make us better designers, sharper problem-solvers, and better listeners.
Got an idea that sounds impossible? Good. Let’s chat.
After all — we’ve probably built weirder. 😉
