Almost everyone that is familiar with web browsing is guaranteed to encounter error messages like “Error 404: Not Found”. Most of the time, the error page looks hideous, with only the error message and little to no visual aspect incorporated.

If you are a web developer, you have the ability to make the ominous error page looks better. These templates will help your 404-page appear brighter and less ominous.

Error Messages

Before we get to the actual templates, let’s start with a summary of what an error message is and what the error code 404 indicates. As the name suggests, an error message is a message displayed to the user when the system encounters an unexpected problem. Aside from the error code, a good error message must have a clear warning of what operation has failed, what the user should do, or any other important warnings related to the error.

Engineers and developers often use error codes to relay what kind of error has occurred to the user. Do remember that each program might have their own unique error codes. However, in a standardized environment like web browsing, there are also standardized error codes in order not to confuse users across the world.

Among those error codes, “404” is one of the most recognizable errors in HTTP or HTTPS protocol. The number 4 in front of the code indicates that it’s a client error. The error code 404 indicates that the browser is able to communicate with the server but is unable to find a valid request from the user. Hosting servers also typically automatically generate this error message when a user tries to follow a broken or dead link.

Error 404-page Templates

While it’s true that people usually pay little attention to the actual error message itself, it still helps a lot of people when you treat error pages the same way you would treat other pages on your website. There are also a few benefits that can be gained from a well-designed error message page.

First, it would fit the overall aesthetics of your website. Second, visual elements on the error page will help users understand what happened faster. Third, it makes the error page looks less ominous.

Designing a better-looking error message page is quite a task for people unfamiliar with graphic design. However, you can use 404-page templates available online to save both time and effort. We have prepared two examples of highly customizable templates as proof that error message doesn’t have to look boring.

404 planet – Banner & Landing Page

We all agree that an error message is the last thing we want to display to the users. Unfortunately, while the chances are fairly slim if the codes are properly compiled, errors are bound to happen sooner or later. That’s why preparing a fail-safe procedure and proper error message pages is still required.

This template was designed with the surface of the moon in mind, giving your error page that seems out of this world. The template is fully editable in Adobe Illustrator, consisting of many elements you can play around with. Because of the highly customizable nature of the template, you can even use it for other purposes, such as web header, background, etc.

404 – Banner & Landing Page

Encountering an error message today is like finding an ancient ruin while exploring the wilderness. It’s unlikely that you will stumble upon one unless you’re venturing really deep into the woods. That being said, you know it’s out there, waiting for unfortunate explorers to drop their guard.

This 404-page looks like it would give users the feeling that they probably wander too deep if they encounter it. All of the elements in the template are fully customizable and compatible with Adobe Illustrator or other vector-based graphic design programs. The customization options provided in the template will make your error feels unique and less hideous.

Afterword

Error messages like 404-pages are sometimes overlooked by UI/UX designers and engineers alike because errors, no matter how simple, should not exist in the released product whatsoever. However, as the program might corrupt for various reasons, proper error messages and pages should still be prepared.

Giving attention to small details like this shows the users that you truly care about your work. It’s not something that will consume too much time and resources, either. If you are unwilling to design an error page on your own, you can always use the templates mentioned above.