FOR THE MOST PART, Norway is not very well known abroad. Innovation Norway wanted to do something about this. The purpose of the website visitnorway.com is to sell Norway as a holiday destination, create positive associations and dispel the impression that Norway is expensive and boring.

The target is to get 3.5 million foreign tourists to visit Norway in 2010. The website represents 80% of Norway's tourism products.

Jury`s verdict

Although there is a huge amount of information available, visitnorway.com comes across as a very user-friendly and intuitive website. The attractions are categorised in a good way. It is obvious that the developers put themselves in the users' shoes. They have been daring with the website in making the choice that some things are more important than others and weighted the design accordingly. This is a major innovation for a website of this sort. It has a good, clear and reliable navigation function with a topic map.

There is follow-on information at the bottom of the page so that you do not need to stick to the overall menu structure. The pages have a stylish, technically accurate layout, the typography is well spaced and there is a particularly good use of pictures at every level. This is rare to see. Even the range of colours is reflected extensively in the pictures. Visitnorway.com is a well-balanced, excellent and successful website.

Company: Innovasjon Norge

Project group company: Portalsjef, Hans Petter Aalmo, Innovasjon Norge - Redaktør, Fredrik Amundsen, Innovasjon Norge

Design: Making Waves

Project group design company: Prosjektleder, Malin Mölin, Making Waves - Interaksjonsdesigner, Andrè Kongevold, Making Waves - Interaksjonsdesigner, Anne-Lise Hauge-Nilsen, Making Waves - Interaksjonsdesigner, Kjersti Corneliussen, Making Waves - Kreativ leder/rådgiver, Kjell Reenskaug, Making Waves - Grafisk designer, Eva Ebbesen Munkvik, Making Waves - Systemarkitekt, Lars Kolsaker, Making Waves - Utvikler, Vera Heppt, Making Waves - Utvikler, Haakon Peder Haugsten, Making Waves - Utvikler, Nina Kirkevold, Making Waves - Utvikler, Endre Kristiansen, Making Waves

Award / year: Award for Design Excellence - 2009

Category: Interaction design