Modern high-speed Internet has really spoiled us. These days, if a website takes more than 4 seconds to load, we tend to not even bother waiting; we simply close the page and find something else. That is exactly why designers are taking the time to come up with creative preloaders like these fun little bouncing balls.
What’s a preloader?
Essentially, preloaders (also known as loaders) are what you see on the screen while the rest of the page’s content is still loading. Preloaders are often simple or complex animations that are used to keep visitors entertained while server operations finish processing. Unfortunately, they are also frequently overlooked in the development process of most projects.
Why is a preloader important?
Preloaders are important interface elements that let visitors know that the website hasn’t crashed, it’s just processing data. They are usually designed as moving stripes or blinking circles that represent the time necessary for loading, which, although functional, aren’t entertaining at all. Interesting animations can keep your users engaged while they’re waiting for the page to load.
Designers work really hard to make the waiting time less of a hassle for site visitors, but this can be a very difficult task if the right inspiration (and latest knowledge) isn’t there.
What should a great preloader be?
In recent years, most projects have been developed with simplified loaders as the recommended best practice. Complex loader animations haven’t been popular for a while because they used to take up a lot of resources to work, slowing down the page’s loading process even more. However, with processing power increasing, the era of simple loaders is coming to an end.
Today, a well-designed, creative animation provides an opportunity to enliven your interface. This small, but important detail contributes to the individuality and branding of any product.
For this reason, we’ve compiled and curated the following list of bright, funny, and unique preloader examples (including some of Globaldev’s very own designs) to help you and your design team find some inspiration!
30 of the best preloader designs out there
Sliding Square LoaderView
This sliding square loader makes the waiting a bit less frustrating as it keeps your eye moving along with the squares. A great solution for businesses who sell electronics or games online to keep their visitors engaged with the website.
DotsLoaderView
The bouncing black balls that appear out of nowhere and disappear serve as an entertaining element and could be used for websites that want to look presentable yet with a pinch of playfulness.
Simple Loader
This is a perfect example of a drum-like preloader which resembles a spinning lottery wheel. If a business owner wants to make a logical connection between this loader and the application which may imply opportunities, luck, or excitement, then this loading screen should serve its needs.
Bird Loader
These simple geometric shapes remind a birdy turning its head to the left or right as if talking to somebody. This animation can make a good preloader for websites featuring businesses in the TV-, radio-, or social media industry.
Bird preloader
Applications featuring travel or location-based services could make loading much more appealing using the little colorful geopin which flips back and forth.
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