SpongebobLabs - AI Research Lab Website Development
Rishi Bajpai
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Posted Jan 19, 2026
Developed and designed SpongebobLabs' AI research lab website, focusing on identity and presentation.
SpongebobLabs
Designing an AI research lab website that makes experimentation feel intentional
The problem I started with
SpongebobLabs was set up as a sister company focused on AI experimentation and R&D projects.
The challenge was not building a website.
It was defining an identity.
The lab needed to:
Feel clearly separate from its parent company
Communicate experimentation without chaos
Present research work in a way that feels credible and understandable
Most R&D work lives in internal docs, prototypes, or half finished experiments. None of that translates well to a public facing site by default.
The goal was to create a space where work in progress still feels deliberate.
My role
I worked as the website developer and designer, owning the project end to end.
My responsibility was to:
Create a distinct visual and structural language
Design how experimental projects are presented publicly
Build a flexible site that can evolve with ongoing research
Keep the experience clean, readable, and focused on ideas
This was about shaping perception as much as building pages.
Design philosophy
I followed three principles while building SpongebobLabs.
1. Exploration still needs structure
Research does not need polish, but it needs framing.
I designed the site so:
Each project has a clear purpose
Context is always visible
Visitors understand what is being explored and why
This turns experimentation into something people can follow and trust.
2. Brand separation must be immediate
This could not feel like a sub brand.
I designed:
A unique design language
Different layout rhythms
A tone that feels curious and open instead of commercial
The connection to the parent company exists, but the lab stands on its own.
3. Reading comes before interaction
Research sites are consumed slowly.
I optimized for:
Clear typography
Long form reading
Minimal distractions
The interface stays quiet so the ideas can speak.
Key sections I designed and built
Company and lab overview
The entry point into the lab.
This section explains:
What the lab exists to explore
The kind of problems it works on
How it differs from product focused teams
Context is set before content.
Project portfolio
The core of the site.
I designed the portfolio to:
Showcase ongoing experiments and R&D projects
Clearly explain intent and direction
Allow projects to evolve without feeling unfinished
This makes exploration feel purposeful.
Research publications
Some work needs depth.
I structured this section so:
Research and learnings can be shared clearly
Internal thinking can become public knowledge
Credibility builds over time
The site becomes a living archive, not a static page.
Team profiles and contact system
Research is still driven by people.
I designed:
Simple team profiles
A clear way to reach out for collaboration
This keeps the lab approachable and open.
Integrations
To support insight and long term growth, I integrated:
Analytics for understanding engagement
Email capture for people who want to follow the lab’s work
Nothing more than what was necessary.
Tools and stack
I built SpongebobLabs using:
React and Next.js for structure and performance
TailwindCSS for consistent styling
Cursor and Figma for fast iteration
The stack stayed intentionally simple and flexible.
The impact
The site delivered what it needed to:
A clear identity separate from the parent company
A structured way to present experimental AI work
A credible public presence for R&D projects
A foundation that can grow with future research
The lab now has a space that reflects how it actually works.